Do you want to give your kids an amazing outdoor experience that is positive and fulfilling? Try mountain and rock climbing! Initially you may think the very opposite is true when you think about personal safety issues but, bear me out, as a top blogger for moms I only suggest kid friendly venues which appear on our KFV app, all approved by moms. And mountain climbing is amongst our rated kid friendly venues listed and approved for kids from five years old.

Mountain climbing is an exciting and rewarding way for all ages to explore nature. By understanding the various styles of mountain climbing, selecting kid friendly venues, and adhering to proper safety guidelines, mountain climbers of all ages can have a very safe and enjoyable experience.

It's important to find kid-friendly venues for safety reasons, such as areas that are not too steep, have few cliffs, and open pathways. A good way to start mountain climbing with kids is by making sure they are properly equipped before heading out. Kids should wear layers of clothing that allow them to adjust if they get too hot or cold. They should also wear a helmet and appropriate footwear to help prevent slips and falls.

Generally speaking, there are two different methods used when climbing mountains, also known as disciplines: rock climbing and mountaineering. These disciplines require different skill sets and have various styles that are key to learn when you’re a beginner.

Rock Climbing Defined

Even for beginners, mountain climbing could include rock climbing, which is the act of scaling a rock feature that is vertical in nature. Some examples would be a boulder, wall, or mountain face.

Mountaineering Defined

Mountaineering involves travelling vertically and horizontally while using a variety of styles such as scrambling, mixed climbing, and alpine climbing. The style and skills used when climbing mountains is usually dictated by the terrain’s demands and difficulty.

What is the best mountain to climb for a beginner?

There are many factors one should consider when determining if a mountain is easy or difficult to climb by a child. Firstly the minimum age should be five years old. The terrain to consider is important: larger mountains typically have a higher level of difficulty due to altitude, time, weather, and other factors.

Another simple factor to consider is the overall distance and elevation that needs to be covered, along with the steepness of the slope you must travel on. This can be valuable information for beginner mountain climbers as it helps you decide whether you are fit for the climb and/or what you need to do to get fit for the climb. Also, steeper terrain is more demanding physically and usually requires the use of technical tools. Other very important factors are the climb’s degree of difficulty, the technical skills and tools required, and the best time of year to attempt the climb. An easier climb would be one that is low in distance, total elevation, overall elevation gain, and overall difficulty. An easier climb will require minimal technical gear and skills as well, which is ideal when considering mountain climbing for beginners.

To ensure a safe and successful mountain climbing experience, lessons in mountain climbing should be taken by children. Taking lessons in mountain climbing provides kids with the necessary skills to safely and successfully summit a mountain. To help you find the best lessons in mountain climbing for kids, we have compiled a list of the five kid friendly venues for mountain climbing lessons in the United States that momstribute.com can recommend. However, the list is indeed endless. From lessons on snow covered peaks in Montana to lessons on spires in South Dakota, there are kid friendly venues and lessons suitable for all experience levels. A comforting thought for parents and guardians is to remember that climbing schools for training and the subsequent supervised climbs are very strictly safety conscious, which makes this sport enjoy few accidents and injuries. Your child is in good hands!

Find all these kid friendly venues on our KFV app which can be downloaded from this website.

Five KFV recommended venues to start rock climbing

1. Vertical Endeavors - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Homeschool Discount Days available

2. Climbing Works International Festival - Chicago, Illinois

Festival dates are 18 - 19 March 2023

3. Mission Cliffs Climbing and Fitness Center - San Francisco, California

Collaboration with hundreds of community organizations across California.

4. Rockwall Climbing Adventures - nationwide

Family Climbing Trips available. Special climbing programmes for boy scout troops.

5. Climbing Summer Camps - nationwide

Many outdoor rock climbing camps are offered at a climbing gym every summer

With lessons from these venues, you can ensure that your kids are receiving the best instruction possible for a safe and successful mountain climbing experience.

Grab your gear and start kid-friendly mountain climbing today! You never know what exciting adventures await. With the right preparation, kid friendly mountain climbing can be a safe and rewarding experience. So get out there and start your adventure today! Happy Climbing!  😊