About
World Class Climbing Academy is a college-preparatory 9th through 12th grade high school built around students’ passion for rock climbing. Each school year our teachers, coaches, and students travel to four of the world’s top climbing destinations, where they alternate between school and climbing days throughout each quarter.
The Climbing Academy is grounded in academic progression, mentorship, teamwork, and life experience through the lens of sport and travel. Our experienced faculty, who double as coaches and mentors, are strong climbers and bring a passion for learning and progression to the classroom, the rock, and the world around them. Classes engage in experiential, place-based learning, and the school seeks out authentic cultural experiences in each destination.
Our athletic program develops well-rounded climbers. The Climbing Academy runs on a schedule of four full days of school and three climbing days per week, with rest days used for training strength, core, and mobility work designed to promote growth and prevent injury. Students arrive at the Climbing Academy with a range of skills and experiences; they leave prepared for the next chapter of life, on and off the rock.
The Climbing Academy is one of five programs within World Class Academy, a 501(c)(3) private high school founded in 2001. Our academies (Kayak, Kiteboarding, Climbing, Surfing, and Mountain Biking) share a belief that the best education happens when learning and passion go hand in hand.
Destinations & Schedule
2026-2027 Destinations
Australia
France
Turkey
Brazil
2026-2027 Schedule
Semester 1
Quarter 1: August 23rd- October 3rd
August 23rd
Students arrive in Sydney, Australia (SYD)
August 24th - 26th
Student Orientation and Start of Classes
August 24th - October 2nd
Students will spend the first 6 weeks back where they finished, climbing on the sandstone cliffs of the Blue Mountains, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Touted as a combination of the Red River Gorge and the New River Gorge, the Blueys emphasize strong fingers and good crimping technique, power for challenging boulder problems, and endurance to hang on to the chains. The team will stay at 14 Lovel St. Hostel in Katoomba, exploring the local culture and renowned biodiversity of the area between their classes.
October 3rd
Students and faculty depart Sydney, Australia (SYD)
October 4th - 24th
Fall Break
Quarter 2: October 25th - December 12th
October 25th
Students and faculty arrive in Paris, France (CDG)
October 26th - December 11th
Students will spend 7 weeks exploring the sandstone boulders of world-renowned Fontainebleau. Known for being home to almost every type of boulder problem – crimps, roofs, dynos, slopers, aretes, slabs, compression – with mantle topouts, Font has endless opportunities for students to build power and technique. Being only an hour and a half from Paris, students will also be able to explore French culture, all while taking classes in picturesque gites in small-town France.
December 7th - December 11th
Finals Week
December 12th
Students and faculty depart Paris, France (CDG)
December 13th - January 16th
Winter Break
Semester 2
Quarter 3: January 24th - March 12th
January 24th
Students and faculty arrive in Antalya, Turkey (AYT)
January 25th
Student Orientation and start of Spring semester
January 25th - March 12th
Students will spend 7 weeks wrangling tufas in the climber’s winter destination paradise of Geyikbayiri. Geyikbayiri is limestone, with long routes and endless tufas in varying shapes and sizes. Students get to apply their bouldering power and technique while rebuilding endurance and learning a new style of sport climbing. There are also crimpy, vertical, overhanging, and slabby routes in the area. Students will visit ruins around Antalya and create a home with our host family at Peak Guesthouse.
March 13th
Students and faculty depart from Antalya, Turkey (AYT)
March 14th - April 4th
Spring Break
Quarter 4: April 4th - May 15th
April 4th
Students and faculty arrive in Belo Horizonte, Brazil (CNF)
April 5th - May 15th
A new destination for WCCA, students will spend the final 6 weeks climbing on some of the most unique limestone in the world. Comprised of swirling features creating crimps, slopers, and jugs, Serra do Cipó is quickly becoming a bucket list destination for climbers around the world. Set in the beautiful natural park in the state of Minas Gerais, students will combine all the skills they’ve learned throughout the year in this final destination, while also experiencing Brazilian culture and cuisine.
May 10th - 14th
Finals Week
May 14th
Parent Appreciation Dinner
May 15th
Graduation Ceremony in Serra de Cipó, Brazil
May 16th
Students, parents, and faculty depart from Belo Horizonte, Brazil (CNF)
2027-2028 Destinations
Rocklands, South Africa
Rocklands, South Africa
Aug. 22nd - Oct. 2nd
Q1
August 22nd
Students arrive in Cape Town, South Africa (CPT)
August 23rd - October 1st
Quarter One in Rocklands, South Africa
October 2nd
Students depart from Cape Town, South Africa
October 3rd - 23rd
Fall Break
France (Font)
France (Font)
Oct. 24th - Dec. 11th
Q2
October 24th
Students arrive in Paris, France (CDG)
October 25th - December 10th
Quarter Two in Fontainbleau, France
December 11th
Students depart from Paris, France (CDG)
December 12th - January 15th
Winter Break
Laos
Kalymnos
2027-2028 Schedule
Semester 1
Quarter 1: August 22nd - October 2nd
August 22nd
Students arrive in Cape Town, South Africa (CPT).
August 23rd - August 25th
Student orientation and the start of classes.
August 23rd - October 2nd
Students will spend the first 6 weeks back back in Rocklands, climbing on the sandstone boulders that we’ve had the privilege to call home in the past. One of the most popular bouldering areas around the world, students will build power, strength, skill, and technique in these first 6 weeks to work towards mastery throughout the rest of the year. The team will stay at Traveller’s Rest in the heart of Rocklands, exploring the local culture, biodiversity, and local foods of the area between their classes.
October 2nd
Students depart from Cape Town, South Africa (CPT).
October 3rd - October 23rd
Fall Break
Quarter 2: October 24th - December 11th
October 24th
Students arrive in Paris, France (CDG).
October 25th - December 10th
Students will spend 7 weeks exploring the sandstone boulders of world-renowned Fontainebleau. Known for being home to almost every type of boulder problem – crimps, roofs, dynos, slopers, aretes, slabs, compression – with mantle topouts, Font has endless opportunities for students to build power and technique. Being only an hour and a half from Paris, students will also be able to explore French culture, all while taking classes in picturesque gites in small-town France.
December 6th - December 10th
Finals Week
December 11th
Students depart from Paris, France (CDG)
December 12th - January 15th
Winter Break
Semester 2
Quarter 3: January 16th - March 4th
January 16th
Students arrive in Vientiane, Laos (VTE)
January 16th - January 18th
Student orientation and the start of classes
January 16th - March 4th
Students will spend an entire 7 weeks on the limestone cliffs just outside of Thakhek. While staying at the Green Climber’s Home, within walking distance of all the crags, students will build endurance, bringing their bouldering skills to a rope. Students will get acclimated to clipping quickdraws and belaying. Q3 is all about laying the foundation for bigger projects during the final quarter in Greece.
March 4th
Students depart from Vientiane, Laos (VTE).
March 5th - April 1st
Spring Break
Quarter 4: March 26th - May 7th
March 26th
Students arrive in Kalymnos after flying into Athens, Greece (ATH)
March 27th - May 6th
One of TCA’s favorite destinations – and one we are psyched to return to, the Climber’s will spend the final 6 weeks of the year in Kalymnos, Greece. There, they will climb epic tufas on gently overhanging walls to steep caves, putting to use the endurance built in Laos during Q3 to send their hardest projects to date. In addition to the climbing, the breathtaking views of the ocean, delectable food, and deep community amongst the Greek people make this a memorable place to end the year.
May 1st - May 5th
Finals Week
May 5th
Parent Appreciation Dinner
May 6th
Graduation in Kalymnos.
May 7th
Students depart Kalymnos after graduation
Ready to start your adventure?
Climb Faculty
Coaching & Equipment
Training
World Class Climbing Academy training focuses on each student as an individual, helping them develop skills on rock, set and pursue their goals, and become a member of our global climbing community within the arc of our athletic plan. Using each world-class climbing destination as a backdrop, the group develops skills, tactics, strength, and technique in the disciplines of sport climbing and bouldering.
Functioning on a day-on, day-off basis, where one day is a climbing day followed by a rest day, the school adheres to various focuses depending on the climbing medium and period in the year. Training bolsters this focus on rock to support overall performance. A quarter focus, for bouldering or sport climbing, may be:
- Mileage/volume and exploration of the crag/boulders, the style of climbing, the rock, etc.
- Learning different mental and physical tactics for climbing and projecting
- Establishing good habits as a climber, belayer, and partner
- Establishment of projects and goal setting
- Projecting/red-pointing
With three full days of climbing, most weeks have three off-rock workouts, allowing for one full day of rest for minds and bodies. Off-rock, students may focus on:
- Strength
- Core
- Cardio
- Mobility and flexibility
These workouts take various formats from hangboarding to yoga to runs to TRX and weighted push/pull exercises. We utilize our environment to help students make physical and mental gains, aid recovery, and promote longevity within the sport.
Equipment
Students must arrive at World Class Academy with everything they need for school, daily life, and climbing. A commitment to staying organized and taking care of gear and equipment is essential, as only some locations have robust climbing shops.
World Class Academy does not provide any individual climbing equipment. Each student will be expected to provide their own climbing gear including items such as rope with bag, harness, climbing shoes, chalk bag or bucket, chalk, chalk brush, belay glasses, quickdraws, GriGri, locking carabiners, belay gloves, helmet, and a crag pack. A detailed list will be sent to enrolled students in the fall and spring pre-course packets so students can ensure they have all required items for the semester. Each year, Climb students are eligible for different discounts and pro deals with companies. This information will also be emailed to students and their families to help purchase gear for the year.
Each student is responsible for bringing all school supplies necessary for their success throughout the semester. This includes school materials such as a laptop or tablet, textbooks, binders, pencils, calculators, and notebooks. Each quarter, students will bring a personal copy of their literature text. Additionally, students are encouraged to bring items that aid their organization in the classroom and on homework assignments in order to aid the efficiency of the team. A detailed list will be provided in the semester pre-course packets.
World Class Academy is responsible for providing group gear and equipment such as safety equipment (SAT phone, first-aid supplies, etc.) and general academic supplies. If there are specific first aid items preferred by a student, they are encouraged to bring their own simple kit. The school will have a printer as well as paper, markers, and writing utensils for general use, but specific items for classes or preferred by each student are their individual responsibility. WCCA aims to use the environment and place-based learning whenever possible to limit the amount of academic supplies students travel with.
Coaching
The unique model of the Climbing Academy allows our student athletes to form a distinct bond with their coaches, who are also their teachers and mentors. The Head Coach leads the athletic program, outlining the athletic arc for the year as well as the detailed picture, on and off the rock, in each world-class destination. Students are supported by all coaching faculty in setting and pursuing their individualized climbing goals within this athletic program.
Each week, students meet with the Head Coach to go over their training journal and discuss their goals. The Head Coach guides students towards these ends, helping them adjust the approach throughout the quarter and semester. Meetings are also tailored to the needs of each student, helping them become the best climbers they can be.
On the rock, each coach supports students in the daily pursuit of their goals within the athletic plan. This comes in the form of technical feedback, guidance, questions, supporting daily athletic assignments, and role modeling. Coaches are not always there to give the answer but help each student discover their answer so that they are able to problem solve on and off the rock, at the Climbing Academy and in their climbing beyond.
