FAMILIES ON THE ROCK - VIA FERRATA WITH CHILDREN
ORTOVOX SAFETY ACADEMY
1 day
Südtirolalpin
State-certified mountain and ski guides IFMGA
South Tyrolean Mountain and Ski Guides Association
Email suedtirolalpin@gmail.com
Prices from
100,- €
Klettersteigkurs für Familien – Familien am Fels
A course day for parents who want to head out on the rock with their children – relaxed, with a plan and without more grey hairs than necessary.
1 day · South Tyrol
Ortovox Safety Academy – via ferrata and sport climbing for families: a course for parents of climbing-mad children. This way the whole family can move safely on the rock, and the little ones can let off steam on via ferratas and at the sport climbing crag – safely secured on the grown-ups' rope.
What many people don't know: children are too light for most standardised via ferrata sets. This means that in a fall, they don't generate enough force to activate the energy absorber. That makes via ferratas dangerous for little ones, even with a via ferrata set. They are also easily distracted and suddenly find themselves in the middle of a rock face, both karabiners in their hands, unclipped from the steel cable – and once again Mum and Dad have a few more grey hairs on their heads.
Our via ferrata course is designed to prevent exactly that. From now on, parents no longer need to worry constantly about their offspring. The little ones no longer have to be reminded over and over to be careful and concentrate, and they are well secured on tricky climbing sections. Nobody has to hold their breath any more for fear that the little ones might fall into their via ferrata set. There are great belaying techniques, and we will teach them to you on this course. Even parents who have no via ferrata experience of their own will learn everything on this course they need to open up this sport to their kids. Because, dear children – we agree with you: via ferratas are much cooler than boring mountain hikes. 😉
Important: only the parents take part in the course, and our experienced mountain guides show you the techniques we use ourselves to secure our young guests on via ferratas. It is a very effective method that makes via ferratas more fun for the little ones and can also help take away their fear on demanding sections. A win-win for the whole family.
COURSE CONTENT
✧ Gear knowledge and equipment for via ferratas and sport climbing
✧ Techniques for climbing via ferratas
✧ Important information on via ferratas with children
✧ Securing children – and yourself – on via ferratas
✧ Sport climbing with children
✧ Belaying children at the crag
✧ Setting up top-rope routes for children
INFO
Services
Included in the price
'- All organisation and guiding by a state-certified mountain guide
Additional costs for participants
'- Transfer to and from the meeting point
- Individual tips
Facts
Location
South Tyrol
Best time of year
March - November
Duration
1 day
Meeting point
arranged individually
Requirements
Prior knowledge
'- No previous climbing or belaying knowledge required
- No via ferrata experience necessary
- Also suitable for complete beginners (whose kids are already climbing rings around them)
Physical requirements
'- A head for heights
PRICE
Participants
4 - 8 parents per mountain guide
Price
1 - 3 people:
4 or more people:
on request
100,- €
If you have any questions or need more information, just add them in the comments field of the enquiry form.
Before you send your request: please read the "important information" on the risks of mountaineering carefully.
Dates
on request
PROGRAMME
We meet at a crag in South Tyrol and spend a whole day answering all your questions on this topic. The course locations are chosen so that we can learn and practise extensively, in an ideal setting, both sport climbing and our main topic: doing via ferratas with children. We adapt the content to the participants and also address individual questions where needed.
The course is deliberately for parents only, as we also cover drier topics such as gear knowledge and other important information – and, as we all know, that doesn't exactly suit kids' urge to move. Look forward to an instructive day with lots of interesting input and, above all, after this course day, to many wonderful days outdoors in nature with the whole family – adventurous and exciting for the little ones.
P.S.: We have watched closely and carried out plenty of our own research: children's moaning, whining and grumbling factor is significantly lower on via ferratas than on mountain tours without any climbing sections. Even when we tried to lure the little ones on normal hikes with Wiener schnitzel and chips at the hut.
Total time: 1 day
Any changes to the programme that may become necessary for various reasons (weather, conditions, availability of accommodation, etc.) are always made in consultation with the participants.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Is the course suitable for parents even if I have no via ferrata experience myself?
Yes. The course is expressly intended for parents with little or no experience on via ferratas or in sport climbing. The content is taught in a way that lets you put the techniques into practice with your children later on.
Why is a standard via ferrata set often not enough for small children?
Many children are too light for standardised via ferrata sets. Especially with a body weight below 40 kilograms, additional rope-based belay techniques are needed to accompany children safely on via ferratas.
What do I need to bring to the course?
You will receive the detailed packing list with the confirmation email. Most important are sturdy mountain boots and suitable clothing for a day on the rock. Technical equipment can be rented for a small wear-and-tear fee.
MOUNTAINEERING COURSES WITH A MOUNTAIN GUIDE
# ORTOVOX SAFETY ACADEMY # CLIMBING COURSE FOR FAMILIES # VIA FERRATA AND SPORT CLIMBING