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Basic Safety Lesson

(Appointment recommended for groups of 4 or more. Appointment required for groups of 8 or more.)

We'll teach climbers age 14 or older how to manage the safety ropes (called belaying), how to fit a harness, and how to tie the rope to it. The entire lesson takes about 30-45 minutes, but the climbers are usually on the wall within 15-20 minutes. The main difference between this and the Introductory Lesson is that we are not teaching climbing technique, and you do not have a private instructor dedicated to your group. New belayers will be allowed to belay unsupervised only after they have mastered safe technique. There is no charge for basic belay training, except for normal admission and equipment rental fees. There is no charge for adults who are learning to belay for children, but are not climbing themselves.

**PARENTS PLEASE NOTE: The safety lesson requires your undivided attention! Due to demands on staff time, we cannot provide child sitting services while you are in your lesson (it usually takes 15-20 minutes before the climbers get on the wall). If you are coming with young children (under the age of 7), please bring an extra person to supervise them while you concentrate on learning our safety procedures. Ideally, there should be one adult belayer and one adult supervisor for every 4 children age 7 or younger. There is no extra admission fee for those who are not climbing. The gym is not an appropriate place for infants or toddlers.