Liz Rocks @ YMCA

“We’re honored that the Liz Rocks Foundation has chosen the new Pearl Street Family YMCA as the location for the new climbing wall to recognize Liz Daley. We look forward to working together with the Liz Rocks Foundation to promote climbing and getting more young people to experience the outdoors.”

-Charlie Davis, CEO of YMCA Pierce and Kitsap Counties

WHY THE YMCA?

Thy YMCA has a dedicated design team that has truly embraced Liz's spirit. Youth will be guided by Liz on an adventure to learn about basic outdoor education and climbing! The design schematic incorporates images taken by her beloved friends so youth can climb like Liz. The detail and stoke is more than we would have imagined and I believe this is an amazing way to honor Liz Daley while supporting our mission to provide opportunities for underrepresented youth to reach new peaks.

- Krystle Edward, President of Liz Rocks Foundation

Liz Rocks Centered Design!

• YMCA is intending to broke ground on their new facility in May of 2024

• Both YMCA members and the public will have access to the climbing wall. YMCA members will only need to show their membership card to access the building and use the wall during designated times (when the climbing wall isn’t being used with registered programming and where a staff member who can belay is present). If the Y member has completed belay training, they don’t require a staff belay.

• The public will have access to the climbing wall through the partnership with Liz Rocks, our school partnerships, any open house/community events, special events, etc.

• A non-YMCA member can use the climbing wall but they will need to either purchase a day pass or register for a Y membership, then use the climbing wall when it’s not already programmed and also during a time when a staff belay is present. Helmets and harnesses are available for 5 year olds all the way up to adults at our family centers

• The Morgan Y (and the new Pearl Street Family YMCA), offers a variety of programs and activities that support youth in developing the skills that support their healthy growth and development, whether that be through youth sports, aquatics, gymnastics, the arts, camping services, among other programs and activities.

•  The Y does not turn anyone away due to an inability to pay and offers financial assistance to ensure that every person has the opportunity to experience our community centers, programs, and activities.

• YMCA centers offer a variety of outreach programming to ensure that people can have Y experiences whether that be before and after school Child Care, Day Camps, Y-Arts Outreach, Outdoor Environmental Education, Youth and Government, among many other youth and teen outreach initiatives.

• The YMCA works with schools, principals, teachers, and parents to identify youth and teens who might benefit from these experiences, including those who are underrepresented in our activities or underserved people and communities

• This partnership with the Liz Rocks Foundation presents a unique and exciting opportunity to promote climbing and outdoor adventure and work to serve more youth in these activities. We’ve got our current strategies (described above) to serve those from low-income, under served, and/or underrepresented people and communities, but will have Liz Rocks experience and expertise to draw upon as well
  

The YMCA Shares our vision to serve!