When you were a kid, were you a member of the Boy Scouts? If not, then you probably missed a lot of fun — and educational opportunity — with kids your own age. If so, then do you remember everything you learned… all the new skills? Do you remember all the fun you had? You may have learned some basic survival skills and working as a team, but you also learned how to be more self-sufficient. Learning the majority of these skills is usually done through the experience of scouting activities such as hiking, camping, canoeing and fishing. Experts tell us that teaching children age appropriate life skills is very beneficial to them for their entire lifetime.

Your children do not have to join the scouting in order to learn while having fun camping. It is an activity that you can easily do together as a family. And as far as that goes, you don’t have to load up your backpacks and hike into the wild, and it doesn’t necessarily even have to be in a tent. Read the rest of this entry »

Now, I love the snow and the brisk winter air as much as anyone. However, maybe it’s just because I am getting older, but this winter seems to be colder than others I’ve been through in the last few years. In fact, if it wasn’t for my collection of North Face Jackets, I don’t think I would even be able to stick my nose outside most days. My favorite is my North Face Nuptse down jacket; with its 700 goose down fill, it’s kept me toasty even on those days when the winter wind has come sweeping down off of the mountaintop. Read the rest of this entry »

Ok, so you have never really enjoyed the “wilderness warrior braving the elements” kind of camping. It’s okay, there are compromises. Next time you have to get out of the city, consider renting an RV and staying at an RV park rather than the tent and sleeping bag type of camping you have done before. Sure you want to rough it a little, but there is no need to go overboard right? :o)

How long has it been since you went camping? For many, it has not been since they were a child and most likely it was done with a scouting troop. They were into all of that survival and hiking stuff, which was probably a good thing since most of us would never have “exercised” on our own. It was also when the term camping equipment referred to backpacks, sleeping bags and a tent. Now, however, it takes on a whole new meaning. Read the rest of this entry »

As kids grow up, so too do their ideas of what makes a great birthday party. Skating parties, pool parties and treasure hunts can only be done so many years before there needs to be a change. Why not consider going to a place that has a rock climbing wall? They are very safe and can provide countless hours of fun for both the children and adults.

Many kids centers now feature a section of the floor space designated as a climbing wall. The area is covered by thick mats and the children’s area may have a variety of indoor rock climbing walls in varying heights. The hand and foot holds are designed so that the children do not have to reach very far and the grips are made well to suit a child’s hand. The place also has a variety of different electronic arcade games as well as a maze in which the other kids, those who are not interested in climbing, can enjoy hours of fun.

As the children get older, they are going to want a rock climbing wall that is more challenging than the one found in kid arenas. A great party idea is to take them to an indoor climbing gym where they can try out different grades of climbs. The establishment often offers parties and classes that focus on teaching the teens the necessary skills that can help them ascend in a safe manner. Do not worry, there are protective harnesses.

The idea behind these older versions of ‘kiddie climbs’ is to challenge the teens or young adults. Even older adults visit an indoor rock climbing gym to improve their skills or even to learn how to climb. The protective flooring is still in place, but instead of an eight foot wall, the wall may be over twenty-five feet and include overhangs. To up the ante on difficulty, many walls do away with the oversized hand holds and instead focus on making the wall more realistic. Cracks and slight ledges are built into the wall. Do not worry though, these gyms have safety equipment in place and the climbers are harnessed to prevent falls, as well as to help lower the climber down, should he or she hold back from trying a descent.

Studies have shown that families that exercise together are more likely to stay healthy. A rock climbing wall is a great party idea, but it can be an exciting activity for everyone in the family. After you learn the basics, you can begin going outdoors and venturing on vacations that center around rockclimbing. It can be a great bonding experience and give everyone something to look forward to.

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A very unique rock climbing gym in Tokyo, Japan.

Every rock climber has taken a good look at a rock climbing gym. After all, they were designed to help novices learn the important skills fundamental to sport climbing. Even for those individuals who are not interested in scaling a mountain cliff, the indoor wall provides countless hours of entertainment. For those looking to improve their skills, the artificial walls also available when the weather is not suitable for outdoor climbing.

If you are new to the sport, then an indoor rock climbing gym is a perfect place to begin. The different walls provide challenges that simulate an outdoor experience. The gym provides safety equipment in case of a fall, but also provides the climber with the thrill of a descent. The absolute bonus is having experienced instructors to teach you the skills you need.

An indoor gym is also a valuable source for the amateur to become acquainted with the necessary hardware that they will need to tackle rock climbing walls. Many gyms have a shop featuring some of the top lines in rock climbing equipment . If your gym does not, then it is always easy to ask around or do some research on the internet to find out what a beginner needs.

If there are no indoor rock climbing walls in your town, then there is a great website to help you find the closest one. Indoorclimbing.com is a great source of information for locations of indoor gyms, as well as various sections devoted to helping climbers be in better shape. It takes muscle to climb, as well as energy, so it is important to keep in shape. This is definitely not a sport that someone in poor health can easily perform.

Okay, so maybe you are an experienced climber. Do not think that a rock climbing gym would not be helpful to you. Many use indoor gyms as a way to improve their speed and skill for competitions. It is also air conditioned and heated so there is no worry of extreme temperatures to impede your climb. Think of it as a great workout that has the added bonus of a shower and/or a nice pool, in which to take a dip.

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