A new climbing cabin at Gavin Lake Forest Education Society (GLFES) is introducing the sport of bouldering to the next generation.
“Gavin Lake is trying to get kids more physically active,” said GLFES manager Mike Tudor. “There is a new interest in climbing these days and Williams Lake has a new climbing club so we figured we could give them a kick start.”
Tudor said he started work on the new cabin in the spring and hosted an official opening the weekend of the Tour de Cariboo.
“It was a lot of fun. Everyone really liked it.”
Since then, hundreds of children attending camp from school districts 27, 28 and 74 have tried out the climbing cabin to rave reviews.
“The kids are loving it.”
Tudor said the climbing cabin was made possible through generous donations from the Quesnel Community Foundation, West Fraser Plywood, Tolko, Rotary Club of Williams Lake Daybreak, BC Fiddlers, Pro Physioworks and C. Augustine Trucking.
Back in Williams Lake Tuesday, the Williams Lake Climbing Association enjoyed a noticeable increase in the number of children taking an interest in the sport for its second season.
“We only had a handful of young kids last year,” said Erika Driedger, president of the WLCA.
“There is more of an interest this year from young children and their families and we’re happy about that.”
Offered through the city’s Recreation Services Department, the program is aimed at all ages and runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., and began on Oct. 4.
Driedger and several other club volunteers were on hand Tuesday evening in the gym at Lake City Secondary School’s Williams Lake Campus where the club has a bouldering wall to greet eager new climbers.
Driedger said the bouldering wall has multiple holds creating several different routes for all levels of climbers and cushiony mats are setup in the event of a fall.
The WLCA was formed in March of 2015 and Driedger said the bouldering program will be focused strictly on indoor climbing.
Registration is available by person at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex or by calling 250-398-7665. For more visit the WLCA’s Facebook page at “Williams Lake Climbing Association - Bouldering Program.”