The local park near us has all the usual park features: jungle gym, grassy areas, ponds, picnic areas, bathrooms etc. However, it also has some pretty awesome other features: disc golf course (complete with moving baskets, 18 holes, and putting area), cross country course, equine trails, BMX training area, BMX competition area, mountain bike skills area, freaking huge amphitheatre (shaded), dog park, 13 undeveloped acres with trails, Japanese garden, and one of the jungle gym areas has a boulder complete with holds. It's a outdoor freak's sanctuary in the city.
This morning we walked over (luxury of living just over the highway from the park) to the park with Little Dude and our dog for some time at the bouldering area. It's clearly posted, multiple times, its for ages 6+ with spotter and adult supervision at all times. We supervised ourselves. We tool turns traversing the boulder while the other walked the stroller and dog. It was a good little workout and free! It has some loose holds, but otherwise its perfect for being free-if you walk in. There's a spot to practice smearing, crack climbing, over hangs, chimney etc. This was our first time out there...probably shouldn't have chosen a Saturday, there were lots of little kids.
After lunch LD and I pulled out the hang board and laid it on his quilt for a little test to see how he felt about it. I had to eventually take it away as he kept using it to pull himself towards it. I think in a few short months we'll need to build him his own climbing wall for the apartment, once he's mastered that we can take him to the boulder at the park. Maybe take him after a round of disc golf just to show him. Let's face it, right now he can't truly decide if he will like it or want to do it. But what kid doesn't like climbing all over things?
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