Rock Climbing @ Vertical Endeavors
My 5 year old is a bit of a dare devil and has been loving the rock climbing walls at Pump It Up and many of the street festivals this summer. I decided to step it up a notch and take him out to Vertical Endeavors in Warrenville (near Naperville). They are the largest indoor rock climbing facility in the state with 18,000 square feet of climbing surface, offering challenges for all levels of climbers. There is a $15 daily entry fee per climber and they have a rental package for $10 that includes climbing shoes, harness, belay tool and chalk bag. Vertical Endeavors is open Monday-Saturday 10am-10pm and Sunday 10am-6pm.
Vertical Endeavors is located inside a beautiful Life Time Fitness facility. When you arrive at the front desk just inform them that you are going to Vertical Endeavors. They will have you show photo ID and sign some waivers. You will then be escorted to the very impressive climbing area. Here you’ll meet the young and enthusiastic staff that will help you get started. Unless you have your own equipment, you’ll need to rent a harness ($4) and belay tools ($4). We spent $10 for the entire rental package, so in addition we got climbing shoes and a chalk bag (for keeping your hands dry). I have to say the shoes made getting your footing much easier then with bigger everyday gym shoes - well worth it. During orientation our guide explained that one half the climbing area is for experienced climbers. Those climbers need to know how to belay, which is holding the safety rope for your climbing partner, and be at least 14 years old. The other side of the climbing area is for climbers of all ages and experience levels. It uses an Auto-Belay system that does not require a climbing partner or much training. That’s where we spent our visit. The guide got us into our gear and gave us an orientation on how to use the Auto-Belay system. Then we were off!
Wow - I had never tried rock climbing before and it is harder then I expected. Even though you are strapped in and completely safe there is a part of you that still has to get used to the height and fear of falling off the wall. My son did not seem to have these fears so I had to suck it up and get climbing. There are all different levels to try. One wall is specifically for families and young climbers. It has big foot holds and many whimsical shapes of animals, letters, and bugs to grab onto. Then there are other areas that are numerically ranked in levels of difficulty. This was helpful as we were getting used to the climb. In all there are 21 auto-belays, so there are a lot of paths to choose from. By the end of our visit to Vertical Endeavors my son had found the climbing paths that had bells at the top. With determination he worked his way up the entire 30 foot wall and rang the bell with pride. It was worth the trip out to Warrenville and we will definitely be returning.
BTW - If you live in the area Vertical Endeavors offers climbing camps throughout the year. There are still spots available in August for children ages 6-16. The August camps are offered the first three weeks of the month and cost $180 per week.