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!
Summit Up are delighted to be offering free Easter Holiday Camps for eligible children. To qualify, children must be aged between 6 and 10, live in the Oldham postcode area, and have a valid HAF code.
We are excited to invite local teachers and youth group leaders to The Summit Up Educator Experience at Summit Up Climbing.
This special event is designed to give you the opportunity to try climbing for yourself, explore our facilities, and learn more about how we support schools and youth groups through engaging, confidence-building experiences. Whether you are looking for an exciting school trip, a team-building session, or a new activity for your young people, we would love to showcase what we offer.
We are currently gathering expressions of interest to help us confirm a date and time that works best for attendees. There is no commitment at this stage - simply let us know if you would be interested in attending and your preferred availability.
If you would like to register your interest, please complete the short form https://forms.gle/QAfUajaePoJCbRK89
Starting from 16th February, an additional parking option will be available for Summit Up visitors. Please note that this is not a Summit Up-owned car park; it is operated by PaybyPhone and is located on Horsedge Street, just around the corner from Summit Up. The parking fees are as follows: £1 for up to 1 hour, £2 for up to 3 hours, £3 for up to 12 hours, and £6 for up to 24 hours.