Children’s Climbing Club Launch

We’re excited to be launching a brand-new Children’s Climbing Club at YMCA Taunton, giving young climbers the chance to develop their skills, build confidence and enjoy climbing regularly in our Wrencon Climbing Hall.

The new club launches on Tuesday 22 September and will initially be open to children aged 8 to 12, from complete beginners to those who have climbed before and want to keep developing their skills.

More than just reaching the top

Since opening the Wrencon Climbing Hall, we’ve loved seeing children and young people challenge themselves on the wall and discover what climbing has to offer.

Climbing is great physical exercise, helping to develop strength, balance and coordination, but there is much more to it than that. Working out a route encourages problem-solving and concentration, while trying again after a difficult climb can help build resilience and confidence.

And, of course, it’s also great fun!

Our new Children’s Climbing Club has been created to give young people the opportunity to climb regularly, learn new techniques and see their skills develop over time.

How does the club work?

Unlike a one-off climbing session, the Children’s Climbing Club follows a progressive structure, with our climbing instructor helping each child work towards goals at their own pace.

The club is designed to be flexible for families too. There’s no need to commit to a whole term in advance, with parents and carers able to book individual sessions.

Sessions are initially open to children aged 8 to 12, and no previous climbing experience is needed.

Children will have the opportunity to:

Learn and improve climbing techniques
Develop confidence on the wall
Improve strength, balance and coordination
Work through challenges and develop problem-solving skills
Set personal goals and recognise their progress
Meet other young people and enjoy being active together

While the children are climbing, parents and carers are welcome to stay and make use of our comfortable and welcoming social area, giving you somewhere to sit and relax while the session takes place.

Sharing a passion for climbing

Leading the sessions will be our climbing instructor, Connor, who is keen to share his enthusiasm for the sport and inspire the next generation of climbers.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing my passion for climbing with the next generation. One of the things I love about climbing is that there’s always a new challenge to work towards, and every child can progress at their own pace. I want the club to be somewhere children can have fun, build their confidence and feel proud of what they achieve. It’s a great feeling when you finally complete a climb you’ve been working on, and I’m excited to help our young climbers experience that for themselves.”

Connor, Climbing Instructor

Part of our growing climbing community

The Children’s Climbing Club is the next step in developing the climbing opportunities available at YMCA Taunton and creating more ways for children and young people to get active, try something different and experience a sense of achievement.

As an independent local charity, providing positive opportunities for children and young people is at the heart of what we do.

We want our Wrencon Climbing Hall to be somewhere people can challenge themselves, learn new skills and feel part of a welcoming community, whether they are trying climbing for the very first time or working towards their next goal.