A parent of two fantastic NICAS students explains why climbing is their new found sport, what NICAS entails, and the range of benefits it provides for her children.
My son (age 13) was introduced to the NICAS climbing course at Summit Up in Oldham by a friend. After a half term block, I decided that my younger daughter (age 12) might also like to join.
She’s a dancer and very flexible so she took to climbing instantly. We come every Monday from 6-8pm.
There is a cycle of different instructors but they are all really friendly and great with my children. Safety is really important it the instructors also make the sessions fun.
I’m really impressed with this new found sport. Not only is it physically demanding, it also develops resilience, problem solving skills, determination and trust in your partner.
The instructors supervise diligently teaching knots, rope techniques and belaying skills. They offer support when needed and use specific praise so that my children know how to improve.
The children get a log book to record their climbs and the instructors tick off skills as they have been achieved. My children have both received their Level 1 NICAS certificates and are working towards Level 2.
My son is working towards the bronze Duke of Edinburgh and this climbing course counts as the Physical component.
Both children look forward to coming each week and have made friends within the group. I enjoy sitting with a coffee and a book whilst they climb!
At Summit Up, we’re passionate about introducing children to the joys of climbing in a safe, supportive, and engaging environment. Our Mini Summiteers is for children aged 3 to 7 years. This blog gives parents a detailed look at what their little climbers will be doing during sessions, how we support their development, and how you can get involved.
If you're unsure about whether to take your climbing from the indoor wall to real rock, this guide will help you understand what our Real Rock climbing day involves.
The first half of the autumn term begins the week commencing 8th September and runs for 7 weeks, with the final sessions taking place during the week of 20th October. These sessions are now available to book online.
