Arkansas’ scholastic climbing community is getting ready to grow again.
The American Scholastic Climbing League is preparing for its 2026-2027 season, with registration opening September 1 and competitions expected to begin in November. Now entering its third season in Arkansas, the league gives middle and high school students an opportunity to compete in climbing while representing their schools.
For families wondering whether competitive climbing is a good fit, Arkansas State Director Sharon Bennett has a simple message: Give it a try.
“That kid will probably surprise themselves,” Bennett said when asked what she would tell parents of young climbers who worry they are not good enough to compete. “It’s less about competing against other kids and more about competing against yourself.”
That philosophy has helped the league grow from 89 participants during its first Arkansas season to more than 100 last year, according to Bennett. She expects another increase this season as more schools and families learn about the program.
Open Houses Offer a Chance to Learn More
Families do not have to figure out the league on their own.
ASCL organizers are hosting open houses ahead of the season where prospective climbers, parents, coaches and school representatives can learn how the program works.
The Central Arkansas Region will hold an in-person open house:
- Date: Saturday, September 5
- Time: 9:00–10:00 a.m.
- Location: Little Rock Climbing Center
- Address: 12120 Colonel Glenn Rd #7000, Little Rock, AR 72210
A statewide Virtual Open House is scheduled for September 10. The virtual event is designed as an informal opportunity for people to stop in, ask questions and learn about the league.
- Date: Thursday, September 10
- Time: 5:00–7:00 p.m.
- Location: ASCL-Arkansas Facebook Event Page
“We’ll be hanging out for a two-hour period, and people can drop in, ask questions, and really just find out more about us,” Bennett said.
Organizers are also working to schedule another in-person open house in Northwest Arkansas later in the month.
Scholastic Climbing Continues to Grow in Arkansas
The American Scholastic Climbing League, or ASCL, is a nonprofit organization that provides middle and high school students with opportunities to compete in climbing while representing their schools.
The organization grew out of the Colorado High School Climbing League, which began in 2008. ASCL was established as a nonprofit in 2018 to expand the concept into other states.
Arkansas now has two regions, Central Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas.
The Central Arkansas Region serves Little Rock, Conway and surrounding communities. The Northwest Arkansas Region includes Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville, Springdale and surrounding areas.
Bennett said Northwest Arkansas has traditionally drawn more participants, while growing participation in Central Arkansas has been more challenging.
This year, organizers are working to reach more private schools and homeschool families, particularly in Central Arkansas.
“There are several schools that have reached out,” Bennett said. “We’re really trying to encourage our homeschool groups to join us.”
Students do not need an established climbing program at their school to compete. ASCL allows students to represent their schools even without an official school coach or sponsor. Climbers can also participate as unattached competitors.
That gives students an opportunity to try scholastic climbing without waiting for their school to create a formal program.
Competition Without All the Pressure
While ASCL holds a series of competitions throughout the season, Bennett said the emphasis is not solely on rankings and winning.
“We have a series of competitions, but we try not to take it too seriously,” she said. “It’s really more of a focus on just the joy of climbing.”
Competitions can include bouldering, roped climbing or a combination of the two. Students compete in middle school and high school divisions, with climbers ranging from beginners to advanced athletes.
Bennett said one of the strengths of the program is that climbers can measure success against their own abilities rather than simply comparing themselves with the strongest competitors in the gym.
“We celebrate each kid individually,” she said. “We have a variety of kids that all have different levels that they can participate in, and we know that a child is pushing against their individual best.”
That creates an atmosphere where climbers with different abilities can compete at the same event and support each other.
“Within our regions there are kids that we know have different capabilities and different situations,” Bennett said. “But everyone’s cheering for everyone together, and that is something that’s just almost unheard of these days.”
Scholarships Help Make Climbing Accessible
Cost can be an obstacle for families interested in competitive climbing.
The annual ASCL climber membership for the 2026-2027 season is $125. Individual host gyms may also charge entry fees for competitions, and school clubs or teams can have additional expenses.
Bennett said scholarships have been an important part of Arkansas’ program from the beginning. She estimates approximately 45 scholarships were provided during the league’s first season in the state, with a similar number awarded last year.
ASCL is also looking at ways to improve how it identifies families who need assistance.
Previously, qualification was tied to participation in the National School Lunch Program, but Bennett said that does not necessarily identify every family facing financial challenges.
“We’re figuring out new methods of validating families that are in need, but also different layers of support, too,” she said.
Families interested in financial assistance can ask about available options during the upcoming open houses.
More Than a Competition Series
The format of the league is not changing significantly this year. Instead, Bennett said organizers are looking forward to building on what has worked during the first two seasons.
That includes experiences outside the competition gym.
“We’re looking forward to coming together and doing some outdoor trips together and learning some stewardship and community,” Bennett said, “and just enjoying our great state and the climbing it has.”
For Bennett, that sense of community is an important part of what makes the league work.
The young climbers may compete against each other, but they also encourage each other.
“It’s community and including everyone,” she said.
Could Scholastic Climbing Reach More of Arkansas?
For now, most organized scholastic climbing activity in Arkansas is concentrated around the climbing facilities available in Central and Northwest Arkansas.
Bennett would eventually like to see that change.
She sees potential opportunities through universities with climbing facilities, community climbing gyms and new facilities that could open as climbing and outdoor recreation continue to grow.
“We would really love just to see it grow to other corners of the state,” Bennett said.
Getting Ready for the 2026-2027 Season
Registration for ASCL climbers and coaches opens September 1. The regular competition season is expected to begin in November and continue through February, followed by the league’s national event in March.
Students in grades 6 through 8 compete in the middle school division, while students in grades 9 through 12 compete at the high school level.
Competition schedules for the Arkansas regions are expected to be announced as the season approaches.
For families with a young climber who has never competed, Bennett encourages them not to let experience or ability keep them from exploring the league.
A climber does not have to be the strongest kid in the gym. They do not need a varsity climbing program at their school. They do not even have to know whether they will enjoy competition yet.
They just need to be willing to climb.
As Bennett sees it, the real competition may be with themselves.
And they might just surprise themselves.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens, thank you for supporting our work!
