Anybody have experience with this? Seems to be a big hit with our girls but it's not something I've ever done before. Our council offers low ropes and high ropes courses. What does a first-timer need to know? What kind of preperation is good for the girls to have before-hand?

Well, I looked into our council's ropes course, and their minimum age is 13 so we'll need to look elsewhere.

 

http://www.rei.com/stores/bloomington/pinnacle.html has some info on the climbing wall at the REI store near us in Bloomington. Does $125 for a 2 hour chunk of time sound good?

 

http://www.pjaschotterfitters.com/climbing.php3 is located out in Stillwater. They do "kids climbing parties", 6 kids, two staff belayers for $99.

 

http://www.verticalendeavors.com/ve/scouts.htm is in St. Paul. They have a class specifically designed for GS: $30 per girl for what looks to be a 4 hour class.

 

Ok, I know this topic started as "ropes courses" but it looks to be that indoor climbing will be more accessible to us.

 

Anybody familiar with the facilities I've noted here? Which do you recommend?

Thankee!

Regardless of where you go, would be nice to find someone a little closer to the GS program to help out. You also might look around for a Venture Crew that has some experience at these local gyms. The Ventures have training requirements in their advancement that your needs address, and many of them are great with the younger ones... They'll probably work for pizza and a chance to get in on the group discount.

Our local climbing gyms are $10-$14 for a visit without shoe rental,

and belayers are extra I think $10/half hour...

Also a separate party room is extra if you need it

Okies....what are your thoughts on "auto-belays"?? They have 11 of em at Vertical Endeavors which is where we'll probably go (those folks just seemed a lot more professional and used to working with kids than the other places).