The Climb Was the Icebreaker

It starts with a grin so wide it looks almost unreal, the kind you only get when you’ve climbed higher than you meant to, your arms are tired, and you’re still laughing anyway.

That’s what our Vital nights feel like.

City Tutors does informal community hangouts every month to complement our programming, a low-pressure bridge into the network. And a few times a year, that hangout takes the shape of a rock climbing night at Vital: part climb, part food and drinks, part “wait, you’re in the City Tutors community too?”

Some learners come for the climb. Some come for the table afterward. Some do both. That mix is the magic.

As City Tutors mentee Samantha Bretous put it: “Seeing familiar faces made the event feel welcoming right away, and it was nice to be in a space where you could both try something new and casually catch up with people.”

On the wall, you’ll see first-timers figuring out the basics, friends calling out encouragement, and people surprising themselves with how quickly they settle into it. Off the wall, you’ll see the real City Tutors energy: people trading stories, making introductions, laughing, and realizing they’re not walking through the city alone.

What we love about these nights is how naturally connection happens. Someone you meet over fries turns into a friend you see at the next event. A casual conversation becomes “you should totally talk to my mentor.” A learner who’s been quietly watching the community from the outside finally gets an easy on-ramp, no formality, no spotlight, just a room where they can enter.

And that’s the point. Our formal work is tutoring and career readiness support. But the community is what makes it stick, the space where people return, feel comfortable, and keep moving forward.

Huge shoutout to Vital for being such a great partner and making this tradition feel welcoming every time.

In a cold December, it was warmth in the most practical way: movement, laughter, and a room full of people building real connection.