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.
The Mini Summiteers sessions are designed to offer a fun and foundational introduction to climbing. Using the NICAS Wild Climbers scheme as our framework, we help children build essential movement skills and confidence in a playful and structured environment. Parents may choose to purchase the official Wild Climbers logbooks, where each child’s progress is tracked with stickers awarded weekly. These stickers may represent specific skills or general participation, depending on the child's development and engagement each session.
Our sessions revolve around six key skill areas that help children become well-rounded and confident climbers:
Agility, Focus, Balance, Communication, Coordination and Teamwork
Each week, we typically focus on one of these skills through games and challenges that take place both on and off the climbing walls. While it might seem surprising to see children doing activities away from the walls, these off-wall games are vital in helping them develop the physical and social abilities required for climbing. These exercises are thoughtfully designed and highly beneficial in the long term.
We use a variety of climbing areas during sessions, including the Bouldering Wall, Roped Climbing Wall, and Clip ‘n Climb. The specific area used may vary each week.
When bouldering, children usually stay low to the ground and often work on traversing (climbing sideways). We also use the bouldering mat for skill-building games. For safety reasons, kids aren’t allowed to climb to the top of the bouldering wall until they’ve shown they can confidently down climb on their own.
Here, children work in groups of three: a climber, a belay anchor, and a tailer. As the climber ascends, the other two team members help manage the rope to ensure safety. Kids are encouraged to climb as high as they feel comfortable, and we celebrate progress at every level — whether that’s reaching the top or halfway up. While the pace can feel slower in these sessions, children still develop important skills such as teamwork, communication, and coordination, even when they’re not the one climbing.
These sessions are focused on fun, movement-based challenges. Instructors may guide children toward specific climbing elements that support the weekly skill focus. Children are encouraged to think about their movement and approach to each challenge.
We understand that parents of young children want to stay close, and we welcome your presence. It’s helpful if you're available in case your child needs the toilet or a little reassurance. We just ask that you inform the instructor if you need to take your child away during a session.
You can support the smooth running of sessions by:
1. Arriving on time.
2. Remembering your child’s shoe size and helping them put on their climbing shoes.
3. Offering gentle encouragement and praise.
During Bouldering:
1. Spotting (helping your child land safely if they fall).
2. Pointing out holds.
3. Gently supporting them on the wall.
4. Moving out of the way if requested for safety reasons.
During Roped Climbing:
1. Helping fit harnesses (the instructor will show you how and check them).
2. Acting as a tailer if groups are short-handed (never let go of the rope and follow instructions carefully).
3. Ensuring your child takes turns belaying and climbing.
During Clip ‘n Climb:
1. Helping with harnesses and clipping in/out.
2. Supporting your child with the instructor’s assigned games or challenges.
Once your child turns 7, they may be ready to transition into the Junior section of the club. If you're unsure about when this move should happen, feel free to speak with an instructor. They’ll be happy to offer advice based on your child’s progress, confidence, and overall readiness.
Every child develops at their own pace, and what might seem like a small step can actually be a big leap in confidence or skill. We encourage parents to celebrate all progress — big or small — and remember that learning to climb is about much more than just reaching the top. It’s about growth, resilience, and fun along the way.
If you have any questions or want to get more involved, please don’t hesitate to chat with one of our instructors before or after a session. We’re here to help your Mini Summiteer thrive!
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.