Climb A Wall In LIC

If you saw a 60-foot rock abutting a building near Queens Plaza, you're right!

On October 4, officials at NYC Outward Bound unveiled the largest rock-climbing wall in the Big Apple just outside their headquarters in Queens Plaza, 29-46 Northern Blvd. in Long Island City.

The wall, made possible through a New York City Council grant, will be accessible to students and teachers at city schools who share a penchant for "spectacular thrills in outdoor sports," an Outward Bound spokesperson said.

Designed by Outward Bound and "Nicros", a master of training equipment design, the wall features permanent and movable obstacles that offer unlimited climbing routes and difficulty levels, from beginner to expert, to challenge students to test their true grit and climbing skills.

"Some of the most important lessons are learned outside the classroom," NYC Outward Bound President Richard Stopol said. "Because of that, Outward Bound, with capital funding from the New York City Council, has the pleasure of introducing this new 60-foot climbing wall to the city's children."

Stopol hopes that the wall will be used by as many teachers and students in city schools as possible, particularly those in the small Expeditionary Learning secondary schools that we have helped launch with the New York City Department of Education.

For more information or to schedule a rock-climbing session go to www.nycoutwardbound.org.

- Liz Goff