Youth Climbing Instructor - Avondale & West Loop Gym Locations

First Ascent Climbing & Fitness; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free gym membership

Job summary

First Ascent Climbing & Fitness in Chicago is seeking a Youth Climbing Instructor for Avondale & West Loop locations. Lead safe, engaging classes for youth ages 3–17, delivering the established curriculum and maintaining a positive learning environment.

This part-time, hourly role requires at least one year of experience with children and personal climbing experience; availability 4:00–8:00 p.m. on weekdays and weekends is preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with grade-school-aged children.
• Minimum of 1 year of personal climbing experience.
• Previous experience teaching or coaching climbing to youth preferred.
• Confidence and competency in top rope belaying upon hire.
• Strong commitment to safety and ability to remain attentive and engaged while supervising youth.
• Positive, energetic, and encouraging presence when working with children.
• Strong communication skills with both youth and adults.
• Ability to adapt instruction to different ages, abilities, personalities, and learning styles.
• Patient and supportive approach to helping young climbers navigate challenges.
• Creative and flexible approach to teaching, problem-solving, and maintaining participant engagement.
• Ability to receive and apply feedback to continually improve instruction.
• Dependable, punctual, and prepared for scheduled programs.
• Collaborative and team-oriented working style.
• Enthusiasm for climbing, youth development, teaching, and community building.

Responsibilities

• Lead safe, engaging, and age-appropriate climbing instruction for youth ages 3–17.
• Independently lead 60–90 minute classes of approximately 4–6 participants or co-instruct larger groups of approximately 6–12 participants.
• Implement First Ascent's established curriculum while adapting activities and instruction to meet the needs of individual participants.
• Maintain participant engagement through creative climbing activities, games, challenges, and teaching techniques.
• Teach and reinforce climbing movement, equipment use, belay practices, and safety expectations appropriate to each program and age group.
• Provide positive, constructive, and age-appropriate feedback that helps young climbers build skills, confidence, and independence.
• Create an inclusive learning environment where participants feel welcomed, encouraged, and comfortable trying new things.
• Maintain active supervision and prioritize participant safety throughout classes and activities.
• Communicate professionally with parents and guardians regarding participant progress, successes, and areas for continued development.
• Coordinate regularly with program leadership regarding participant needs, program concerns, and opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with fellow instructors to provide a consistent, high-quality experience across youth programs.
• Contribute ideas for new teaching exercises, games, activities, and other ways to improve the youth program.
• Represent First Ascent professionally and contribute positively to the broader gym community.

Job description

Youth Climbing Instructor - Avondale & West Loop Gym Locations

Chicago, IL, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1137

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 youth program, supporting climbers ages 3–17 across recurring classes, drop-in programs, camps, birthday parties, and other youth offerings.

We look to you to deliver engaging, age-appropriate instruction that balances skill development, safety, and fun. You will adapt your approach to meet the different needs, abilities, and personalities of young climbers while helping each participant feel supported, challenged, and successful.

Working collaboratively with fellow instructors and program leadership, you will help maintain consistent program standards, communicate effectively with families, and contribute to a positive team culture and high-quality experience for every young climber.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead safe, engaging, and age-appropriate climbing instruction for youth ages 3–17.

Independently lead 60–90 minute classes of approximately 4–6 participants or co-instruct larger groups of approximately 6–12 participants.

Implement First Ascent's established curriculum while adapting activities and instruction to meet the needs of individual participants.

Maintain participant engagement through creative climbing activities, games, challenges, and teaching techniques.

Teach and reinforce climbing movement, equipment use, belay practices, and safety expectations appropriate to each program and age group.

Provide positive, constructive, and age-appropriate feedback that helps young climbers build skills, confidence, and independence.

Create an inclusive learning environment where participants feel welcomed, encouraged, and comfortable trying new things.

Maintain active supervision and prioritize participant safety throughout classes and activities.

Communicate professionally with parents and guardians regarding participant progress, successes, and areas for continued development.

Coordinate regularly with program leadership regarding participant needs, program concerns, and opportunities for improvement.

Collaborate with fellow instructors to provide a consistent, high-quality experience across youth programs.

Contribute ideas for new teaching exercises, games, activities, and other ways to improve the youth program.

Represent First Ascent professionally and contribute positively to the broader gym community.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Minimum of 1 year of experience working with grade-school-aged children.

Minimum of 1 year of personal climbing experience.

Previous experience teaching or coaching climbing to youth preferred.

Confidence and competency in top rope belaying upon hire.

Strong commitment to safety and ability to remain attentive and engaged while supervising youth.

Positive, energetic, and encouraging presence when working with children.

Strong communication skills with both youth and adults.

Ability to adapt instruction to different ages, abilities, personalities, and learning styles.

Patient and supportive approach to helping young climbers navigate challenges.

Creative and flexible approach to teaching, problem-solving, and maintaining participant engagement.

Ability to receive and apply feedback to continually improve instruction.

Dependable, punctual, and prepared for scheduled programs.

Collaborative and team-oriented working style.

Enthusiasm for climbing, youth development, teaching, and community building.

JOB DETAILS

Part-time, hourly role.

Youth Instructors are required to work a minimum of 1.5 instructional hours per week to maintain active staff status.

Applicants must have availability between 4:00–8:00 p.m. on weekdays and/or 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. on weekends . Preference may be given to applicants with additional weekday availability.

Opportunities may be available to work private lessons, camps, birthday parties, group events, and other youth programs at a premium rate.

Free membership to all First Ascent locations.

REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE

Ability to stand and move throughout the facility for extended periods.

Ability to actively supervise youth participants throughout climbing activities.

Ability to lift and move climbing or program equipment as needed.

Ability to demonstrate climbing movements and techniques as needed to effectively instruct participants.

Ability to maintain focus in a busy environment with frequent distractions and communicate effectively with youth, families, and staff.

Primarily an indoor, climate-controlled climbing gym environment, with some outdoor programming possible during the summer.

Noise levels range from moderate to loud.

OUR COMMITMENT

First Ascent is committed to building an inclusive workplace and climbing community where people of different backgrounds, identities, abilities, and experiences feel welcome and respected. We encourage candidates who are excited about the role and our mission to apply, even if their experience does not match every qualification listed above.

First Ascent is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. First Ascent 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 characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law. First Ascent 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.