Redesigning the Bouldering Space in the BirdCoop Fitness Centre
Creators: name: Li, Annie
name: Xie, Felicia
name: Zack, Karissa
name: Liu, Vivian
name: Coyle, Ryan
Publisher: name: The University of British Columbia
Year: 2024

description: An extensive survey was conducted to explore the amount of interest in bouldering among the undergraduate students at UBC. Through the data collection, we aimed to gauge the amount of support for the expansion of the BirdCoop, identify potential areas for improvement, and determine preferred programming options and preferences regarding types of membership. Our sample had an even distribution across gender, years of study, and faculty of study. The findings indicate that there is a strong interest in bouldering among UBC undergraduate students coupled with widespread support for the expansion. Participants expressed the need for a larger bouldering space, and better equipment such as better mats, ventilation, and color-coded holds instead of tape. They would also like to see a greater variety of difficulty in climbing routes, noting that there is a current lack of intermediate options. In terms of programming, participants favoured drop-in sessions, beginner lessons, and events like women’s nights and competitions. Lastly, in terms of membership formats, participants favoured drop-in sessions or a semester-based bouldering-only membership. It is also worth noting that membership costs should be kept low as many participants reported cost as both a barrier to physical activity and a factor they prioritize when making physical activity decisions. We propose that UBC Recreation expand the BirdCoop bouldering space to accommodate more climbers. Equipment enhancements such as mats that are secured to the ground, improved ventilation and colour-coded holds that provide clarity for route navigation. Flexible programming including drop-in sessions for casual climbers and students with busy schedules, as well as semester long bouldering specific membership for those who attend regularly. Include programming for beginners to introduce new climbers to the sport and intermediate and advanced lessons for climbers who want to improve their skills. The proposed expansion of the BirdCoop bouldering space will not only meet the increased demands for bouldering in Vancouver but will also provide an accessible recreational outlet for UBC undergraduate students. By offering a diverse range of routes and programs, we aim to create a larger and more inclusive climbing community on campus While this study is exploratory, future studies should be conducted to further examine the topics we explored in detail using a bigger sample size. Additionally, community input should be considered in the future to ensure that UBC’s recreational needs are continuously understood and addressed. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”