Youth Climbing Instructor - Avondale

First Ascent LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free gym membership

Pro-deals

Private lessons premium

Job summary

First Ascent Climbing & Fitness is seeking a part-time Youth Climbing Instructor to create a safe, welcoming, and fun environment for climbers aged 3–17 across classes, camps, and birthday parties. You will deliver age-appropriate instruction, uphold standards, and collaborate with a supportive team to ensure a high-quality experience for climbers and families.

The role emphasizes flexibility, energy, and communication as you balance skill development, safety, and enjoyment, while growing with

Qualifications

• Experience teaching rock climbing to children is preferred.
• Ability to lead safe, engaging youth classes with structure and creativity.

Responsibilities

• Independently run 60-90 minute classes with 4-6 students or co-instruct with 6-12 students.
• Implement a structured curriculum while remaining flexible to maximize engagement.
• Communicate with parents regarding their child’s progress.
• Coordinate and communicate with management on a regular basis.
• Contribute ideas for new teaching exercises or games.

Skills

Belay certification

Teaching children

Child development

Communication skills

Energy & enthusiasm

Punctuality

Teamwork

Job description

First Ascent Climbing & Fitness is on a mission to share our love of climbing with everyone, connect people through movement, and create welcoming, uplifting spaces that strengthen minds, bodies, and communities. We are looking to grow our Youth Instruction team with proactive, friendly, and psyched individuals who will help us continually get better at what we do as we discover how to best serve our members and guests.

ROLE SUMMARY

As a Youth Climbing Instructor at First Ascent Climbing & Fitness, you play an essential role in creating a safe, welcoming, and fun environment where young climbers can build confidence, develop skills, and foster a lifelong love of climbing. You are a positive and caring presence within our ever-expanding youth program, supporting climbers ages 3–17 across recurring classes, drop-in programs, camps, and birthday parties.

We look to you to deliver engaging, age-appropriate instruction that balances skill development, safety, and fun. You’ll help uphold program standards, adapt to the diverse needs of our growing community, and contribute to a consistent, high-quality experience for climbers and their families. Working collaboratively with fellow instructors and program leadership, you’ll help cultivate a supportive team culture and ensure every young athlete feels encouraged, challenged, and excited to return—while having a great time along the way.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Independently run 60-90 minute classes with 4-6 students or co-instruct with 6-12 students

Implement a structured curriculum but also be creative and flexible when necessary to maintain maximum student engagement at all times, and adapt to individual student needs

Communicate with parents regarding their child’s progress

Coordinate and communicate with management on a regular basis

Contribute ideas for new teaching exercises or games

REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE

Applicants must have availability during the 4-8pm time slot on weekdays and/or 8am-2pm time slots on weekends. Preference will be given to applicants with additional weekday availability

The ideal applicant will have previous experience teaching rock climbing to children

1 year or more of experience working with grade school children is required

1 year or more of personal climbing experience is required

High level of energy and affect

Belay certified at FA or ability to pass belay certification upon hire

Be safety focused and vigilant

Possess excellent communication skills with children and adults

Be dependable and timely

Upstanding reputation in the climbing community

PERKS & BENEFITS

Part time, hourly role starting at $19.00/hr

Opportunity to work private lessons and group events that pay a premium rate

Free membership to all First Ascent Locations

Access to pro-deals

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Predominantly climate controlled indoor environment, mixture of outdoors in the summer

Noise level ranges from moderate to loud

Employee must be able to concentrate through distraction and communicate effectively

EEO STATEMENT

FA Climbing and Fitness is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to providing

equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. FA does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, protective order status, military status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information, ancestry, pregnancy, or any

other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. FA prohibits harassment of any

individual on any of the protected characteristics listed above.

ABOUT FIRST ASCENT CLIMBING & FITNESS

Since 2015, First Ascent Climbing & Fitness has been sharing our love of climbing, yoga and fitness with everyone that walks through our doors. With 8 gyms in the First Ascent family, we’re excited to keep serving and growing the climbing community, one climber at a time.