kid’s climbing sessions and classes

Since first opening in 2012, we’ve introduced thousands of children to the wonderful world of climbing. We offer a range of sessions geared towards absolute beginners as well as more advanced climbers. Children can get involved at Highball from as young as 6 years old.

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JUNIOR COACHING CLUB
Kid’s classes

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JUNIOR COACHING CLUB

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Birthday Parties

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climb in school, after school, or at the weekend.

kid’s classes

We offer regular sessions for kids after school, on weekends, during school holidays, and even during school hours for programmes such as Home Ed. Scroll down to explore specific sessions or keep reading to discover everything you need to know about climbing for kids.

Available year-round
Holidays-only
Term-time only

INTRO TO JUNIOR COACHING CLUB

What it is: Anyone interested in joining the Junior Coaching Club will need to complete this six-week introductory course. Across the programme, our instructor will assess your child’s abilities along with working with parents to recommend the best pathway in to our regular session.

To find out more about the tiers we offer, click here.

When is it: Weekends

Who’s it for: Children aged 8-16

Duration: 6 x 75 mins

Price: £75

Book Here

HIGHBALL PLAY

What it is: HighballPlay is a supervised bouldering session aimed at younger climbers who just want to climb for fun. These are single ‘drop in’ sessions with no commitment – it’s all about time on the wall! The session begins with some fun warm-up games before heading over to the wall and seeing how high they can go. The session is led by one of our trained instructors and is ideal for new and more experienced climbers alike.

***Please note, this is a bouldering only session and we no longer offer any auto belay climbing as part of this session.***

When is it: Saturdays & Sunday

Who’s it for: Children aged 6-10

Duration: 1 x 60 mins

Price: £12.50

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PRIVATE SESSION

What it is: Highball Private Sessions can be booked for groups of up to 6 people – perfect for families! You’ll have your own dedicated instructor who will guide you through the fundamentals of bouldering in a fun and supportive environment.

These sessions are open to anyone aged 6 and over and can be tailored to suit your group’s skill level and interests. Pricing is for the entire group, so you can focus on climbing together without any surprises.

When is it: Weekdays & weekends

Who’s it for: Children aged 6+ (Adults can come too!)

Duration: 1 x 60 mins

Price: £45 – £75 per Group 

Book Here

BOULDERING SCHOOL

What it is: A comprehensive introduction to the world of bouldering. Over two sessions, we’ll cover everything you need to know to start bouldering safely and effectively. Working in a group, we’ll cover bouldering techniques, how to minimise the risks, climbing wall etiquette and even some of the lingo. The course takes place over 2 consecutive days.

When is it: Various days across the holidays

Who’s it for: Children aged 8-13

Duration: 2 x 75 mins

Price: £35

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HOME EDUCATION

What it is: These instructor-led sessions follow the NICAS framework and are designed for groups of 4–6 participants. If you’re an individual looking to join, you can sign up for our waiting list via the button below, and we’ll contact you when a group is ready.

Already have a group of 4–6 children? Great! Email us at coachingteam@highballnorwich.co.uk, and we’ll work to schedule your session as soon as possible.

When it is: Days & times TBC

Who’s it for: Children aged 8-13

Duration: 6 x 75 mins

Price: £75.00 per participant

Sign up to waiting list

NICAS WILD CLIMBERS

What it is: NICAS Wild Climbers offers climbing skills for all, from age 3 and upwards. It’s a fun, game orientated programme that aims to introduce climbers safely into the indoor climbing environment, developing their awareness of climbing movements, improving confidence and creating a grassroots pathway into additional climbing activities. Wild Climbers is a programme that is designed to be inclusive and accessible for all.

When is it: TBC

Who’s it for: Children aged 3-6

Duration: 6 x 60 mins

Price: TBC

Register interest

Birthday parties

Give your child an unforgettable birthday or party experience with our climbing parties.

Our instructors will guide your group through the most exciting hour of fun-focused climbing, followed by time in our cafe area to enjoy some refreshments.

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supervising children

Looking to supervise your own children? Adults who are competent climbers can supervise children on the wall without the need for an instructor. See our supervision page for more details.

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JUNIOR COACHING CLUB

Our Junior Coaching Club is the perfect introduction to youth climbing. Designed for children aged 8 and above, the programme offers a supportive environment led by experienced instructors ensuring consistent opportunities for growth and fun.

Click the link below to find out more.

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Are you a teenager looking to climb?

If you’re aged 12-17 and want to get in to climbing then look no further!

We have a dedicated page just for our teenage climbers where you can find out the rules depending on their age as well all the info on our teen dedicated sessions.

Learn more →

Kids climbing – Frequently asked questions

We know that many parents and guardians will have lots of questions about whether climbing is right for their children. That’s why we’ve collected some of the most frequently asked questions we get, to put your mind at ease.

Is climbing right for my child?

As we suspect you’ve already noticed, climbing on things is something that comes very naturally to children! As a sport, it’s a fun, playful and imaginative way to get moving. It builds on the core skills of flexibility, balance, coordination and overall strength. Climbing in a structured class also builds the valuable skills of risk assessment and responsibility.

All kids climbing is supervised by experienced coaches. The sessions are structured, whilst still allowing for buckets of fun.

Do I need to bring anything?

We provide all the climbing equipment they’ll need for the session. We recommend all participants wear comfortable clothing as you would for any sport (a spare change might be needed as clothes can end up chalky). A drink and a snack are recommended, too.

Can we climb as a family?

Our kids climbing sessions are just for those aged 6-17. If you want to come climbing as a family, we recommend booking a Private Taster Session, where a coach can create the perfect introduction for your little team.

Is there a syllabus?

Highball climbing centre is a National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS) accredited climbing centre but not all of our kids climbing sessions follow the NICAS syllabus. 

For more information on sessions which follow this framework, please visit our Junior Coaching Club page.

What if somebody is scared of heights?

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being scared of heights – it’s totally natural. We find that most children who are scared of heights very quickly forget about it once the feeling of accomplishment takes over. We always emphasise that all participants (big and small) only ever go as high as they feel comfortable – there’s really no pressure to reach the top of anything!

Can parents sit in on sessions?

We ask that no parents are on the mats during the sessions, but they are welcome to watch. If you want to stay nearby, we have a café that serves hot and cold drinks as well as an ever-changing range of snacks. You’re more than welcome to relax with a cuppa, although we do recommend bringing warm clothes in colder seasons.