Getting Involved

You will be the most influential person in your child’s climbing experience. We highly encourage all parents get involved! Here are some ways:

• Learn how to belay. We offer a FREE Intro to Climbing class for all parents of the Youth Program. This will give you the option to climb with your child and to talk with them about the sport. Book a class at either SNA or LAX using the promo code YPINTRO.

  • Once you know how to belay, sign up for a membership! We offer a discounted Team Parent Membership. This includes monthly guest passes, discounts on retail, classes & events and more!

  • Once you have a membership, stay during practice and climb with the other Youth Program parents! Try the projects your kids are working on to get a feel for what they’re training to accomplish.

• Join your team athletes for community events at Sender One! We encourage all of the kids to be a part of the Sender One community outside of their practice times in order to experience climbing in a non-training atmosphere. Plus, it’s awesome to get to know the members who are an extension of team!

• Volunteer at competitions. Competitions run on volunteers so this is a perfect way to become more involved in the climbing community as well as learn about the sport. You can sign up for a volunteer position by contacting the volunteer coordinator or regional coordinator of your region. Example of positions available are judge, belayer (must be certified), isolation monitor, runner, scorecard runner, scorekeeper, and many more.

• Make the experience memorable. Turn competition travel into family vacations! Spend time exploring the city and the area around it. Join the team for a post-comp get together! This can be a great opportunity for your child to get to know their teammates better and for you to get to know their parents.

• Climbing is meant to be fun at all levels, from recreational climbing to competition climbing. It is important to keep climbing in perspective and help your child do the same. The outcome of an event shouldn’t crush your child’s dreams. Be encouraging. Your child will likely face adversity starting out. Manage your emotions. Setting a good example will teach your child to do the same. Be constructive, not destructive. Be respectful, especially in situations of disagreement and conflict. Do not bully or harass. If you see someone being bullied or harassed, speak out. Most importantly, have fun!

One of the amazing things about climbing is that you can do what you love with a breathtaking view — and we are lucky in Southern California to be just a short drive away from some world class outdoor climbing destinations! There’s no better way to practice your skills learned in the gym than to put them to use on real rock. Whether you want to explore a wide variety of rocks and areas or you choose to commit countless sessions to a single climb that feels almost impossible until your dedication and training carries you to the top, outdoor climbing can provide a fun and rewarding experience for young climbers.