Quick: name a physical activity in which three generations of a family can participate at the same time where everyone is challenged JUST the right amount. What comes to mind?

Hiking? Skiing? Soccer? Basketball? All of these are awesome activities to do with the whole family, but inevitably someone is holding back for someone else and sometimes family members are left out in the cold.

What about indoor climbing?

Kids LOVE climbing – we are all born with an innate interest in scrambling up things to the point that parents spend a good bit of time telling their kids NOT to climb on things that they shouldn’t climb on (furniture, the dog, store countertops, etc.). Why not take kids to a place where climbing isn’t only allowed but is actually promoted?

But climbing isn’t only for kids. It is a life-long activity that has no expiration date. Just as kids love climbing, so can octogenarians.

Of course, parents and grandparents don’t have to climb when they bring kids to N3C. We have comfy padded benches where people can rest between climbs or just sit and watch the action. Just remember that anyone who enters N3C needs a signed waiver.

We have no minimum age for participants at N3C. Some kids as young as 2 or 3 enjoy climbing in the bouldering area. In order to rope up, we need children to be at least 30 pounds.

Many kids really start being able to climb full-height routes at about age 6. Like any activity, some children really take to climbing at a young age while others do not.

Neither you nor your child need to have any experience to have a great time climbing at N3C. We have all the expertise and gear to get you going. And we have routes for all ages and skill levels.

We offer basically three types of climbing:

• Roped climbing: This is what most people envision when thinking about climbing. There is a climber tied into one end of a rope and a belayer who controls the rope. N3C has approximately 25 top rope stations and about the same number of lead climbing stations. In order to belay at N3C, you need to pass a belay test so we know that you know how to belay safely.
• Auto belayed climbing: Auto belays remove the need for an experienced belayer. The climber clips into the auto belay’s cord and the auto belay mechanism retracts the cord as the climber ascends the wall. When the climber lets go or falls, the auto belay lowers her to the floor at a controlled rate. N3C has two auto belays that are frequently moved around the gym. We ensure that at least one of the auto belays services beginner climbs as well as more advanced climbs.
• Bouldering: Bouldering is rock climbing on a shorter wall without a rope. N3C has a dedicated bouldering area with 14 foot high climbing walls and a 13 inch thick, 3 density, seamless, padded flooring system (in other words – the whole bouldering floor is soft!). Anyone bouldering high off the pads needs a spotter.

We have found that most parents (at least those who are not climbers themselves) choose the Open Climb package for their children. The Open Climb package includes everything needed for lots of climbing: a day pass, full climbing gear rental, and skilled N3C staff to provide belays until your kids can’t lift their arms. (You might notice that they are having so much fun that you choose to join them!)

You can bring your child in to use the auto belays and to boulder at any time during business hours. If you are an experienced belayer, then you can take our belay test to become certified to belay at N3C. Once your child gets hooked on climbing, you will probably want to learn how to belay them so that you can share this great experience with them. Our introduction to climbing lesson will provide you with the skills you need to belay.

As a reminder, everyone who enters N3C needs a signed waiver – those of us 18 and over must sign our own waiver while those under 18 need to have one signed by a parent or legal guardian. Click here for a waiver to print and sign.

For more information about your first visit to N3C, click here. You can also learn more about climbing in general on our Climbing 101 page.

You can bring your child to N3C anytime during our business hours. We have Open Climbs scheduled for weekends and holidays from noon to closing. No reservation necessary – just show up! We have Introduction to Climbing lessons scheduled for 1030am Saturdays and Sundays. If you would like either an Open Climb or an Introduction to Climbing lesson for any other time, please call us at 603.838.5300 to schedule a time.

No, there is no charge to belay at N3C.

Some kids get tired of climbing quickly and others would be happy to climb non-stop all day. On average, however, we have found that about 1 ½ to 2 hours is just about the right amount of time for kids at N3C.

Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that they can move well in. Remember that they will be wearing harnesses, so neither skirts nor super-short shorts work very well.

Most people prefer to use climbing shoes since they make climbing significantly due to their sticky rubber soles and their unique shape that helps them grip small footholds. That said, N3C does not require that people climb in climbing shoes. Clean athletic shoes or even just socks are fine by us. We don’t allow barefoot climbing (for sanitary reasons) or climbing in shoes that have been outdoors recently (since we want to keep the gym clean).