Norway, Mich. (WZMQ) – At True North Outpost’s Base Camp Climbing Gym, anticipation reaches new heights every Wednesday night as adult climbers gather for their weekly group climb. Evan Blagec and Nate Alwine, leaders at the gym, stirred excitement for the upcoming climbing events, each adding their expertise to the discussion.
Amidst the chatter and the sound of climbing shoes hitting the mats during the adult climb, Nate Alwine, the Co-Owner of True North Outpost, and Evan Blagec, the General Manager and Bouldering Coach, shared information about the weekly Kids Climb event, which takes place every Thursday night.
Blagec explained, “It’s bouldering, so no ropes, no harnesses, and the holds come in any colors you want.”
Alwine chimed in, “For kids climb, we do every Thursday night, it’s 5-7 p.m. There’s not really a set start time. People show up at various times whenever they get here. If they get tired, they leave before 7, but typically we get anywhere from 5 to 13 kids coming in. We’ve got a lot of the same kids to come back, because it’s become a bit of an event that they look forward to. We have a few other climbing coaches who are really good with the kids,” informed Alwine, adding,“They’re also forming relationships with each other, because you get kids from different schools. It’s a very welcoming environment. Anyone that hasn’t been here before: they’re welcomed in. The more kids we have, the more fun we have,” stated Alwine.
Alwine chimed in, adding details about the event. “We typically have anywhere from 5 to 13 kids joining us,” he explained, a smile spreading across his face. “It’s become a bit of an event that the kids look forward to each week.”
With their words fueling anticipation, climbers eagerly awaited the chance to challenge themselves on the gym’s walls.
Blagec mentioned the perks of getting a membership, especially for those who want to make indoor climbing a fun-filled family activity. “A family membership is up to four members of your family for $55 a month,” informed Blagec. “You get 24-hour access to the gym. You get 5% off any lessons you do, and also any gear. So if you get into climbing, we have a retail dealership through black diamond, so we can get you discounts on any of that stuff. We also offer 6-month memberships with all of our pricing on our website,” Blagec shared. The gym also includes access to free weights on top of the indoor climbing facility.
It’s an activity that is fun for all ages, with 5 & up being the prime age, but younger kids are free to explore the climbs with parental supervision.
Alwine made a resounding statement about the impact of climbing activities for kids to learn firsthand about setting realistic expectations. “That’s the big thing, the kids come in and expect to be superstars and everything, and they’re met with disappointment. It sounds like a bad thing right off the bat, but it’s really not – because they learn to try something and fail. Then we work with them a little bit; they get stronger. They learn how to succeed at something that takes perseverance and once we persevere at a problem, we want another problem,” he shared, continuing, “I’ve seen kids come in, and they don’t even want to get off the ground. They don’t want to get off the bottom row of holes off the ground, and a couple weeks later, they’re at the very top zipping across the entire gym.”
With the echoes of encouragement filling the gym, Alwine and Blagec continued to share information about the indoor climbing programs, their passion for climbing evident with every word. As the Wednesday adult session drew to a close, climbers left feeling not only physically challenged, but also excited to see the next generation of climbers take on the walls of True North Outpost for future indoor climbing events.
For more information on memberships, indoor climb passes, or weekly climb events at The True North Outpost’s Base Camp Climbing Gym, visit:
https://www.truenorthoutpost.com/indoor-rock-climbing-gym
Or call: 906-239-4971
