ML Interest Tag: rope

Reach New Heights: Portland Climbing Gyms for Kids

by Annette Benedetti

Do your kids need to get some energy out? Bring them to a Portland climbing gym—STAT

Let’s be honest, during the long winter months it can be challenging to get kids outside, especially on the rainiest days. And while we love Portland’s many indoor playgrounds and play spots, and consider ourselves experts in the realm of creative places to play on a rainy day, sometimes it’s fun to mix it up a bit. So the next time your kids are climbing the walls at home, lean in and let them climb—somewhere else. These Portland indoor climbing gyms are waiting to help you and your little ones get your wiggles out this winter.

1. The Circuit

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If you are nervous about your little ones scaling a wall with only a rope to keep them safe, bouldering, or climbing without ropes, is an activity that even toddlers and pre-schoolers can enjoy. The Circuit is a bouldering gym that boasts being home to the best kids' climbing space in Portland. They have kid-specific boulders that are designed with shorter climbers in mind. Even better, all of the walls were created to accommodate climbers of all ages, sizes, and ability levels.

If your child isn't in the mood to climb The Circuit also offers slacklining. Slacklines are similar to tight ropes but made of stretchy, flexible material. They provide hours of fun for your littles as they practice balancing and carefully placing one foot in front of the other without falling.

410 N.E. 17th Ave.
Portland

6050 S.W. Macadam Ave.
Portland

16255 S.W. Upper Boones Ferry Rd.
Tigard, OR
Online: thecircuitgym.com

2. Portland Rock Gym

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Located in NE, the Portland Rock Gym provides hours and hours of thrills and chills as your young climbers scale walls speckled with colorful "rocks" guiding their path. This gym offers Kids Climb which is perfect for 8-to 11-year-olds and includes a staff member who assists your child as they begin climbing roped walls, bouldering, and using the auto-belays. There are also camps and clubs you can sign your kiddo up for if they fall in love with this daring sport. Sign your clan up for the monthly family package and enjoy climbing all winter long.

21 N.E. 12th Ave.
Portland
Online: portlandrockgym.com

3. Stoneworks Climbing Gym

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Beaverton’s Stoneworks is designed to promote community and exudes "family-friendly." It boasts 34-foot climbing and lead walls, high-ball bouldering to 20 feet, top-out bouldering area, and auto belays. If you or your kids fall in love with climbing there are climbing lessons available, and Stoneworks offers fun kids' rock climbing programs that are guaranteed to keep your little ones engaged and interested. It is also home to one of the best junior climbing teams in the country that welcomes kids 9 to 19. Consider thinking ahead because Stoneworks also offers a variety of summer camps for kids aged 12 and under.

6775 S.W. 111th Ave.
Beaverton, OR
Online: belay.com

4. Movement Gym

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This rock climbing gym recognizes that kids are natural-born climbers. Their walls are designed to accommodate all sizes and abilities and there are a variety of classes available for youth. From beginners to kids who are ready to compete, there is a program for everyone. 

1405 N.W. 14th Ave.
Portland
Online: movementgyms.com

5. Source Climbing

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At Source Climbing, your kiddos can take classes to start off on the right foot with climbing. Ages 6-12 can take the youth intro class before moving up and really honing their skills. Kids ages 9+ can even join a recreational climbing team to explore competitive climbing in a safe environment. Also, don't forget to check out their summer camp options!

1118 Main St.
Vancouver, WA
Online: sourceclimbing.com

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Find Sky-High Adventure at These Aerial Challenge Courses

by Abbey McGee

Soar through the trees and climb in the clouds! If you’re kiddo is game, try one of these Seattle adventure parks that feature ropes courses and ziplines. Sure it takes a bit of mental toughness, a little physical agility and a huge appetite for fun and adventure…your little adrenaline junkie can handle it, right?

High Trek Adventures Ropes Course and Zip Lines

High Trek Adventures Seattle Zipline via yelp

Climb to new heights at High Trek Adventures in Everett. With three levels of fun featuring 63 aerial challenges, there is something for every level of thrill seeker. Kids ages 4-7 can conquer the Cadet’s Course, just 15 feet above the ground with 10 challenge elements and a lower safety line that is easier to reach. Tickets for the Cadet’s Course allow three zips on the junior zip lines so smaller adventurers won’t miss out on the fun. Open to daredevils ages 7 and up, the Captain’s Course features all elements of the course. In order to navigate the course unattended, children must be able to easily reach the upper cable. Before you begin, all participants will complete “Ground School” with High Trek Adventures’ trained staff. This aerial orientation will fit you for a harness and helmet, teach you how to safely traverse the ropes course and zip line and answer any other questions before you start climbing.

Good to know: High Trek also has an 18-hole mini golf course, laser tag and other experiences. Purchase combo tickets to make it a full day of adventuring!

Ages: 4 & up
Cost: $35-$80/hr.

11928 Beverly Park Road, Bldg. C
Everett, WA 98204
425-382-2966
Online: hightrekeverett.com

Arena Sports - Mill Creek

via Instagram

Avoid the unpredictable weather and head indoors to Sky Trail, an new-ish aerial attraction at Arena Sports Mill Creek. This fun and innovative course includes challenge elements like suspended bridges, cargo nets, rope ladders, a zipline and more! There isn’t an age minimum for the course, but kids must safely fit the harness to participate. And, anyone under 48 inches tall must be guided by an adult chaperone or parent. At Sky Trail, you are suspended with a full-body harness and slingline from an overhead track, keeping you safely connected at all times.

Bonus: Visit the arcade, bowling alley, bouncy houses and more during your visit. Dine at Moe’s Kitchen, the on-site restaurant, and get a piping-hot pizza or delicious appetizers after your adventure.

Age: no minimum age
Cost: $16/person, ropes course; $11/person, climbing wall; $21/person, combo

13500 Bothell Everett Hwy., Suite A
Mill Creek, WA 98012
Online: arenasports.net/mill-creek/ropes-course

Zip Wild - Northwest Trek

courtesy Northwest Trek

Bobcats, bears and zip lines, oh my! On your next “trek” to the region’s favorite wildlife park, consider adding a zip line tour to your day. Northwest Trek’s Zip Wild Deep Forest Challenge features three action-packed zip line courses running through the beautiful tree canopy. Zoom on the zip line and then complete the challenge obstacles in between. The Sensation Course is for adults over age 18, but the other courses are perfect for kids. The Adventure Course is suitable for kids age 10 and older (minimum height 4’ 7”) and the Aerial Runway is perfect for younger adventures age 8 and older (minimum height 4’). The only question is, are you ready to zip wild?

Good to know: Remember to pack your own gloves for this adventure (gardening gloves work fine). Additionally, parents can supervise no more than two children on the course, and there's a maximum weight of 275 pounds on each course.

Age: 8 & up
Cost: $30/person, Aerial Runway; $65/person, Adventure Course; $90/person, Sensation Course; discounts for NW Trek members; includes admission to Northwest Trek

11610 Trek Dr. E.
Eatonville, WA 98328
360-832-6117
Online: nwtrek.org/discover/zip-wild

Bellevue Zip Tour

Bellevue Zip Tours via Instagram

Nestled in a Maple and Douglas fir forest just outside of downtown Bellevue, the Bellevue Zip Tour is a high-flyin’, family-friendly adventure. Take in beautiful views of downtown Bellevue, Mt. Baker and Glacier Peak from soaring heights! The seven-line tour takes you up to 80 feet in the air and on lines nearly 500-feet-long. Children must be at least 8 years old and weigh at least 60 pounds to participate. Riders under 13 must be accompanied on the tour by an adult chaperone. To zip through the trees, riders will be required to climb two extension ladders and walk on fairly steep and uneven terrain.

Good to know: All riders must be between 60-250 pounds. Adults can chaperone up to three kids on the tour, and teens under 18 must have an adult onsite during the duration of the tour.

Age: 8 & up
Cost: $85/adult; $70/kid, age 8-17 

14509 S.E. Newport Way
Bellevue, WA 98006
206-295-5494
Online: bellevueziptour.com

Canopy Tours Northwest

Irina V. via Yelp

If you’re looking for elevated drama, head north to Camano Island. Canopy Tours Northwest features six zip lines (the longest one is 660 feet), a log bridge, two brief forest walks within the tree canopy and a breathtaking 47-foot final descent. The course is located on 231-acre Kristoferson Farm, featuring the zipline course nestled in a beautiful PNW forest, hillside barn and small lake. Riders must weigh at least 65 pounds (300 pound max) and kids 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Bonus! Ride to the course in a historic Unimog forest vehicle.

Age: no minimum age 
Cost: $135/adult; $65/kids, 12 & under

332 N.E. Camano Dr.
Camano Island, WA 98282
360-387-5807
Online: canopytoursnw.com

Tips to Zip and Climb:

1. Be prepared to sign a waiver. All riders and climbers must complete a safety waiver before the adventure begins.

2. Dress for active, adventurous fun. Wear closed-toed shoes, comfy athletic wear and layers if you are outside.

3. Leave the extras behind. You’ll most likely be asked to leave behind phones, jewelry, backpacks and any extras.

4. Be prepared to step on a scale to confirm weight (solely for safety purposes!). Riders outside of the weight range will not be allowed to participate for safety reasons.

—Abbey McGee & Helen Walker Green

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The 9 Best Obstacle & Rope Courses in DC

by Meghan Yudes Meyers

If your little ones are swinging from the rafters these days, going to the park might not be enough to burn off all that energy. Check out these obstacle and rope courses around DC, where your wild adventurers can get their wiggles out in the air or on the ground. Whether they’re traipsing on bridges, swinging free through the air, or climbing walls (literally!), these courses have something for everyone and plenty of adrenaline to go around.

Adventure Park USA

Adventure Park USA

Make it a full day of adventure by heading to Adventure Park USA’s Hang ‘Em High Ropes Course. Hang out 13 feet above the ground to navigate this fun and challenging mid-air adventure perfect for anyone at least 40-inches tall. After you’ve had your fill of aerial adventures, take off your safety harness and enjoy some of their other adventures, like the go-karts or the rock wall.

Cost: $8 for the ropes course only; $25-100 for a fun pass that gives you the rope course and other adventures
Where: 11113 W. Baldwin Rd, Monrovia, MD
Online: adventureparkusa.com

The St. James

The St. James

This Springfield-based gym has a health club with fitness classes, racquetball courts, indoor sports fields and courts, ice rinks, an Olympic-size pool, a water park – and so on. But this is focusing on obstacle courses, so we’ll put on blinders here and head straight for the 30,000-square-foot area that has trampolines, a Nerf battle zone, a ropes course, colorful climbing structures and, of course, a Ninja Warrior Course. The biggest challenge may be tearing yourself away.

Cost: $13/one hour for nonmembers, $23/two hours
Where: 6805 Industrial Rd., Springfield, VA
Online: superawesomeandamazing.com

Summit Ropes

Summit Ropes

The largest indoor ropes course in the United States boasts 16,550 square feet of courses split into a Kids Course for ages 4-9 and the Main Course for ages 7 & up. Guests wear a full-body harness and use a smart belay system so climbers can go it alone or with a partner. The course uses via ferrata, a steel cable that runs along the route and is attached to the rock every 3.3-32.8 feet.

Insider tip: Reservations are required at this time. If you make a reservation and are a no-show, you will be charged the full amount for the booking.

Cost: Ages 7 & up - $29.50 (1hr), $48 (2hr)
Ages 4-6 (combo with adult) - $47 (1hr), $65 (2hr)

Where: 44810 Old Ox Rd., Sterling, VA
Online: summitropes.com

SkyZone

SkyZone

Children and adults can test their skills on a variety of equipment, such as the Ninja Warrior Course (open to ages 6 and up), which tests balance, strength and speed; rock walls, warp walls of varying height and difficulty; trampolines (open to anyone who can walk); and dodgeball. A main attraction is the Ropes Course (for anyone 48 inches and taller), which is suspended above the facility’s floor and requires a harness to use. Check the website for special events like Glow ($25/person ages 6 and up) on Friday and Saturday from 8-11 p.m. and Toddler Time ($10/child 5 and younger) on Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30-11 a.m.

Cost: Prices vary by location
Where: 21070 Southbank St. Sterling, VA; 5325 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA; 7807 Sudley Rd., Manassas, VA; 15813 Gaither Dr., Gaithersburg, MD
Online: skyzone.com

ZavaZone

ZavaZone

With three adventure zones to choose from, there’s something for every goal, whether it’s scaling a warp wall, reaching new heights on a giant trampoline, winning a balance battle or swinging through the challenges of the high ropes course set about 20 feet off the floor. And if you’re tired from all that obstacle-crushing, take the 40-foot zip line from one high platform to another. The height requirement for the high ropes course and zip line is 52 inches, and the overall age recommendation is at least 5 years.

Cost: $19.50/one-hour ticket to $34/two-hour ticket
Where: 40 Southlawn Ct., Rockville, MD (reopening June 11, 2021); 45685 Oakbrook Ct., Sterling, VA
Online: zavazone.com

NOVA Ninja

Situated at CrossFit Loudoun, which is owned by a former “American Ninja Warrior” contestant, this gym has classes and drop-ins to suit every schedule. New is a weekly Family Ninja Night on Saturdays from 6:15-7:15 p.m. ($20/family). Youth programs are available for children as young as 5. The Ninja 101 class takes kids through seven obstacles, including rope swings, balance tanks and a ring row.

Cost: Contact for pricing
Where: 21531 Blackwood Ct., Sterling, VA
Online: novaninja.com

Go Ape!

Go Ape

When the kids start bouncing off the walls, it may be time to take to the trees. These obstacle courses in Springfield and Rockville take climbers to new heights. The Go Ape Treetop Journey is a good way to whet your appetite for high-ropes courses. During the hourlong trek, you’ll conquer 20 obstacles and two zip lines. For the more daring – and slightly older set – try Go Ape Treetop Adventure, which takes two-three hours to complete and sits higher in the tree canopy. The minimum height for either is 4 feet 7 inches. Note that these are open seasonally. Both locations reopen March 28.

Insider tip: They’ve discontinued the use of cash and only accept card payments due to Covid.

Cost: $37.95/ages (1hr); $64.95/16 & up or $54.95/15 & under (3hr)
Where: 7550 Reservation Dr., Springfield, VA; 6129 Needwood Lake Dr., Derwood, MD
Online: goape.com

Terrapin Adventures

With several options to choose from, it’s pretty tough to not find something challenging – in a good way. The ultimate is the Terrapin Challenge (open to kiddos 8 & up who are at least 4 feet tall and 70 pounds). It covers all 34 obstacles, including the Zip Line, Giant Swing, 43-foot Climbing Tower, Terrapin Flier and High Ropes Challenge Course. Or tackle just one or two of those. The 450-foot Zip Line starts 30 feet above ground and riders can reach speeds of 20 mph as they sail down. Take a ride on the Giant Swing – after you scale a 4-foot-high scaffolding. The company’s patented winch system pulls guests back and up almost 40 feet in the air before they release the swing and enjoy 2 G’s of force as they swing back and forth. The Climbing Tower – a rock wall – has 12 routes to the top with varying degrees of difficulty. Ever want to free fall 40 feet? You can here – safely. And no obstacle course would be complete without a high ropes course. This one has 18 challenges and reaches 40 feet into the treetops. Cost: $69/person for the High Ropes Course, Climbing Tower and Giant Swing; $29/person for the Giant Swing and Zip Line; $29/person for the Kid’s for Terrapin Explorer Ropes Course Where: 8600 Foundry St., Savage, MD Online: terrapinadventures.com

Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School

Open to ages 5 & up, this location offers 13 aerial forest trails of varying difficulty. Each has a zip line but they primarily have bridges between tree platforms made of rope, cable and wood. It’s possible to create 190 unique challenges, although there are restrictions on which trails the youngest climbers can tackle.

Cost: Mon.-Fri.: $60/ages 12-adult, $50/ages 7-11, $16/ages 5-6; Sat. & Sun: $64/ages 12-adult, $54/ages 7-11, $20/ages 5-6
Where: 16701 Norwood Rd., Sandy Spring, MD
Online: sandyspringadventurepark.org

—Wendy Miller, Meghan Yudes Meyers and Stephanie Kanowitz

 

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Float On! FUNBOY’s Enormous Cabana Pool Float Is Back

by Karly Wood

Are you looking to upgrade your inflatable game? FUNBOY is here to take your summer to the next level.

Last year’s Cabana Dayclub was a huge hit, selling out in four days and amassing a 10,000 person waitlist. Now FUNBOY is bringing the coveted float back in 2021 and it’s been re-engineered for even more fun!

This year’s floating cabana measures almost 10 feet long and seven feet wide and is made with thicker materials, improved backrests and stronger seams. It come with a premium mesh carry bag, which makes transporting a breeze.

Made for four people, the Dayclub comes with dual mesh foot baths, center storage compartment, a water entry pad, side grab ropes, eight handles and a tether rope. The FUNBOY Cabana Dayclub is only available on funboy.com for $399. Don’t wait to snag this epic float, it’s bound to sell out like last year!

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of FUNBOY

 

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SweeTARTS Celebrates Wonder Woman 1984 with Exclusive Candy Dispenser

by Jennifer Swartvagher

SweeTARTS has joined forces with the Warner Bros. Pictures’ new action adventure Wonder Woman 1984 to launch an exclusive collectors’ item, the “Golden Ropes Holder.” The limited-edition Golden Ropes are a tropical-flavor licorice rope featuring a tart center. This new candy pays homage to Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth.

SweeTARTS Golden Ropes

Just like Diana Prince and her alter-ego, Wonder Woman, the new SweeTARTS Golden Ropes encourages fans of the sweet and tart treat to always “Be Both.”

“This partnership is a great fit because SweeTARTS stands for being more than one thing: sweet and tart, long and short, soft and chewy. Wonder Woman embodies that same idea of duality with her strength and wisdom, power and justice, and courage and truth,” said Ashley Incarnato, senior brand manager for SweeTARTS. “Our ‘Golden Ropes Holder’ is more than just one thing, too! It is a candy dispenser and a collectible for Wonder Woman fans. The ‘Golden Ropes Holder’ is the perfect vessel to hold your Golden Ropes while watching the all new Wonder Woman movie.”

SweeTARTS Golden Ropes

SweeTARTS created the “Golden Ropes Holder” in partnership with the film’s award-winning costume designer, Lindy Hemming, to help fans showcase their passion for Wonder Woman and unleash their own inner superheroes. Fans can load their SweeTARTS Golden Ropes into the detachable candy dispenser, enabling them to wear their new favorite candy right at their hip, just like how Wonder Woman carries her golden Lasso of Truth. Inspired by the design of the Super Hero’s iconic costume, the “Golden Ropes Holder” is crafted from vegan leather, designed in the signature ‘W’ pattern seen emblazoned on Wonder Woman’s armor and can function as a belt bag or cross body satchel. 

Starting Mon., Jul. 13, lucky fans have the chance to win this special collector’s item, not available for purchase, when they go to the @SweeTARTSCandy Instagram page and “lasso” (tag) a friend with the circle star emoji .

The new limited-edition Golden Ropes are available nationwide in 3 sizes; 3.5 ounce.share pack ($1.49)/5 ounce. peg bag ($1.99) /9 ounce package ($2.99).

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of SweeTARTS

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15 Things You Know as a Mom of Little Boys

By Noelle Kirchner

Photo: Noelle Kirchner

We have hunkered down over spring break due to the coronavirus, which has meant lots of family movie watching. One of the first flicks we were sure to catch was the last in the Star Wars series, The Rise of Skywalker. It brought me back to this article that I penned four years ago and still holds true. I added a new point to the list as well. Moms of boys, I hope this makes you smile…

My boys, ages four and six, watched the Star Wars trilogy for the first time this winter. They couldn’t wait to reenact the scenes. They became proud owners of matching lightsabers, courtesy of their grandparents.

The sabers glow red and make a sound upon impact. One afternoon after jostling, my older son ran to me in amazement. Apparently, they had just fought with their eyes closed and their lightsabers still met. He proudly announced that they now knew the ways of the Force.

While I knew they needed an outlet for their energy, especially when it was too cold to go outside, I worried the sabers would miss their intended target and leave a welt on someone’s cheek. As I laid down the respective ground rules before their next jostle, like keeping their eyes OPEN, my older son said proudly, “Mommy, you don’t have to worry. We have training.” And there was no doubt in his mind that this was the case.

This experience, among many, has matriculated in the following list. Moms of little boys know the adventure of raising them is often one with distinct markings. Along the path of wanting to raise gentlemen, I’ve had to be an observer of a world that’s very different from my own. I balance every day the desire to mold them and let go, being respectful of their boyishness. Here is what I’ve learned while maneuvering their dynamic, yet endearing world:

1. What’s cool has nothing to do with conversation or pampering—it’s watching Star Wars and memorizing every line.

2. Sword fighting requires no rules or training, at least in the way that you view training. Yoda, can you help here please?

3. Boys often bond through sports and wrestling. Sometimes they remind you of puppies. In a cute way.

4. Hugs and playful punches express equal endearment.

5. The only drama they know is playing until someone gets hurt.

6. Their pockets are always full—of something. Sometimes you’d prefer not to know. But you’d better find out BEFORE doing the wash.

7. Stones really do look prettier after the wash though.

8. Boys need a special place to stash their treasures. These treasures might include: a rock, stick, dead bug, baseball card, or money. All have equivalent value despite your assessment.

9. What’s gross is often either interesting or funny or both.

10. It’s not their stuff unless they can mess with it. And mess with it means tie ropes to it, punch holes in it, dunk it in water to “experiment” with it, launch it, etc…

11. They prefer to be on the move…to anywhere and at anytime.

12. Still, going shopping requires motivation, unless you’re buying food or sporting equipment.

13. Speaking of food, when you cook a meal they enjoy, they really do feel your love (and this doesn’t change as they get older).

14. A favorite shirt isn’t truly a favorite unless you have to pry it off of their bodies to wash it. The word dirty isn’t in their vocabulary and certainly doesn’t apply to anything beloved.

15. Sometimes when they hold you, they make little gestures they only do with you, and you remember them as your baby. Those are the best moments of your day.

This post originally appeared on Mamapedia.

Noelle Kirchner believes we don’t have to live with full schedules and thin souls. A mom of boys, she's a minister who's published in places like the TODAY Show Parenting Team, Huff Post Parents and iBelieve.com. Her television show, Chaos to Calm, features parenting hot topics and has hosted three New York Times bestselling authors.

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Scale to New Heights in 2020 at Brooklyn Boulders

by Amy Bizzarri

Got a kid who loves to spider-climb every tree at the park? Or a fearless kid looking for a (50-foot) tall challenge?

At Chicago’s very own Brooklyn Boulders (BKB) outpost, altitude is everything. Kids (and moms and dads, too!) can learn to boulder, auth-belay, top rope, and lead climb in a bright, colorful, kid-friendly 25,000-square-foot indoor rock climbing facility. It’s one of the most effective ways to harness kids’ natural energy into a fun activity that hones critical thinking skills. Get ready to slay your fear of heights and experience the thrill of climbing as you reach up to 50 feet towards the sky.

Why climb?
Climbing requires focus and concentration to succeed, two skillsets that are valuable not just on the wall but also in school. As kids climb, they’ll need to make decision after decision. Should I place my foot here or here? Should I reach a little higher? A little to the left? Climbing is like solving a puzzle, and critical problem-solving and decision-making skills are key. Climbing also offers a safe space for kids to escape the dreaded comfort zone (in a totally safe yet thrilling environment) as they learn to take chances, overcome nerves and set higher goals with each and every climb.

photo: Nikki Salgado

Belay like a boss
As soon as you step into the BKB space, you’ll meet a colorful bouldering wall, the shortest climbing wall in the space. Markers on the wall help guide your climb by indicating which steps to take based on your skill level. First-timers will use this wall to get the hang of free climbing. . . minus ropes and harnesses. Mats here meet any falls with cushioned comfort.

Brooklyn Boulders Chicago’s airy, spacious south room boasts 50-foot-tall walls covered in high-reaching, rock climbing surfaces. This is as close to the mountains as you’ll get in the city. Safety harnesses are required here in this adventurous room designed for rappelling and belaying. 

photo: credit Brennan Salgado

A climbing facility…and a coworking space
A second level serves as a gym: you’ll find a variety of workout equipment and a wide array of fitness classes, from yoga to weightlifting.

photo: credit Amy Bizzarri

This level is also home to an “Active Collaborative Workspace” set up with built-in desks, a lounge/small meeting area and free wifi so you can squeeze in a bit of work while your kids are literally climbing the walls. Sit on an exercise ball at your desk and you’ll get a workout in, too.

photo: credit Amy Bizzarri

BKB Kids 
BKB strives to help kids build confidence as they climb. Staffed at a 1:5 ratio, the youth programs give climbing kids the attention they need to succeed. Programs are open to all levels, from scaredy-cat beginners to kids with extensive climbing experience under their belt.

Choose from after-school and weekend programs, Summer Adventure Camp, or day-long BKB Adventure Days that coordinate with CPS’s holiday schedule. BKB’s Teen Academy is an afterschool program for kids 11-15 looking to explore climbing while making friends and can be booked for a single day or on a recurring basis. 

Kids who love to climb can introduce their friends to their passion by hosting a two-hour birthday party event. BKB’s staff will lead your group of 5-20 climbers through the facility and coach attendees on conquering challenges together. You can even bring your own food, drink and cake.

Learn the ropes
New to climbing? BBC offers Learn the Ropes workshops for kids and adults that have never experienced a wall climb. During a two-hour workshop, you’ll receive hands-on practice as you learn the rope techniques and movements needed to scale BKB’s tallest walls. You’ll also learn how to properly fit your harness, tie knots correctly and use equipment to manage the rope for another climber (AKA belaying). 

photo: credit Amy Bizzarii

Competitive climbing. . . for kids
If your kids are looking to join a team like no other, the BKB Beasts Climbing Team was created for young climbers who want to progress and also experience the joys of competitive climbing. Open to kids ages 7-17, the team is divided into small groups by skill levels with a coach to climber ratio of 1:3, making this a team experience that is also focused on the individual.

Know before you go
Remember to wear comfortable clothes that won’t restrict your movement. BKB will fit you with special climbing shoes onsite. Water, snacks and bars are available at a small, in-facility retail shop. Lockers are available but you’ll need to bring your own lock.

Brooklyn Boulders Chicago
100 S. Morgan St., West Loop
312-268-0002
Online: brooklynboulders.com/chicago/ 

— Amy Bizzarri

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Why It Matters How We Talk to Our Kids about Gender Roles

By Gay Cioffi

The year was 1973, and my first act of subversion (or at least that was how the principal described it) was to allow the girls a turn to play with the large red rubber playground balls.  Until my arrival as a fifth-grade teacher at the public school in an urban area near Boston, girls were given jump ropes to play with during recess while boys were given large red rubber balls. They were assigned separate areas of the blacktop lot where recess took place to use the balls and jump ropes. 

The boys had a lively game of “punchball” each day which along with promoting lots of physical activity and social interaction, looked like tons of fun. Chatting about the day’s game continued in the classroom well after recess had ended. I asked the girls in my class if they had any interest in playing punchball, and they wholeheartedly agreed that they did, but reiterated to me the rule of the school—that balls were for boys only.

When asked about the jump ropes, the boys were less interested in using them until I mentioned that boxers and other athletes jumped rope to stay in shape.  When I later displayed some magazine photographs of Mohammad Ali and other sports figures using a jump rope, they definitely became more enthusiastic.

I put the topic of recess equipment on our agenda for our next class meeting, and it was decided after much discussion that the kids would take turns trading off the use of the balls and jump ropes, every other day. While most of the boys weren’t thrilled with the arrangement initially, everyone agreed that this was the fair thing to do. Everyone that is, except the principal.

Once news of this new arrangement reached him, I was called into his office. He was quite upset with me that I was interfering with what had always been the tradition at the school. His branding of me as a “woman’s libber” was not meant as a compliment, but I was determined to keep up the new turn taking. I reminded him of the recently passed Title IX law of the Education Amendments Acts of 1972, which essentially extended equal access to athletic programs for girls and boys and as far as I was concerned that included our red punchballs and jump ropes.

It was the first of many small but hard-fought battles against rigid gender stereotyping that I would wage for my students both male and female in the years to follow. I was reminded of this particular challenge recently when a friend forwarded this article about a gender neutral nursery school in Sweden that specifically sets out to tackle gender stereotypes.

It is a fascinating article, well worth the read. The nursery school described in the article has taken serious measures to address all areas of gender stereotyping, well beyond my attempt at mixing up recess, back in the day. And while I am not an enemy of gender or advocating for gender policing, as an educator, I have always felt a responsibility to challenge rigid gender roles in any educational community that I have been a part of.

As a nursery school Director, I dissuaded my staff from calling attention to gender by addressing the students not according to their gender, but as children. Teachers were discouraged from having the children line up in two lines, one for boys and one for girls. When I was growing up in the fifties and sixties this was not only common practice, but many schools had separate entrances, with the words “Boys” and “Girls” etched in stone above the doors. It really makes you wonder what they thought would happen if a child used the wrong door!

Every nursery school teacher has heard a child announce with confidence, “Those dolls are for girls to play with” or “She can’t play with that, that’s a boy’s toy.” In my experience, the best response to such proclamations is a neutral, “Why is that a boy or girl’s toy?” and “I think boys and girls can play with any toys they want.” Children from an early age should get the message loud and clear that it is what’s so great about playing; there are no girl toys and no boy toys—just toys!

As a parent or caregiver, you are in a position to send a message about gender that is open and inclusive. Yes your son may, or may not, gravitate toward vehicles and balls, and yes your daughter may or may not, always choose the princess dress-up, and whatever their choices or preferences, all of it is perfectly okay. What is not okay is not giving children space and opportunity to explore it all. 

By the time my fifth graders moved on to sixth grade, all of the classes in the middle school were sharing all of the playground equipment, we even instituted a coed punchball game on Friday, yes, radical for the time, but lots and lots of fun!

I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.

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Amazon Sells a Dabbing Santa Christmas Yard Inflatable

by Erica Loop

Your kiddo won’t stop dabbing, even when you beg and plead. It’s the thing to do—and apparently, even Santa is getting on on the action.

If dabbing is a do, then Top Treasures’ five-foot dabbing Santa is a pop culture find you need to order for the holiday season!

photo: Amazon

Even though just about every house on the block has a massive Santa blow-up or plastic reindeer, with this decorative pick you can stand out from the crowd. Not to mention, you’ll totally impress the tweens and teens in your neighborhood.

Nab this inflatable yard decor on Amazon for just under $50 and includes stakes, a blower fan and tether ropes. Not only is it five feet of dabbing Santa fun, but it also comes with a set of interior lights. This means your neighbors (and anyone driving by) can catch a glimpse of Santa mid-dance in the dark too.

—Erica Loop

 

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The New Exhibit That Will Have Them Thinking Outside the Box

by Beth Shea

Want to give your kids a break from all that screen time? Unplug and show them some good old-fashioned play like we used to enjoy back in the day. Head downtown to the interactive art installations at The New Children’s Museum; where their newest exhibit, Make/Shift, will introduce your kids to one of our favorite retro toys: the cardboard box. Your little techies won’t miss that iPad one bit. Check out four of the museum’s current installations below!

Make/Shift
The New Children Museum’s latest installation Make/Shift reinvents the indoor playground. The 1,200 square foot space invites kids to reconfigure and design a collection of plywood furniture, cardboard boxes, ropes and loose objects. Inspired by the popular Adventure and Junk playgrounds often found in the UK and Scandinavia, Make/Shift gives kids of all ages the opportunity to get active while they climb, destroy, build, swing and hide. The structures are on wheels so they may be easily moved into various formations. Kids can also create tents and large-scale forts using a plentitude of cardboard boxes and wall panels with anchor points.

The Wonder Sound
Adventurous kids will relish the chance to explore this “labyrinth of rooms, nooks and ropes” that is a “work of art that you physically enter into and discover.” Resembling a treehouse, an impressive and astounding 18,000 hand-cut wooden shapes were used to create The Wonder Sound. Kids can climb through and get lost in the structure that is filled with an eclectic host of junkyard objects from all over the city.

Wobbleland
What could be more fun for a tot than playing in a giant kitchen sink filled with huge, soft, food sculptures? Wobbleland is like a scene out of a fantastical fairytale where infants and toddlers age 4 and under have the rule of the land and the freedom to explore and make discoveries. The food sculptures are not only fun by design: giant tomato slices, a teeter totter avocado, a watermelon boat, a giant cheese wedge… they all make for great climbing, rocking and stacking equipment to help develop motor skills.


Desert Derby
Toy car lovers (and what kid isn’t?) will love zipping and zooming down the open roads of the Desert Derby. But this art installation is more than meets the eye. The patch of blue in the center represents a reservoir, an homage to the 700 mile-long California aqueduct that delivers water from Northern California to Southern California. Since SoCal residents are all too familiar with the freeway systems and know very little about the local waterways, Desert Derby raises this awareness among kids through organic play.

Insider’s Tip: The cafe at The New Children’s Museum is currently under construction. We like to walk down the street to enjoy breakfast or lunch at Cafe 222 (222 Island Avenue). Additionally, the museum recommends these family-friendly restaurants, all within walking distance, to grab a bite at during your visit. If you dine at one of the restaurants the museum recommends, show your museum receipt to get a discount off your meal.

The New Children’s Museum
200 West Island Avenue
San Diego, Ca
619-233-8792
Online: www.thinkplaycreate.org
$13/adults and children over 1; $3 on Target Family Day (the second Sunday of every month).
Hours: The New Children’s Museum is open weekdays from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m.– 4 p.m. , and closed on Tuesdays.
Parking: The Museum offers limited $10 parking on weekdays and $15 parking on weekends in their underground paid parking structure.

Have you visited recently? Tell us about your experience below!

–– Beth Shea

Photos Courtesy of The New Children’s Museum

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