Union College was founded on the principle that education must embrace both the mind and body. This year, a new addition to campus continues that tradition: a bouldering wall funded by contributions from students and alumni.

“I’m often studying for hours at a time in the library,” said Tylar Bissell, a second year PA student and one of the student supervisors for the new wall. “When I hit a mental block, I can take a break, do a few routes to clear my mind and be ready to go back and study. Recreation is important for a balanced college life.”

Bissell’s experience echoes the words of one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist church. More than a hundred years ago, Ellen White wrote in her book Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, “The time spent in physical exercise is not lost. The student who is constantly poring over his books, while he takes but little exercise in the open air, does himself an injury” (p. 295). White’s guidance lead to the creation of Union College, and her vision of education continues to be the cornerstone of Adventist institutions around the world.

Dubbed “the Cave” because of its location under the west balcony in the Don Love Building, the 10-foot-tall room allows climbers to test their strength and problem-solving skills using hand and foot holds along the walls and ceiling.

While vertical climbing walls often require special equipment, shorter bouldering walls are safer and more accessible for beginners. Instead of focusing on an upward movement, climbers must learn to find hand and foot holds along horizontal routes that can include the room’s ceiling. Often using the same holds, routes can be designed to challenge a range of skill levels from novice to even the most experienced climbers. The holds are modular and can be secured in different locations, creating a new experience with the same infrastructure.

“We change the routes often,” said Emilian Grigore, a second year PA student and one of the Cave supervisors. “We create specific routes to promote training and strengthening techniques.”

A bouldering wall offers a full body workout, all the way from the brain to the arms and down to the feet. Climbers can prepare and strengthen their upper body and grip for outdoor climbing in ways a vertical wall cannot. “Many people don’t understand how much can be done in a small area. A climber may only do 5-10 moves as compared to 20 with vertical climbing, but the steeper incline and placement of routes makes it harder,” said Grigore.

International Rescue and Relief students, who use rock climbing in their wilderness rescue training, previously practiced on a similar wall located in their old offices on the first floor of Rees Hall. When IRR moved to a new facility in the Don Love Building three years ago, creating a new climbing wall was put on hold while director Rick Young worked on a plan that would serve the whole campus.

“Climbing should be available to all students,” he said. “We don’t want this wall to be only for IRR students. Climbing provides more benefits than mere exercise. Students can develop skills they can’t learn inside a classroom.”

Meanwhile, students and staff explored ways to provide more recreational opportunities that weren’t dependent on Nebraska’s unpredictable weather. The idea of adding a bouldering wall soon gained traction because of the academic tie with the IRR program and accessibility of the activity for all students. “Having a climbing wall is invaluable,” said Bissell, who has made new friends through climbing and credits the old bouldering wall with helping him better prepare for the Colorado wilderness training during his undergraduate education.

Union’s student leaders loved the idea. Several passionate climbers presented ideas to school administration while student government contributed $30,000 from the Associate Student Body budget to jumpstart the project.

The project did not use any funds from tuition. Rather, ASB challenged alumni to match their contribution in order to raise the $125,000 needed to complete the project. And donors responded. “I want students to know that if they believe in something, they will have support,” said a lead contributor who was impressed by the students’ initiative.

The new, glass-enclosed bouldering cave opened in January—complete with a furnished social and studying space made possible by an additional $10,000 gift.

“Bouldering is a beneficial experience,” said Madison Kamarad, an IRR major from Wyoming who loves the new bouldering cave.  “I can now encourage my friends to start climbing.”

The Cave is open from 7:00 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursdays and 7:00 a.m. to sundown on Fridays. Instructors are available in the evenings, and first-time visitors must go through a safety check and sign a waiver before being allowed to climb during the day. The wall is also open to the Lincoln community between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

For anyone new to bouldering, instructors will provide guidance and even loan out climbing shoes and chalk.

For many students, climbing provides a great break from studying—the physical activity the body needs to help keep a grip on studies. “I always ask friends to come climb with me when I’m working. There’s a certain community to being involved with climbing,” said Grigore. “And, you don’t have to climb for a long time to receive the benefits.”

By Emily Wood