Family Climbing Overview
Climbing Is For Active Families!
As a family activity, indoor climbing is in a class of its own. No experience is necessary and everyone can climb at their own pace. People get a sense of excitement and accomplishment from their very first climb! Age, size and strength really don't matter. Unlike many active sports, there's no "learning hump" to cross before it really becomes fun. And participant's skills don't need to be matched. Groups of widely varying abilities may even have the most fun!
But there's far more. Climbing fosters cooperation, communication, fitness and focus. There's no limit to the challenges or the rewards. Finally, as sports go, indoor climbing is pretty simple. The equipment is light and doesn't take a roof rack to drag around. And you're not dependent on weather. The Rock Club is convenient and comfortable year round.
So get started with a lifetime sport that's available rain or shine! We'll provide all the skills, equipment and environment you need to get started. Just jump to the section of interest.
Age Limits
We don't have strict age limits for climbing at the The Rock Club. The limits are based on size (getting a safe fit in a child's harness) and supervision. All young kids need close supervision, please see Kids Rules & Supervision. Some 4 year olds may be too small to fit into a full body harness.
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The TRC Approach
The Rock Club offers the best family climbing anywhere. Our comprehensive, four part approach makes family climbing accessible, affordable and FUN! Here's how:
1. Climbing Philosophy and Skill Development
We want to introduce families to the sport of climbing. The families that have the best experience are almost always the ones where the activity is shared between parents and kids. We believe that true engagement is far more satisfying that just providing an hour or so of entertainment. After you try it we think you'll agree!
Our Family Climbing Program is designed specifically to get parents and young kids climbing together. We cover the basics so everybody is up to speed and having fun. Parents get our beginners course with additional considerations on climbing with children. The kids get their own introductory climbing session and learn about climbing safety. Then everyone can return for more climbing whenever you want.
2. Facility
Our Training Center was designed to provide a secure environment perfect for beginners, children and family climbing. The walls aren't intimidating. Many beginners feel self-conscious. If you're one of them, you'll be immediately at ease. Yet there's still plenty of challenge for the bold!
3. Family-friendly rates and membership plans
Whatever your family's climbing interests are, we've got a plan that will save you money. See what works best for you!
- Maybe you just plan to climb occasionally? Or maybe you just want to test the water and see how climbing meshes with your family? Check out our Family Passes
- Already hooked? For regular climbing a Family Membership can save money
and offers many other benefits.
4. Safety
Safety is always our highest priority. Parents need to understand that we are a large sports facility, not an entertainment center. This may be difficult to appreciate until you actually arrive, even if you've climbed indoors before.
Unsupervised children can and do create situations that are unsafe for themselves or other climbers. For the most rewarding climbing experience, we ask for your cooperation by reviewing Kids Rules & Supervision. It's also good idea to review them with your kids prior to visiting. That way you'll help pre-establish boundaries so you’re sure to have the best possible time and get the most out of what we have to offer.
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Kids Climbing Q & A
Climbing with kids give parents the opportunity to constructively challenge their kids while still having fun together. The result is a lasting sense of accomplishment for all. Yet most parents are completely new to the sport and unsure how to get off on the right foot. We hope this Q&A helps.
Q: How can I make sure my kids have the best time?
A: The richer the experience the sweeter the success. The trick is to exploit the full range of challenges that climbing offers. Climbing rewards patience, focus and problem solving.
Q: But I don't know anything about it. How can I do that?
A: The first step is to think about goals. The first goal should be independantly climbing routes within or slightly beyond the child's ability.
Q: First, can you explain the grading system? What do the numbers mean?
A: The route grades at TRC range from 5.5 to 5.13. Forget the 5, what's important is the decimal. A 5.5 route is about as easy as climbing an extension ladder. A 5.13 route route is only climbable by a small, elite group. Grades from 5.5 to 5.8 are considered beginner routes, though a 5.8 is much harder than a 5.5. The color of tape doesn't mean anything, just look at the number tag under the route start.
Q: We haven't climbed much before. How do I know my kid's ability and select the routes?
A: Kids should be climbing the hardest terrain that they can actually progress on. "Making progress" means climbing largely unassisted except for encouragement and pointing out holds that went unnoticed. Start on the easy stuff, regardless of your child's experience. That means routes graded 5.6 or so. If they can climb most of the 5.6's then look for 5.7's. In the main climbing area the easy routes have a red velcro tag on the floor under the route. Just look for the tag.
Q: What's wrong with just letting kids climb where ever they want?
A: Frustration and exhaustion. Many kids, preadolescent boys in particular, insist on starting with the longest, "hardest" climb they can find. When allowed to do so the predictable result is repeated falls or not even being able to start. Dangling in the air may be a novelty at first. But after the novelty wears off there's little sense of accomplishment. We like to see kids succeed.
Q: What's wrong with "just trying" a 5.10 route to see what it's like? Then our child will learn that he/she can't do it and go back to easier terrain.
A: Our experience is that most kids don't actually learn this "lesson," especially if they have a low frustration threshold. We believe that the first experience climbing should be rewarding, not frustrating. If the route selection is inappropriate, frustration is almost always the result. Climbing on appropriate grades also minimizes dangling from the rope and swinging around - fun, maybe, but not climbing (and very annoying for adults who may want to get on the route!). We strongly encourage parents to do the route selection, at least until everybody gets a little more experience.
Q: Which part of the wall is the beginner's area?
A: The Training Center is mostly beginner climbs. But it also has some advanced climbs as well. In the main area, except for the arch, the walls have no specific beginner, intermediate or expert areas. There are easy and expert climbs side by side in places. To make things easier to find, the easiest ropes are marked with a red tape on the floor padding. These ropes have at least one easy route and plenty of beginner-friendly holds, just for good measure.
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