The Well at Sacramento State is extending invitations for rock climbing lessons to more than just students and faculty by introducing new family hours on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

The family program allows members and school staff to bring their children ages 5 and up to the Well to use the climbing wall as a family activity for a small fee.

The program will allow members to bring young guests to climb on the wall for the fee of $5 per climber. For those who have not activated their Well membership, their guests will have to pay an increased fee of $15 per climber. Those with inactive memberships who wish to climb can do so for a fee of $10.

The program was inspired by member suggestions to staff that they be allowed to bring their younger family members and friends to enjoy the climbing wall with them. Climbing wall coordinator Sam Braband is hoping a secondary result of the program will be more university staff activating their Well memberships.

Braband said the first two weekends of the program saw around five participants take advantage of the program each day. He said he is hoping that participation will grow as members become more aware of the family hours.

All climbers must sign a waiver at the Well, and all minors must have parent or guardian sign a waiver. All required climbing equipment is included in the price and is available for checkout at the equipment desk.

The climbing wall is usually only available to members and their guests who are older than 17 and have paid the $10 guest fee. This program differs from normal rules by not only allowing minors, but also university staff that have not activated their membership to use the climbing wall.

Braband said the scheduled hours for the family program are based on statistics showing very few members are using the gym on Saturday mornings, which allows for a safer environment for children guests.

“Saturday mornings are also a great time for students and staff with children to do family activities,” Braband said.

Rock wall attendant Heather Figuers is looking forward to helping children climbing the wall.

“Working with children presents a new set of challenges. You have to communicate differently with children, but children are much more perseverant and have less fear than adults,” she said.

In recent years, indoor rock climbing has become increasingly popular in the United States, and Braband said he hopes by having access to a climbing wall on campus it will spike the interest of more students on campus.

“I don’t really use the rock climbing wall when I go to the gym, but having the option to bring my niece on the weekends is really appealing. I’m always looking for new things to do with her,” said senior communication studies major Jenna Fiala.

For those interested in other wall climbing activities, intramural sports will be holding a speed climbing challenge on Nov. 19. Entries for the challenge are due Nov. 16 and cost $5 a team for teams of two.

The Well holds a variety of events that involve the climbing wall, the most recent one being the “Halloween Hangout.”

The event took place Monday and had participants show up in costumes to participate in a competition to see who can hang on to the wall the longest. The event gave prizes for top competitors, but the main purpose of the event was to bring people with an interest in rock climbing together for a social gathering.

For those looking to get more involved in rock climbing on campus, there is a rock climbing club. The club is available to climbers of all skill levels. The club also offering opportunities to climbers to climb competitively, the club is forming a collegiate team that will compete nationally.

The Well’s family climbing hours 

• Runs 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday.
• Costs $5 for guests of Well members and $15 for guests of students or faculty who have yet to activate Well memberships.
• For more information about the climbing wall visit thewell.csus.edu/climbing_wall or contact Sam Braband at 916.278.1784 or [email protected].

Matt Aguirre can be reached at [email protected]