Inspired by the positive effect rock climbing has had in their own lives, a small group of friends founded CFL in February of 1994. They were determined to create an outdoor rock climbing program that taught youth how to face fears and challenges in their lives. Together, they successfully orchestrated CFL's first weekend climbing programs during the summer of 1995. Since then, CFL operations have been run through the efforts of a core group of volunteers and the board of directors.

In the 2002-2003 programs we served 132 youth on 15 weekend programs. The organization has grown from the four founding members to a base of 110 volunteers, a mailing list of about 500 interested supporters and our first full-time paid director. We have had positive responses from every organization that we have served. Currently seven people serve on the board of directors. This outpouring of support from the community makes it possible to provide a high quality experience for the youth CFL serves. Our volunteers contribute a variety of professional skills, including: experiential education, accounting, law, business, computer science and emergency medicine. CFL is committed to benefiting the community through positive impact on youth and by providing an opportunity for volunteers to give their best.

Climbing for Life (CFL) is not just a recreational program designed to teach basic rock climbing skills. Rather, the intent of the program is to combine the exposure to a new set of skills with a physical metaphor for handling challenges in other areas of life. This program provides an opportunity to apply the experience of overcoming fears in order to achieve what seems impossible to both rock climbing and to daily life. Now in its eighth year, CFL presents two days of instructed rock climbing activity, centered on a conversation relating rock climbing to the challenges of the daily lives of the participants. These weekend programs provide the ground work for the BELAY Program which offers ongoing mentoring relationships for the participants.

CFL provides two to three weekend programs per month, eight months of the year, for youth at risk in the Denver/Boulder area. Our commitment is to provide this experience to youth who would not otherwise have access to climbing or personal coaching. We never ask youth or their families to pay for the course. CFL addresses several protective factors in attempt to give youth alternatives and insight to their current situations. In addition to providing an alternative activity, CFL provides supportive networks and social bonds among youth and the volunteers that participate in the programs. The BELAY Program provides follow through for youth to develop self esteem and supportive, caring relationships with adults and peers.