Those who were able to brave the sweltering temperatures and hordes of freshmen at Walker Beach Wednesday, Sept. 4 for the 5C Club Fair were likely intrigued by signs advertising clubs —such as Circus Club, Surf Club and Ascent Club — little-known at the Claremont Colleges.
Hoops and silks spun behind the booth of the 5C Circus Club, though that display was only a small peek into what they have to offer. The club provides a chance to juggle, unicycle, practice handstands on balancing canes and even participate in acrobatic dance and contortion workshops.
“Anyone [who] has a special interest or something they want to do or [are] good at, we welcome that,” Clara Meyers PO ’25, Circus Club Co-President, said.
While the club offers activities of a wide range of difficulty, it welcomes new members of all levels who want to join and learn new skills.
“The way the club works is that we just teach each other our skills, so it’s kind of like a skill share,” Meyers said. “A lot of the presidents have had a lot of knowledge, and are just really willing to teach people stuff, and then we just kind of passed down that element.”
The Ascent Club, a climbing club open to the 5Cs, also encourages those who have never climbed before to sign up. However, Nichola Monroe SC ’27, one of the club’s leaders, emphasizes the importance of safety on the ropes.
“You don’t have to have expertise to join the club at all,” Monroe said. “We do our best to facilitate learning environments, but it is a steep learning curve, particularly since you are dealing with real risk.”
The club helps people build the necessary skills at Hangar 18, a climbing gym in Upland, so they can join on Ascent Club-hosted trips. Last year, the group went to Joshua Tree and Monroe expressed her excitement about similar adventures coming up this year.
“I’m just excited to get people on ropes that have never even done that before,” she said. “It’s really, really amazing to share and to see.”
With a line stretching from its table down Walker Beach, the Surf Club was also signing up pros and newbies alike, providing those who want to get on a board the chance to do so. The club usually takes members to Trails, a beach south of San Onofre that can accommodate all levels.
“Just everyone in the water together, it helps everyone see like, anyone can do this,” Taylor Finn PO ’25 said. “You’re all here together just to have a good time.”
From experienced climbers looking for a way to get on the ropes to water lovers who’ve always wanted to try surfing, the 5Cs have no shortage of opportunities.
And wouldn’t it be cool to say you’re in the circus?
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