As climbers around the world watched Alex Honnold scale Taipei 101 during a recent Netflix live stream, a similar sense of ambition was already taking hold much closer to home. At Flagler College, a growing group of students is finding its own vertical challenge through the Rock-Climbing Club.
Founded on a shared love of movement, community, and pushing past perceived limits, the student-led organization offers far more than a workout. From building strength and confidence to forging friendships off the ground, the club is creating space for students of all experience levels to climb higher, both physically and personally.
For sophomore Forest Brewer, the club’s president, the idea was never about creating an elite climbing group. Instead, it was about reimagining fitness in a way that felt natural, social, and inviting, especially for students who may not see themselves reflected in traditional gym culture.
“I would say the mission of the climbing club is to create a place for people to work out and hang out in a sort of nontraditional way,” Brewer said.
That philosophy shapes how the club approaches everything from meetings to leadership. Rather than focusing on performance metrics or competition, Brewer said climbing offers something closer to play, a physical challenge that feels exploratory rather than routine.
“Going to the climbing gym is like a playground,” he said. “It helps me feel like a kid. That’s what I really enjoy about the climbing community. It’s not just good for your physical well-being. Everybody’s super welcoming.”
Junior Patrick Coleman, the club’s vice president, began climbing his freshman year, when the sport was still largely under the radar at Flagler. What drew him in was not just the challenge of the wall, but the atmosphere surrounding it, one that felt immediately supportive and low-pressure.
That sense of belonging became a guiding principle when Brewer and Coleman decided to formalize the club. Brewer, who only began climbing seriously last semester, said creating a beginner-friendly environment was central to the organization’s purpose.
“I wanted to learn how to climb, and I wanted to create a beginner-friendly environment,” he said. “It’s nice to be part of hosting an environment where learning can be accessible.
Club meetings typically take place at Stone Climbing, an alumni-founded gym in St. Augustine, where each session begins with a brief introduction to climbing basics. The goal is to give new members the confidence needed to step onto the wall alongside more experienced climbers.
“We call it climbing 101. It's just a few short tips on the rules and etiquette of climbing as well as some beginner techniques... It might seem simple at first to hop on the wall and climb, but there's a few tips and tricks that you should use,” said Brewer.
From there, the gym fills with movement and conversation as students trade advice, encourage one another, and test their limits at their own pace. For Coleman, climbing became a way to step away from the noise of college life and find focus through movement.
“Once I started going there, it became a great way to take a break from everything else,” he said. “The community aspect made it much more enjoyable.”
Brewer described those climbing nights as a rare opportunity to be fully present, both physically and mentally.
“There’s no phones, nothing going on besides the people you’re with and the wall,” he said. “It’s really refreshing.”
Since launching in the fall semester, the club has drawn steady interest, with recent events attracting as many as 40 students. Brewer said the level of turnout has been one of the most surprising aspects of building the club, signaling a broader interest in alternative forms of fitness and connection on campus.
Looking ahead, the club plans to continue expanding its offerings with themed climbing nights, camping trips that incorporate outdoor climbing in Florida and southern Georgia, and the potential to compete through USA Climbing. While those opportunities would allow interested members to test themselves competitively, Brewer said the club’s social foundation will remain intact.
“We’re still very much a social and beginner-friendly club,” he said. “When competitions come up, we’ll randomly pull from our pool of members. Anyone can join at any time and have the opportunity to compete.”
Even as the club grows, Brewer and Coleman emphasized that the invitation remains open to all students, regardless of experience. Monthly free climbing nights and discounted rates at Stone are designed to lower barriers and encourage curiosity.
For those unsure whether climbing is for them, Brewer’s advice is simple.
“Just come see how it is,” he said.
For Brewer and Coleman, the success of the Rock-Climbing Club lies less in numbers or accolades and more in the environment they have built, one defined by shared effort, encouragement, and the willingness to try something new together.
