Our Climb

Project Reach is a non-profit rock climbing club of Fresno Unified School District. Will Haskins,  a teacher at McLane High School, started the club in December 2012. We are excited about the club, but we have a lot of money to raise to keep this going next year. Below is a little more about the club. We are seeking donations.

Project Reach

The challenge seemed impossible. Raise $20,000 over winter break. This money would cover membership and equipment costs. If we pulled it off, we could offer 40 McLane students a life-changing experience. Imagine placing poverty-stricken students in the most challenging environment. They would have to raise a lot of money, trust another student with their life, focus, think, be 100% present, be mature, problem solve, teach other students what they have learned, and experience pain all at the same time. Oh yeah, and they would have the time of their life. This describes Project Reach, Fresno Unified’s first rock climbing club.

Rock climbing is an expensive and dangerous sport. It takes volunteers, money, as well as district approval. Will Haskins, a new teacher at McLane High School, and Scott Lamb, the Principal, knew they could make it a reality. Mr. Scott Lamm asked for district approval, and Will began seeking donations from the rock climbing community. Money and gear donations from all over the United States began to arrive within a few days. Many people volunteered, and our local climbing gym, MetalMark Climbing and Fitness, offered extremely generous discounts on gear and monthly memberships. Because of donations and discounts, we have purchased 40 student monthly memberships which are good until the end of the 2013 school year. The most exciting part is that other schools have heard about Project Reach and are now starting their own rock climbing programs.