The UT Outdoor Program will host ClimbSafe clinics every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the VolWall in the HPER building. The clinics will run until Feb. 18 in a series of four clinics.

The main focus of the clinics are to educate regular gym climbers about the safety requirements for outside climbing, according to Carleton Lane, a graduate assistant for UTOP.

 We want to make the transition from indoor to outdoor climbing easier for those interested.
Carleton Lane, graduate assistant for UTOP

The climbing clinics are for anyone with a belay certification to come and learn climbing safety and skills. Belay certification classes are available at the gym Monday through Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.

"We are teaching good skills in order for climbers to feel comfortable outside using the correct equipment. Safety is our focus," Lane said. "We want to make the transition from indoor to outdoor climbing easier for those interested."

Each week Lane and Benjy Darnell, director of Outdoor Rec, will teach something completely new. The series of clinics will cover topics such as cleaning sport anchors, building climbing anchors and grasping traditional climbing techniques.

Rob Booher, a freshman at UT, participates in the climbing clinics regularly. He has climbed outdoors twice since participating in the weekly clinics.

"If you want to go outdoors, you have to know all this stuff to be safe," Booher said.

Booher discovered the clinics through UTOP's semester brochure. He plans to attend all four clinics in the series to brush up on his technique. 

"Carleton and Benjy are a great teachers," Booher said. "They don't skimp out on anything."