Welcome to the Kids Climbing Club! All Kids Climb classes are lesson-based and designed to teach participants the basics of climbing including terminology, equipment, skills, and safety. Each class is one hour in length and taught as part of a series of 6 progressive classes. Three separate series are offered—Beginner Basics (two age groups) and Beyond the Basics—and repeated over the course of a year.  The participant limit is 10 per series. Each individual class will have two instructors.

Expectations:

Participants should arrive 10 minutes before their scheduled class to stretch and prepare for a full hour of learning and climbing.

All students must be accompanied by a responsible adult during the lesson time per our UWSP Climbing Wall policies. A seating area will be available for all who bring a participant to Kids Climb. Adults are encouraged to observe and cheer their students along!

Course and Curriculum Information (see kids climb series descriptions)

• Beginner Basics Series 5 – 7 teaches the basics of climbing for children ages 5 – 7.
• Beginner Basics Series 8 – 12 is for children ages 8 – 12 and teach the basics of climbing.
• Beyond the Basics Series is for participants, ages 8 – 12, who have successfully completed the Beginner Basics Series and teaches climbing techniques and skill improvement. Instructor approval is required for enrollment. Email fitness.recreation@uwsp.edu to inquire.  

Questions about the climbing series can be directed to fitness.recreation@uwsp.edu.

Beginner Basics Series 5-7

Students ages who are first time or beginner climbers. Students of all learning styles and climbing backgrounds are welcome. The expectation of this course is to introduce students to the sport of climbing and to teach them how to safely climb. Students in this course will focus primarily on fun, engaging activities that will promote the goal of being able to climb to the top of the wall.

Students should be able to safely boulder while following all bouldering rules, safely top rope, and safely come down. Students should show that they can listen, pay attention throughout the class, and follow instruction. This class will help students become confident in their equipment and in themselves by trying something new. Students at this age may not be able to reach the top of the wall until further along in the series. Ideally by the end of the series, students should be able to top rope to the top of a wall, however, not all participants will achieve this.

Developing a student’s confidence in their equipment and in themselves helps them to overcome fear. It is common in this age group for students to be very hesitant and scared of heights. We will encourage students to set individual goals. One way we encourage students to overcome fear is to set clear goals. Once a student reaches a goal, they must pick a new one.

We will ask students to take a rest for a moment, as this helps them trust their equipment. So when a student wants to come down, we may ask them to just sit in their harness like they are coming down and take a rest. This helps them follow instructions in coming down safely and can contribute to their confidence in climbing.

Because students in this age group respond well to games and imagination exercises, we use several teaching techniques. When teaching this group, we utilize descriptive imagery and keep them actively engaged. We break up lessons with a form of activity. This age group can also struggle with exclusivity games, so when teaching we are encouraging and excited.

Beginner Basics Series 8 - 12

Students ages 8-12 who are first time or beginner climbers. Students of all learning styles and climbing backgrounds are welcome. The expectation of this course is to introduce students to the sport of climbing and to teach them how to safely climb. Students in this course will focus primarily on fun, engaging activities that will promote the following goals, 1) being able to climb to the top of the wall, 2) utilize climbing techniques and movements, and 3) begin to climb routes.

This group will be expected to follow more detailed instructions and learn more intricate moves. This group will have slightly higher expectations than the Basics 5 – 7 series. This group in general is very high energy and responds well to task-based games and learning.

Students should be able to safely boulder while following all bouldering rules, safely top rope, and safely come down. It is common in this age group for students to be somewhat hesitant and scared of heights initially. This class will help students become confident in their equipment and in themselves to overcome fear. 

By lesson 3-4 all students should be able to make it to the top of the wall, however, this may not be the case for all participants. After reaching the top, students will be encouraged to push themselves and do more than rainbow climb an easy wall. We will encourage students to get better and better, not just do the same thing over and over again. 

When students struggle with fear, and want to come down, we will ask them to just take a rest for a moment. Just sitting in their harness helps them get used to and trust their equipment. This helps them follow instructions in coming down safely. Sometimes resting gives them the confidence to keep climbing.

Beyond the Basics Series

Students ages 6-13 who have participated in at least one session of beginner kids climb and who can confidently climb a 5.6 without assistance. Routes on our climbing wall are often rated from 5.1 (easy) and 5.12 (very challenging). All routes are marked with colorful tape, one color per route. The expectation of this course is to train students to improve skill in climbing. Students will learn many techniques that will increase their skill and ability.

Students in this group should be confident and exceed in all expectations of beginner classes. Climbers who are good candidates for this class can climb to the top of the wall using their strength and skills without relying on the safety rope to support their weight when climbing. Climbers should also be able to come down from the top, using appropriate technique, and show no fear or hesitation.

The Beyond the Basics climb course is designed to be taken multiple times and should not become dull or repetitive because it will build upon skills learned in beginner courses.

Ideally by the end of this course students should be able to complete routes more difficult than 5.6 and utilize climbing movements and techniques. Students should not be in this course if they cannot come down safely or are nervous with heights.

This series is all about challenging the students. A participant in this class should always be willing to learn and gain new skills. Students should be working towards difficult goals and challenge themselves regularly.