Climbing High at the Bend Rock Gym!

Updated: March 2020

Hello Bend! Its that time of the year when finding something for your kids to do after school is hard. The Bend Rock Gym has been one of my go-to spots for after school programs and summer camps since we moved here. In 2016, I wrote a blog post on our first experience at the Bend Rock Gym…check it out at the bottom of this post! They have an amazing facility and super-fun/friendly staff. My kids have a ton of energy and this is the perfect activity to get it all out.

There are two more after school sessions left for the remainder of this school year.  The next session begins the week of March 16 (with a break for Spring Break) and there is still availability in all programs!

This year the Bend Rock Gym has added new summer camp programs to their line up (that are not full yet). These amazing programs are the perfect solution for the start of your summer plans! These camps will include many fun activities; descriptions with links to register are below.

After School Programs:

Granite Club (ages 4-6 yrs)

• Offered weekly from March 16th – May 1st and May 4th – June 12th 
• Pricing: $145.00 (1 day per week/6 weeks)
  Meets once per week for 1 hour and 45 minutes
  Choose from the following days/times:  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm;
  Wednesday: 1:45 pm -3:00 pm OR 3:15 pm – 4:30
• Granite club consists of a beginner and an advanced group. Climbers who are newer to the sport and to Bend Rock Gym are organized into the beginner group where they will spend more time learning basic skills and fundamentals. Climbers who have previously participated in BRG youth programs are organized into the advanced group where they continue to build the skills that have been developed in previous sessions.

Sandstone Club (7-9 yrs)

• Offered weekly from March 16th – May 1st and May 4th – June 12th
• Pricing: $155.00 (1 day per week/6 weeks)
  Meets once per week for 1 hour and 45 minutes
  Choose from the following days/times:  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 3:15 pm – 5 pm;
  Wednesday: 2 pm -3:45 pm OR 4:00 pm – 5:45
• Sandstone Club consists of a beginner and an advanced group. Climbers who are newer to the sport and to Bend Rock Gym are organized into the beginner group where they will spend more time learning basic skills and fundamentals. Climbers who have participated in BRG youth programs are organized into the advanced group where they continue to build the skills that have been developed in previous sessions.

Rock Fridays 2020 (7-17 years)

• Offered weekly from March 16th – May 1st, May 4th – June 12th
• Pricing: $120.00 (6 classes)
  Meets once per week for 1 hour and 45 minutes: (Friday 4:15-6 pm)
• The structure of Rock Fridays is casual and not driven by a daily agenda. This space is reserved for climbers to pick what type of climbing they would like to work on (bouldering or top roping) and have a chance for coaches to offer support, encouragement and overall supervision. This space can serve as a complement to the structured clubs that occur Monday through Thursday.

Basalt Club (10-13 years)

• Offered weekly from March 16th – May 1st and May 4th – June 12th
• Pricing:  $240 (12 classes)
  Meets twice per week for 1 hour and 45 minutes
  Choose from the following days/times: Monday/Wednesday OR Tuesday/Thursday
• Basalt Club offers your 10-13-year-old climber an amazing opportunity to solidify their climbing fundamentals and begin the process of progressing technically, athletically and cognitively in the sport. During each class, climbers will develop and practice advanced climbing skills and techniques. Climbers will also work to improve their physical conditioning, coordination and balance through climbing training drills. Finally, climbers are introduced to the concept of personal goal setting across all aspects of the sport.

Tuff Club (14-17 years)

• Offered weekly from March 16th – May 1st and May 4th – June 12th
• Pricing: $240.00 (12 classes)
  Meets twice per week for 2 hours
• Choose from the following days/times: Monday/Wednesday OR Tuesday/Thursday
• Tuff Club offers your 14-17-year-old climber an amazing opportunity to solidify their climbing fundamentals and begin the process of progressing technically, athletically and cognitively in the sport. During each class, climbers will develop and practice advanced climbing skills and techniques. Climbers will also work to improve their physical conditioning, coordination and balance through climbing training drills. Finally, climbers are introduced to the concept of personal goal setting across all aspects of the sport.

Summer Camps:

Right now is the perfect time to book your summer plans at the Bend Rock Gym! With many other summer camps filling up quick this is a great alternative to keep your kiddos entertained. Summer Camp registration just opened! If your looking for more summer camp options, be sure to check out my Kid’s Page!

Summer Camp Pebble (4-6 years) 

• Offered weekly from June 22 – August 21st, 8 am-4 pm
• Pricing: Monday – Wednesday Cost: $240/week
  Optional Thursday Cost: $60, Optional Friday Cost: $60
• This Camp is perfect for your beginner or new climber between the ages of 4 and 6. Each day your participant will spend half of their day climbing, and half of their day playing games, going to the local park and resting their tired hands and bodies for the next day of climbing. Your participant will be given the support and guidance they need to feel welcome and comfortable on and off the wall. Our Bend Rock Gym coaches are ready to play games, sing songs and climb with your participant to ensure they have a positive and fun experience rock climbing at Bend Rock Gym.

Summer Camp Stone (7-12 years, beginners) 

• Offered weekly from June 22nd – Aug 20
• Pricing: General Program: Monday – Thursday: $320, Optional Friday add on: $80
• Welcome to Camp Stone! This Camp is perfect for your beginner or new climber between the ages of 7 and 12. Each day youth participants will spend half of their day climbing, and half of their day playing games, going to the local park and participating in other activities to rest up for the next day of climbing.

Summer Camp Rock (9-13 years, intermediate)

• Offered weekly from June 22 – August 21st, 8 am-4 pm
  Monday – Wednesday Cost: $240
  Outdoor Thursday Cost: $125
  Indoor Thursday Cost: $80
  Outdoor Friday Cost: $125
  Indoor Friday Cost:$80
• Camp Rock is ideal for participants that have prior experience with BRG summer camps and are looking for a fun and welcoming way to climb, make new friends, and gain new climbing skills. Throughout the week, participants will learn how to top-rope belay with the guidance and assistance of a professionally trained Bend Rock Gym coach. Youth participants will leave BRG Intermediate Camp with a wealth of new climbing skills and experiences that are sure to be a highlight of their summer!

Summer Camp Boulder (10-17 years) 

• Offered weekly from June 22 – August 21st
• Monday-Wednesday 9 am – 3 pm and Thursday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm
• Pricing: weekly $425
• Camp Boulder has been developed to give your experienced indoor climber the opportunity to advance and hone their skills at the gym and then apply them on the real rock of Central Oregon’s world-famous climbing area, Smith Rock State Park. Throughout the week youth participants will learn lead climbing basics and have ample opportunity to practice in a mock setting. They will be exposed to the competitive side of climbing as well and will be given the opportunity to participate in a mock boulder competition. After 3 days of climbing in the gym, on Thursday and Friday, the youth participants will be transported out to Smith Rock State Park to test their skills and climb alongside professionally trained, certified instructors. Throughout their two days at Smith Rock, participants will get to try their hands on routes of varying difficulties all the while gaining first-hand exposure to the adventure of climbing outdoors and the unique history that surrounds climbing in Central Oregon.

Outdoor Beginners Camp at Smith Rock (9-12 years)

• Offered weekly from June 22 – August 21st, 8 am-4 pm
• Pricing: Monday – Wednesday Cost: $375, Thursday Cost: $125, Friday Cost: $125
• The Bend Rock Gym Outdoor Beginner Camp offers an accessible, welcoming and fun experience for youth climbers to try their hand at climbing outdoors on real rock for the first time. Each day will be divided in 2: half of each day will be spent at Bend Rock Gym learning the basics of climbing, safety and technique and the other half will be spent climbing outside at Smith Rock State Park.

Outdoor Intermediate Camp (12-17 years)

• Offered randomly (in weekly sessions) from June 29 – August 12st, Monday – Wednesday: 7 am-5 pm
  Optional: Thursday OR/both Friday: 8 am – 5pm
• Pricing: Monday – Wednesday $400; Optional: Thursday – $125; Friday – $125
• The Bend Rock Gym Outdoor Intermediate camp caters to the youth climber who has had experience climbing in the gym and has also had opportunities to climb outside. Throughout their three days of camp, climbers will advance and hone their skills on the real rock of Central Oregon’s world-famous climbing area, Smith Rock State Park.
  This program will help your climber further develop a deeper understanding of the systems and skills needed to climb outside proficiently. We will spend each morning setting our intentions for the day and working within focused daily themes that the Bend Rock Gym coaches will discuss with climbers.
  The BRG Outdoor Intermediate camp will be hosted at Smith Rock State park Monday-Wednesday with the option of adding Thursday and Friday adventure days to round out the week.
  Youth participants will be transported out to Smith Rock State Park to test their skills and climb alongside professionally trained, certified coaches. Throughout their three days at Smith Rock, participants will get to try their hands on routes of varying difficulties all the while gaining first-hand exposure to the adventure of climbing outdoors and the unique history that surrounds climbing in Central Oregon.

Outdoor Advanced Camp

• Offered randomly (in weekly sessions) from June 29 – August 12st, Monday – Wednesday: 7 am-6 pm
• Pricing: Monday – Wednesday $475; Optional: Thursday – $125; Friay – $125
• The Bends Rock Gym Outdoor Advanced Camp allows youth climbers to push themselves outside on real rock within three different disciplines of climbing: top rope, bouldering, and lead climbing. Climbing will be hosted at the world-famous climbing area, Smith Rock State Park, along with some of Central Oregon’s amazing bouldering areas. Climbers will be given the opportunity to pick routes they wish to climb and will learn how to analyze them, work through movement and progress past difficult “crux” points with the help of a professionally trained, certified coach.
  The BRG Outdoor Advanced Camp runs for 2, 3-week sessions over the summer months. Youth climbers can sign up for one or more weeks, across each of the two sessions.
  Below is a quick overview of each of the three weeklong advanced camps offered this summer:
  Top Rope week: Climbers will focus on the physical and movement-based components of sport climbing through top rope climbing outdoors on real rock.
  Bouldering Basics Week: Climbers will receive an introduction and will get the opportunity to develop and practice key bouldering (movement and falling techniques, spotting, etc.) skills outside.
  Lead Basics Week: Climbers will focus on developing the technical components (placing quickdraws, body awareness, rope management, etc.) critical to lead climbing outside. Additionally, climbers will learn and discuss skills to help confront the mental demands of lead climbing outside.
  ***The BRG Outdoor Advanced Camp is for advanced youth climbers only. Climbers must pre-approved by Head Coach Ross and the Youth Programs Manager Cayla prior to signing up. Please contact cayla@bendrockgym.com and ross@bendrockgym.com for more information.

2016 Blog post:

Hello Bend!  We have a new obsession around our place…indoor rock climbing! The Bend Rock Gym makes it easy to become hooked with their awesome facility and super-friendly staff! With hours of fun to be had, and the added bonus is that this activity helps get all that extra energy out of the kids! This has been a perfect new winter activity for us, and I can see us spending many days here during the summer when we have a little extra time on our hands as well.

I first discovered the Bend Rock Gym when some girlfriends invited me to climb (without the kids). I’ve never even given rock climbing a thought, so I almost declined…but then I thought hey, I’m “living the Bend life” so I thought I would give it a try!

The height was something to get used to for this rookie. My friends were supportive and inspiring as I watched them quickly scale to the top of the wall!

I immediately knew I had to bring my kids to try this! During our first visit, my daughter mainly stuck with the bouldering wall (which is lower and less intimidating), as she wouldn’t even let us put a harness on her. My son made it about halfway up the wall the first day even though we were there for over two hours.

Both kids loved the moving tread wall!

My son had so much fun I decided to sign him up for an after school program. The Rock Monkeys is a 6-week program that meets once a week after school. This beginner class is for ages 6-12. There is also a Cliff Kids class for ages 4-5. They also offer leagues for more advanced climbers.  My son was stoked for his first official lesson!

In just one class, my son learned so much! He gained a ton of confidence and was climbing to the top in no time. The difference in his skill and ability after his first class was amazing!

On our second trip to the gym as a family, my son was showing me the ropes (no pun intended) like he’d been doing it forever. He was going straight to the top on multiple routes. We were even able to get a harness on my daughter this time around! She slowly inched her way higher & higher until she was finally climbing over halfway up the way!

Bend Rock Gym offers daily rates, along with monthly memberships, and provides gear rental. The way to go if you are not climbing on a consistent basis to justify a membership is to purchase a punch card. This gives you a discounted daily rate and my kids can share the punch card! Friday from 6-8 is Family Climb. Bring the whole family and climb at a discount. This allows my husband and I to climb, and the kids are practically free! They even have a Ladies Night!

Interested in climbing yourself, but not quite sure what to expect? Bend Rock Gym offers a Gym Intro class. This is the BEST deal as you get an hour of private instruction and it includes a free week of membership!

Birthday parties? Of course! Spring break and summer camps? You know it! Registration for both spring break and summer camps just opened so be sure to register early to reserve your spot. They fill up FAST as they keep class sizes small. Some age groups only have 1 summer session!

It is also handy to know all climbers will need to fill out a waiver prior to climbing. This is easier to do online ahead of time, although they do have computers set up at the entrance for your convenience.

Since moving to Bend, I continue to be impressed with the wide number of activities offered in this small town, and the Bend Rock Gym does not disappoint! We can’t wait for our next climbing session! Hope to see you there!