Youth Climbing

Youth Climbing Block Programme

Our Youth Climbing Provision is suitable for all abilities - minimum age 7. The common theme for all options are fun, engaging, safe sessions that are delivered by experienced, passionate and encouraging instructors. We have options for block bookings that run in line with PKC school terms and also options for Open Sessions which are Pay as You Go.

Youth Climbing Block Programme

These sessions run in blocks throughout the year and include the option to engage in the National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS) and Bouldering Scheme (NIBAS) - see below for more information

Session Slots:

DAY	TIME SLOT	SESSION
TUESDAYS - FRIDAYS	4.30PM - 6PM	Climbing Session / NICAS
FRIDAYS	4.30PM - 5.30PM	Bouldering Only Session / NIBAS
SATURDAYS	9.45AM - 11.15AM	Climbing Session / NICAS
	11.30AM - 1.00PM	Climbing Session / NICAS
SUNDAYS	10.30AM - 12.00PM	Climbing Session / NICAS

We run our Youth Climbing Block Programme in line with PKC holidays

Cost varies depending on length of block - based on £14 per session for NICAS/Climbing and £11 per session for NIBAS/Bouldering

Registration on NICAS/NIBAS = £7.50 (for Levels 1-3) and £7.50 (Level 4)

Currently all our spaces are FULL.  Please email climbmanager.perth@uhi.ac.uk to register your interest and be added to our mailing list so we can let you know when spaces become available.  In order to offer you the most appropriate slots please include: names and ages of child/children, any previous experience, contact mobile number, preferred slot/session type.

In the meantime we do have options to get your kids climbing!

Instructor Led:

• Join our weekend Youth Climbing Open sessions - these run every Saturday and you can pick and choose which sessions you join, subject to availability.
• You can book into one of our Taster Sessions - why not give it a go yourself!
• You can book into our Supervising a Junior course - this gives you all the skills you need to bring your wee ones climbing yourself

Independent Access:

• If you are a competent climber you can register as an Unsupervised Adult climber and bring in up to 2 kids/guests to supervise at a time (they will need to complete a consent form - U16 / 16+).  Once you have registered you will have a brief practical check with an instructor on your first visit.  If you have climbed before but feel a bit rusty then our Safety Skills Refresher course will get you back up to speed!
• If you don't yet have the skills to use the roped area indepedently you can also register as a Boulder Only Unsupervised Adult - sign up to 2 kids in as guests and then supervise them on the bouldering wall - following a brief induction.

 

Youth Climbing Open Sessions

Our Youth Climbing Provision is suitable for all abilities - minimum age 7. The common theme for all options are fun, engaging, safe sessions that are delivered by experienced, passionate and encouraging instructors. We have options for block bookings that run in line with PKC school terms and also options for Open Sessions which are Pay as You Go.

Youth Climbing Open Sessions

We have such a high demand for spaces in our Youth Block Programme that we have also launched Youth Climbing Open Sessions that run on Friday and Saturday.

These sessions are booked individually so are a great option if you want a taste of our Youth Climbing Programme or just want to drop in and out of sessions to suit your availability. Sessions are suitable for all children aged 7+

• Youth Climbing Open Session: Saturdays @ 1.30pm - 3.00pm - BOOK HERE
• Youth Climbing Open Session: Saturdays @ 3pm - 4.30pm - BOOK HERE
• Youth Climbing Open Session: Fridays @ 6.00pm-7:30pm - BOOK HERE 
• Cost: £12.50 per session - all equipment provided

Youth Climbing Session Content

All our Youth Climbing sessions are run by qualified, experienced and enthusiastic instructors - we undertake regular staff training to ensure they are all up to date with industry standards and to share ideas.

Our climbing sessions focus on:

• developing the key climbing and bouldering safety skills
• improving climbing movement and performance
• developing understanding of range of equipment and confidence in using equipment
• delivering  fun, engaging sessions 
• improving communication skills, teamwork, problem solving and confidence
• improving fitness- strength, endurance, flexibility, co-ordination, balance and agility

The climbing sessions invovle a mixture of roped climbing and bouldering.  The bouldering only sessions only involve bouldering.

You also have the option to engage in NICAS/NIBAS during any of these sessions which allows children to record progress, log climbs and receive a certificate at each level.  Please see below for more information on what NICAS/NIBAS involves.

NICAS and NIBAS

The National Indoor Climbing/Bouldering Award Scheme (NICAS/NIBAS) was set up with the main aim to provide a safe introduction to climbing for young people aged 7 years and up on artificial climbing structures (e.g. indoor climbing walls). The nationally-recognised scheme also helps to standardise the teaching and coaching of young people in an engaging manner, and people gain certification with each level gained.

 

Our aim is to develop and engage the young people of Perth and surrounding area's in the sport of climbing, through the NICAS levels and certification. The scheme also promotes good practice, deeper knowledge of the sport and provide a structure for climbing development. More information on the Scheme can be found on the NICAS website.

We are able to facilitate young peoples journey through 4 of the 5 levels:

1. New Climber - An entry level aimed at novices that recognises their ability to climb safely under supervision.
2. Foundation Climber - Aimed at promoting good practice in climbing and bouldering unsupervised on an artificial wall.
3. Technical Climber - A more advanced top-roping and bouldering award that focusses on developing technique and movement skills. This is aimed at ensuring a candidate possesses the knowledge and skill to climb and belay safely at any climbing facility (whether or not under supervision or with back-up) and operate in a responsible manner. Achievement at this level is broadly equivalent to a pass at GCSE.
4. Lead Climber - Concentrating on the skills required to lead climb proficiently. Aimed at developing a self-motivated climber who has a wide range of skills and has reached a high level of competence, with a desire to progress by identifying and setting goals.

How it works

All candidates are grouped by ability - Starter Group (L1 and 2), Intermediate Group (Level 3) and Developer Group (Level 4). Following a block we may advice staying in the same group or joining a similar level and ability group on a different day.  The ethos of NICAS to progress at your own indivdual speed rather than pressue to complete a level in a specific time frame.  However there are minimum time frames for progression:

Levels 1 and 2 - will take a minimum of 1 block to achieve

Level 3 - will take a minimum of 1 block to achieve but more likely 2 - 3 blocks

Level 4 - minium age 14, will take a minimum of 2 blocks to complete, but will most likely take more

Please note due to the level and type of climbing undertaken at Level 4 candidates must be either 14+, or have sufficient experience and maturity due to the conditions required to lead climb safely.  For more information about Level 4 please call 01738 877313 or email climbmanager.perth@uhi.ac.uk.  

The instructor will communicate regularly with parents regarding progression and will advise on next steps following each block.  Parents are also encouraged to speak to instructors at any point to discuss progress and engagement on the scheme.

 

Development Group and Performance Squad

These sessions are for climbers who have completed Level 4 NICAS or at a similar level. These sessions run in the same blocks as our Youth Climbing Programme.