Camp Vertica grew out of a summer spent in the Rockies.

While working at a sleepaway camp in Estes Park, and a year prior, at a sleepaway camp in Brevard, NC, I spent my days watching young people step outside their comfort zones: trying new things, building friendships, discovering confidence they didn't know they had. Being surrounded by mountains and that kind of growth sparked something in me. I started thinking about my own path: growing up climbing in gyms, loving the sport deeply, but not always having easy access to climbing outside.

That's when the idea hit. What if there were a sleepaway camp built specifically for kids who want to climb outside, but don't know where to start?

I imagined a place where young climbers who grew up indoors could transition into the outdoor world in a supportive, intentional way. It's a place where technical skills matter, but so do mentorship, resilience, and community. Camp Vertica was born from that vision: the structure and energy of sleepaway camp, blended with the transformative power of outdoor climbing. The name reflects upward growth, not just on the wall, but within each camper as they build confidence, independence, and trust in themselves and their peers.

At first it felt like more than I could pull off, but my peers and mentors encouraged me to take it seriously. I knew there had to be people who wanted it to exist. My co-coach Addy Tallent grew up climbing with me on Team Stone Summit in Atlanta. Addy had a different experience growing up, her parents were able to take her climbing outside pretty regularly, and that early access to outdoor climbing helped shape the incredible climber and coach she is today. With different backgrounds, the same formative competitive team experience, and a shared desire to inspire the next generation, we brought this vision to life. Together we launched our first program in summer 2026 at Grayson Highlands State Park, taking a small group of young climbers from the gym to real rock for the first time.

Camp Vertica exists because I believe in the kid who falls in love with climbing indoors and wonders what it might feel like outside. It exists because mentorship matters, because access matters, and because the outdoors can shape who we become.

— Kiera Murphy, Founder & Camp Director