Catching Up With CAT: Midwest Rock N’ Routes 2026

Question: What do you call a fly without wings?

Answer: A walk!

Almost 100 folks from the Midwest, from all different backgrounds and life stories are sitting around a campfire in Devils Lake State Park on a Saturday night, laughing at this corny joke. We’re at Midwest Rock ‘N Routes, a climbing festival for folks who have traditionally been excluded from the outdoors, and we’re in the middle of the talent show. Thus far we’ve heard bug facts, sung The Climb (appropriate song for this weekend), watched someone do the splits, and listened to folks read from their favorite books. This is not your typical talent show, because this is not your typical climbing festival.

MWRnR is an inclusive outdoor rock-climbing festival for folks from the Midwest who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women/women-identifying, with larger body types, and of all abilities, including adaptive climbers. We’ve got folks from Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. I am one of the board members and organizers, so I have been working on this for over a year. Chicago Adventure Therapy also brought a group of about 20 folks to this festival. Over the course of the weekend attendees will have the opportunity to learn new skills and gain experience climbing outside, hike, camp, and make connections. For many folks, this is their first time camping and/or first time climbing outside on real rock. There are many reasons this is so many of the attendees first time, because there are a lot of barriers to climbing outside. This is how we overcame the barriers:

Cost: Thanks to our sponsors, we were able to offer full or half scholarships to over two-thirds of the attendees!!!

Equipment: Thanks to the BOAT Bus, folks were able to borrow any camping gear they needed and the climbing equipment was provided by Devils Lake Climbing Guides.

Transportation: Many attendees carpooled, and folks from Chicago had access to a 45-person bus for free.

Knowledge: Everyone worked together to set up tents, cook outdoors, and learn about climbing outside. Folks volunteered to assist with climbing clinics and we had 14 volunteers who helped make the adaptive climbing clinic (climbers with disabilities) run smoothly and safely.

Sense of belonging and connection: This is our greatest strength. Many of the attendees have not climbed outside because they didn’t feel welcome or safe due to the color of their skin, who they love, their physical abilities, their age, their gender, and other ways they identify. But here, we have specifically created an environment where people can belong and be themselves – from my 9-year old daughter to veterans with disabilities to BIPOC folks and queer folks and immigrants – this is the place for us. We inspire one another. We help one another. We understand one another. And this creates joy and healing. As one young man from CAT shared, “These past three months have really sucked, but during this weekend, just for a moment, I forgot about all of that.” If only we all had a place that made us feel so welcome and whole.

   -Laura

Special thanks to our sponsors and volunteers, including but not limited to:

         Athletic Brewing Company

         American Alpine Club - Chicago Chapter

         Arc’teryx

         BOAT Bus

         Chicago Park District

         Climbing 4 Change

         Patagonia Chicago

         Simone’s Bar, Chicago

         The Nature Conservancy - Thrive Outside Chicago