Here at FresYes, some of our most shared and commented on blog posts of all time have been focused on fun and unique ways to celebrate kids’ birthdays, here in town. Today we have a new idea to share with you, this one may be especially appealing to the older kids in your family!
Finding ways to entertain tweens and teens can be tricky, and planning an age-appropriate birthday for them can be even trickier. As I enter the stages of motherhood that involve parenting a child in this age-range, I’m continually learning about activities tweens and teens enjoy and what plans they consider cool and “so lame, Mom.” (It’s a super fine line I’ve learned.)
If you too, are the parent of a child in this age-range and looking for an approved party idea, I’ve got one you may not have thought of before: Metalmark Climbing & Fitness Gym!
Recently, my son was invited to a friend’s birthday at Metalmark and he had an absolute blast. I decided to dig a bit deeper to learn more about hosting a birthday there, so I could share it here with you.
Metalmark is an indoor, climate-controlled rock climbing and fitness gym located at 4042 N. Cedar in Fresno (in Granite Park). Metalmark offers over 70 top lead routes (rock climbing paths in which a rope is threaded through a loop at the top of the climbing surface) 50 lead terrain routes (climbing paths in which the rope begins from the ground and is threaded as a climber climbs, over 75 bouldering problems (courses that don’t require ropes), machines, free weights, yoga, Zumba and Tabata classes plus cardio equipment, too!
Though Metalmark is a membership-based gym for adults, they also offer opportunities for kids to try out climbing through Kids Belay sessions (sessions in which an experienced trainer supports children while they climb using a rope pulley system to ensure safety as they go) and in-house birthday parties!
Birthday parties at Metalmark give kids the opportunity to try out climbing with the supervision, encouragement, and instruction of qualified and fun instructors. Parties are booked in two-hour blocks and one instructor is provided for every 6 kids participating. The first 5 kids are included in the $125 party booking fee and each additional child is $25. Participants’ parents must sign a waiver before kids participate, however this can be done online, in advance easily.
If you have a tween or teen, you know they can often be a bit tight-lipped when it comes to sharing many details about social events and occurrences of their days, however, my son came home really excited to share about his experience – proud that he’d reached the top of several climbs (his first time attempting the activity) and he said the instructors were “super cool and nice” and each party guest had tons of opportunities to climb during the party and didn’t have to wait long at all for turns.
Though refreshments aren’t included in the birthday package, there is a patio and picnic area where party guests can enjoy cake, ice cream or any other desired treats brought for the party. If you’re looking for a unique, new party venue, especially one that is well-suited for older kids, check out Metalmark! You can visit their website for additional info here or book a Kids Belay or Birthday Session here. Happy climbing!
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