Contributing to local stewardship and advocacy: identifying barriers among climbers

ABSTRACT

Research question/objective: Across North America climbers are mobilizing to address the challenges associated with their sport through local climbing organizations (LCOs). Despite LCOs’ importance in tackling the challenges facing climbers and the vital role of everyday climbers in making the work of LCOs possible, little is known about what motivates – and arguably more importantly, impedes – climbers’ contributions to LCO efforts. This study takes a step in filling this gap.

Research methods: This study is a descriptive analysis of survey data collected in collaboration with an LCO serving climbers along Utah’s Wasatch Front (n = 953).

Results and findings: Study findings indicate that while practical barriers – such as resource, time, and scheduling constraints – are among the top reasons that climbers do not contribute, there are also barriers that LCOs can mitigate. Central to such barriers is information regarding what the LCO does, how it does it, and how it leverages climbers’ contributions towards those aims.

Implications: A key practical implication of these findings is that LCOs may benefit from dedicated strategic campaigns to inform the participants that they serve of their missions, initiatives, and projects. For scholars, the study illustrates how LCOs offer a better understanding of the promises and challenges of similar grassroots, volunteer-driven management.

KEYWORDS:

• climbers
• donating
• volunteering
• local climbing organization
• civic recreation organization

Acknowledgements

This study was made possible through a collaboration with the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance (SLCA). David Carter would like to thank the SLCA Board of Directors and Executive Director Julia Geisler, in particular. An additional thanks goes out to all the climbers who completed the survey.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Climbers could become SLCA members in one of two ways. They could sign up through the SLCA’s website, which included paying a $15 membership fee. Alternatively, they could sign up for SLCA membership when securing an Access Fund membership by paying the $15 SLCA membership fee, in addition to the Access Fund membership dues.