Adventure Climbing Gym
Greenwich, NS
To cap off March Break, my friend and I decided to take our four boys (two 6-year olds, and two 7-year olds) climbing at the Adventure Gym in Greenwich. In exchange for some comps, I told the owner, Jon Foster, that I would share my experiences at the climbing wall. I have climbed before. Or, I should say, I attempted climbing before when I was a teenager.
Once was at a rock wall at a festival in Wales, and the other was actual rock climbing near Halifax. I was not very successful, but I did love repelling over the cliff top!
I just hoped that my boys had better climbing genes than I did! And, did they ever!
The Adventure Climbing Gym is located in Greenwich on Highway 358 towards Port Williams right at the old railway tracks. It is about a two minute drive from Exit 11 on Highway 101. Easy to find, and easy to get to.
We were greeted by Jon and his staff – who didn’t seem overwhelmed by four hyper-active, excited boys coming at him!
Each child was given a pair of climbing shoes. They run small, so ask for about two sizes above their regular shoe size. The room is compact, which is great, because it made it easy to watch all of the children at once. There is also a seating area for parents to sit and relax.We were not able to do this, as we were spotting and helping the children all the time. But, someday!
The wall is 15ft high, keeping it at a safe standard height for bouldering (climbing at lower levels without a rope). The flooring consists of 6 inches of foam layered at different densities then on top of that are 8 inch thick memory foam mats that are 8’x8’ so they cover most of the floor again.
These mats can be dragged around under where the kids are climbing for extra protection. I cannot tell you how much the boys loved climbing!
They said it was the highlight of their March Break and are already asking to go back again.
Climbing is about problem solving, using your body strength, and feeling proud at what you accomplished. They tried different routes, parts of the wall and cave, and didn’t stop for a full hour. They were completely exhausted.
Although the two 7-year olds were much more confident and capable, the 6-year olds still had a lot of fun, too. There is one section of the wall built for children with easier steps, including a crocodile feature.
I even managed to get up this section. Luckily, the camera’s battery died before we got a picture, though! Jon says that there have been 4-year olds climbing, but I would not take an average child younger than 6 as they don’t yet have the strength, courage, or length to reach.
We will definitely be back. Now that the boys know what to expect, and feel more confident, I know they will improve each time we go. For me, I will be happy to stay on the ground and let them have all the climbing fun!
The Adventure Climbing Gym also offers birthday parties. What a great and unique way to keep a group of kids active and entertained! When you go, wear loose-fitting clothes, and make sure to bring a drink. The cost is $12 per person for a day pass (and you can stay as long as you want) and $3 for shoes.
For our first time, an hour was sufficient for our crowd! Even if you are just curious, stop in to the Adventure Climbing Gym and peek your head in at the amazing set up. You will want to try it!
The Adventure Climbing Gym is great family fun! More information What are your climbing experiences?
