Unmatched Athlete Announces Quarterly LGBTQ+ Youth Climbing Days In Partnership With Movement Gyms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2022. Media Contact: Olanrele Oni, Unmatched Athlete President, info@unmatchedathlete.org, 410-989-1586
BALTIMORE, MD - Unmatched Athlete, a Maryland area non-profit launched in July 2020, announces its series of free LGBTQ+ Youth Climbing Days, to be held twice a quarter, in partnership with each of Maryland’s four Movement Gyms (formerly known as Earth Treks). The first set of free events will be held at Movement Columbia Gym on March 5th from 12pm-5pm for teens age 13-18, and on March 19th from 12pm-5pm for kids ages 5-12 and above. All youth, whether they identify as LGBTQ+ or as allies, are welcome to attend. Parents, family and friends are welcome to attend.
This March 2022: By dividing each set of climbing days into two age groups of free climbing, teens will register to take a free “Intro to Rope Climbing” class lead by Movement staff on March 5th; and then, are invited to return on March 19th to join kids ages 5-12 as they climb, serving as mentors to share their new skills belaying, climbing, and bouldering. Both days will offer youth participants a free day pass, and snacks. March 19th will also feature a larger community day celebration with partnering organizations, inviting families to attend as they table. In addition, youth ages 5-12 will learn how to climb/boulder, a raffle will be held, and a complimentary catered lunch will be offered, thanks to the generosity of Wegmans Columbia.
Additional climbing days are scheduled on the next page: at Movement Hampden in June, Movement Timonium in September, and Movement Rockville in October.
To Sign Up:
The public is invited to sign up at https://unmatchedathlete.org/?p=1930. A $10 suggested donation is requested. The address for Movement Columbia (formerly known as Earth Treks) is 7125 Columbia Gateway Dr #110, Columbia,
MD 21046. Parents/Guardians of youth may sign up using the online sign-up form.
Once registered, youths’ parents are invited to complete ahead-of-time, (1) a waiver with Movement Gym to access the gym, and a subsequent (2) Unmatched Athlete participation and intake waiver to attend the event. They may also complete these in-person.
Additional questions are answered on the Unmatched Athlete FAQ event webpage. In addition to our climbing days, the board of Unmatched Athlete is also eager to share its growing slate of upcoming monthly pick-up games in seven sports; i.e. Basketball, Climbing, Flag Football, Soccer, Track, Ultimate Frisbee, and Volleyball; as well as dance as a fitness activity; at fields and rec centers throughout the Baltimore-DC corridor. http://unmatchedathlete.org .
Future dates for LGBTQ+ Youth Climbing Days are as follows:
Hampden (Balto. City) ages 13-18 + fundraiser Sat. Jun 11, 2022 12pm-5pm Sat. Jun 18, 2022 11am-4pm 12pm-5pm
Hampden (Balto. City) ages 5-12+ and community day tabling.
Union Collective Pride Event. 4:30pm-9pm Sat. Sept 3, 2022 12pm-5pm
Timonium (Balto. Co) ages 13-18 Sat. Sept. 17, 2022 12pm-5pm
Timonium (Balto. Co) ages 5-12+ and community day tabling Sat. Oct. 8, 2022 12pm-5pm
Rockville (Mont. Co) ages 13-18, in celebration of National Coming Out Day-Oct 11 Sat. Oct. 22, 2022 12pm-5pm
Rockville (Mont. Co) ages 5-12+ and community day tabling
About Unmatched Athlete
Founded in July 2020, Unmatched Athlete’s mission is to encourage LGBTQ+ youth and allies ages 5-18 to participate in sports and fitness. Mr. Olanrele Oni, President of Unmatched Athlete writes “Creating a space for LGBTQ+ youth and student athletes to compete and enjoy all the benefits sports has to offer is imperative. For too long, queer people have felt either misrepresented or discouraged to participate freely in sports, and as a result, have developed negative feelings regarding their experiences. We are eager about the prospect of changing that narrative by creating an environment where LGBTQ+ youth can feel comfortable and encouraged to engage in sports and fitness.”
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Google Doc: Press Release for Columbia LGBTQ+ Youth Climbing Days