Waivers must be signed by all visitors. These legal documents ensure you are aware of the risks and who is liable during your visit. Signing the waiver in advance online helps speed up the process when you arrive at the gym.
Next Step
Please review Youth Supervision Rules before your first visit, to ensure you have enough supervisors for the number of children and can proceed with your climbing experience.
Back
Next Step
Please review Youth Supervision Rules before your first visit, to ensure you have enough supervisors for the number of children and can proceed with your climbing experience.
Back
Next Step
The Waiver and Youth Acknowledgement of Risk contain a list of the risks associated with climbing and related activities. Please read carefully.
Gym Rules and Regulations
Gym Rules and Regulations
Gym Rules and Regulations
Gym Rules and Regulations
Gym Rules and Regulations
Gym Rules and Regulations
Back
Next Step
The Waiver and Youth Acknowledgement of Risk contain a list of the risks associated with climbing and related activities. Please read carefully.
Gym Rules and Regulations
Gym Rules and Regulations
Gym Rules and Regulations
Gym Rules and Regulations
Gym Rules and Regulations
Gym Rules and Regulations
Back
Next Step
The Youth AoR Form MUST be signed by the participating minor’s parent or legal guardian prior to their participation.
The Youth AoR Form MUST be signed by the participating minor’s parent or legal guardian prior to their participation.
We believe that you're never too young to start climbing. Chances are your kids are already climbing things outside of our gyms, so why not bring them in, either under your watchful supervision or through one of our Youth Programs!
Accompany your kid to any of our bouldering gym locations, so they can experience what climbing is all about. Without the hassle of ropes and harnesses, bouldering is immediately accessible to kids of all ages and skill levels.
For safety reasons, children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. We encourage families to come in together and be part of the fun while ensuring proper supervision.
Accompany your kid to The Hive Heights, so they can explore climbing to new heights. With their natural drive to climb just about everything, this activity is extremely accessible to kids of all skill levels, starting around age 4 (kiddos must be able to fit a small, full body harness).
For safety reasons, children younger than 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. We encourage families to come in together and be part of the fun while ensuring proper supervision.
Bookings are required at The Heights! Please call to book for youth plus supervisors: 604 874 2400
Families are welcome to drop in and climb, providing you have adequate adult:child ratios for supervision. However! If you'd like more guidance, our Family Intro to Bouldering Course is a fantastic deal and will set you all up for success in the bouldering gym! Only available at Hive PoCo.
Kids of all ages are welcome at The Hive! To ensure a safe and positive experience, all youth under 16 must be supervised by an adult. Proper supervision is required at all times, and our standard adult-to-child supervision ratios apply.
Parent or guardian provides constant supervision. Child should be within arm’s reach of supervising adult at all times. Children in this age range are still developing awareness and an understanding for potential harm. Supervisor may not climb.
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Ages 0 to 3: Adult supervisor must be within arm's reach when child is not climbing. Supervisor cannot climb. Use of autobelays is not generally appropriate for this age range.
Ages 4 to 5: Adult supervisor must be within arm's reach when child is not climbing. Supervisor cannot climb.
Parent or guardian is required to remain within arm's reach of the child or both children at all times. This means the children must climb together. Children under 9 may still be developing the cognitive ability to be mindful of people around them. This means parents must ensure that children do not wander into the fall zones of other climbers in the gym. Supervisor may not climb.
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Adult supervisor must be within arm's reach when children are not climbing. Supervisor cannot climb with 2 youths. If only with 1 youth, supervisor can climb next to the youth on an adjacent autobelay.
This age range requires a parent to maintain a clear line of sight to their child—on the mats at Hive Vancouver, and close to or at the edge of the mats at all other locations. Supervisor may not climb.
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Adult supervisor must be on the carpet with a clear line of sight to youth. If the supervisor is belaying the youth or the youths are using autobelays, supervisor must check setup before each climb. Supervisor may climb if only with 1 youth. Supervisor can climb next to youth on adjacent autobelay when supervising 2 youths. Supervisor cannot climb with 3 youths.
Parents must be present and available in the facility. Parents are only required to be on or near the mats while their children are climbing if the children pose an increased risk of harm to themselves or others. Supervisor may climb.
For first time visits, the parent or guardian of children 13 to 15 should be present with the children for the first half of the session, until the children become familiar with the climbing gym environment.
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Ages 13 to 14: Can climb without adult supervision, providing they behave responsibly. Must double check that both carabiners are clipped to their belay loop when using autobelays. Eligible to take the Top Rope Belay test. Belay-certified youth must check their partner before the climber leaves the ground.
Ages 15 and older: Can climb without adult supervision, providing they behave responsibly. Must double check that both carabiners are clipped to their belay loop when using autobelays. Eligible to take the Lead Belay test. Belay-certified youth must check their partner before the climber leaves the ground.
For a positive experience, it's important to review the gym rules, and understand our Waiver (adults) and Youth Acknowledgement of Risk. Prevent disappointment and reduce wait time by reviewing and filling out these documents ahead of time.
All guests MUST fill out either an adult Waiver or youth Acknowledgement of Risk (AoR) form in order to proceed beyond the front desk. This is whether you intend to climb, supervise or spectate. These are legal documents, please proceed accordingly. Adults must read and sign their own waiver, and any youth must have a parent or legal guardian read and sign their AoR form.
We'll go over our gym rules in more detail during your orientation. Here is an overview on the expectations when using the facility.
We'll go over our gym rules in more detail during your orientation. Here is an overview on the expectations when using the facility.
We'll go over our gym rules in more detail during your orientation. Here is an overview on the expectations when using the facility.
Here are some items that we would recommend bringing:
We run this course at our bouldering locations to support parents who wish to supervise one child more than our standard ratios, or climb alongside their child within our standard ratios. This certification allows families to climb together.
Both the parent(s) and child(ren) must take the course together to be granted the supervisior certification benefits. The course is free and avaiable at all our bouldering locations—to sign up call the front desk.
Introduce your kid(s) to the exciting world of climbing with our Youth Recreational Programs! Designed for ages 4–18, our sessions build confidence, strength and skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Joining one of our competitive teams requires strong climbing skills and commitment. Tryouts run from April to June. Team spots are offered by invitation only.
Whether new or experienced, kids leave our week-long camps having a blast! Energetic leaders pack each day with climbing, games, and fun that build skills, confidence, and connection.
Subscribe to The Buzz Youth News for updates on youth-related programs, registration, and events.
To complete the subscription, please click the link sent in the confirmation email. If you don’t see it, check your spam folder or try subscribing again.
Meet our passionate coaches and instructors—experienced climbers dedicated to inspiring the next generation.
Everett is a bouldering addict who fuels sends with protein bars and karaoke breaks. His happy place? Hive Vancouver's bouldering walls. When not climbing, he’s gaming with friends or doting on his favourite animal (dogs, obviously). Fun fact: He’ll challenge you to a A Quiet Place movie trivia duel (and he'll probably win).
Diego’s two loves? Slab climbing and dried mangoes. Whether Diego's at Skaha Bluffs or Smith Rock, he’s all about delicate footwork, slab, and flashy dynamic climbing. Off the wall, he’s hiking on North Shore or jamming with friends, and he loves dried mangoes, sequoias, and saguaros.
Cynthia loves bouldering (especially in Hueco Tanks) and is guaranteed to dance if given a beat. She's a lover of PBJ and The Princess Bride, and will beat you at foosball.
Victor’s climbing style is as dynamic as his creativity—he loves to sew using upcycled materials. A fan of burnt orange and raven ZZ plants, he’s also the guy who’s eaten soup with his hands (for science). Bonus fun fact: his favorite film is Before Sunrise.
Guy enjoys powerful moves—the bigger the better!—and exploring movement through climbing. His favourite colour is green, like the hills around his fav climbing destinations in Austria.
Kindar is all about powerful moves, peanuts, and the Sisters Grimm series. His favourite place to climb is Kletterzentrum Innsbruck, he can bust out the splits on command, and he's a lover of orange and seahorses.
Esme started climbing at age 5 and hasn’t looked back! Yerba mate fuels her climbing (preferably static), and she dreams of Skaha landscapes. Off the wall, she’s snowboarding or obsessing over her favourite movie, Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
Sofia thrives on crimpy slab climbs, cheese-and-cracker snacks, and the vibes at Hive Vancouver. Born in Romania, she moved to Vancouver when she was 10 and now spends her downtime reading under big trees or fawning over foxes. Her favourite movie (Shrek) proves she’s got a soft spot for classics.
Maitri practically grew up on the walls of Hive Vancouver—she’s been climbing for 10 years and still calls it her favorite gym (though Squamish rocks are a close second). She loves dynamic climbing and pizza Goldfish, and is a budding filmmaker when she's not climbing! Bonus facts: her favourite animal is a bear, and her favourite colours are purple and red.
Anushika can't decide if she loves bouldering or sport-climbing more, but she makes sure to bring chocolate covered almonds to snack on no matter the climb. She also loves salsa dancing and going to local concerts. Bonus fun fact: she grew up speaking fluent Greek, but not so much these days.
Kate’s been climbing since she was 6 and still adores static movement—especially when paired with Goldfish crackers. A Squamish regular and ski/snowboard fiend, she’s also low-key obsessed with jellyfish and the movie Frozen.
Ipek is a slab specialist with a sweet tooth for gummy bears. She also loves cats, the colour blue, and The Bee Movie.
Stella is a bouldering enthusiast who thrives on connecting with climbers worldwide—she loves exploring gyms abroad to soak up different climbing cultures. Off the wall, she’s crafting handmade clip-on bone earrings, rolling D&D dice, or snacking on oranges. Bonus facts: she's got a soft spot for bats and lichen.
Darren climbs slab with the focus of someone who's reading three books simultaneously (because he probably is). His "Glory to the platypus" mantra remains unexplained but respected and when not crushing, he's either debating cyan vs. teal or explaining how Kung Fu Panda is actually profound climbing philosophy.
Alison dynos through climbs, and life, while enjoying a good chocolate. When not climbing, playing hockey, or unicycling (yes, really), she's debating LOTR lore or explaining why purple is clearly the most royal of colors. She secretly believes her unicycle skills and love for platypuses translate to better heel hooks.
Patricia crimps so hard she becomes a mosquito magnet (unfortunate for her, great for climbing partners). A podcast connoisseur, you can find her fueling for her sessions with sushi, apples, and bananas (a winning combo). She's recently been fawning over Anuthuriums, and her favorite book features a boy, mole, fox and horse - which she insists is the ultimate climbing squad.
Koah lives for slab, yerba mate, and knowing every bug’s life story. He listens to a million songs a day (his Spotify Wrapped is seriously impressive) and when he’s not climbing, he’s making music so indie even your hipster cousin hasn’t heard of it and downing Classic Gold Yerba Mate.
A lover of a good crack climb, Victoria has scaled cliffs in Thailand and, legend has it, survived on dried strawberries alone (a true warrior). Her favourite book is When Breath Becomes Air, and you can catch her travelling every chance she gets.
Erika's 14 piercings jingle like wind chimes when she climbs (a built-in send soundtrack). She builds Lego between burns, and her love for sunflowers is rivalled only by of her love for Lord of the Rings (extended edition marathons count as endurance training, right?).
Madison approaches slab climbing with the focus of her favourite animal: a cat. Her secret weapon is buttered popcorn, which she claims is performance food (honestly, valid). Between sends, she loves hiking; she also believes blue is the perfect color - for chalk bags, climbing gear, and the sky she stares at through the trees in the boulder fields.
Ruby climbs with her squad like they're the Avengers of the bouldering cave - if the Avengers fueled up on crackers and inside jokes. She loves colouring with her favourite colours in hand (pink, blue, and turquoise, a stunning combo), and wishes she could teach her favourite animal (a seal) how to spot her on her project.
Patrick boulders like some sort of climbing ghost - with chalk-smear grey hands (like his favourite colour). His basement blackberry wine is legendary among his peers (though taste-testing is at your own risk). When not crushing or fermenting, he's tinkering in his shed, building... something (we're still trying to get a sneak peek). His favourite read, World War Z, inspires his zombie-apocalypse training regimen. First rule: always have chalk.
Ben is ironically terrified of heights, but still loves a good dynamic climb, proving that you can still climb through fear. He also loves snacking on apples and dreams of backpacking with bears (from a safe distance). His theme song? The Decline by NOFX—because punk rock and crimps go hand in hand.
Kaiya loves crimps, slab, and Rice Krispie squares (the real breakfast of champions). Off the wall, they’re either cosplaying different anime characters or playing soccer (maybe also in cosplay).
Tess designs cemeteries; come to think of it, this might explain why she's so good at deadpoints. Her go-to snack is wine gums, and off the wall, she’s either gardening or rereading The Way of Kings.
Rachel loves to climb slab and dance while reminiscing about the time a monkey stole her sandwich (a core memory). Her dried mango addiction funds entire grocery stores and when not climbing or dancing, she's debating whether monstera plants, peonies, or orcas are the superior muses. Her Pride and Prejudice love proves you can be both graceful and gritty.
Freya climbs with the power of someone who's been doing it for 10 years (because she has). Her favourite animal is a cow - not for the grazing, but for the stubborn determination. When not sending, she's either napping with the intensity of an Olympic sport or explaining why red is clearly the superior colour.
Tobin climbs anything he can get his hands on: rocks, walls, maybe even the occasional fridge if the holds are good. Fueled by cookies (carbs=sends), he moonlights as a pro dog annoyer (his pup's verdict: "tolerable"). Dad jokes are his comedy gold, and Pirates is objectively the best franchise (no debating allowed).
Archaeologist by day, Emme spends their time off the wall collecting bones. Their playlist jumps from Supertramp to Ethiopian jazz faster than their feet jump between volumes. When not digging up artifacts or digging into cashews, they're shooting pool and playing chess. Their favourite colour, periwinkle, matches their aura.
Kai's climbing method of choice is on a board fueled by protein bars. He's fond of turtles (the ultimate slow-and-steady senders) and spending time with friends.
Sara loves big moves on jugs almost as much as she loves impromptu naps anywhere - crash pads, benches... Her ability to sleep through anything and love for climbing suggest she may have been a cat in a past life (it is her favourite animal, after all). She fuels her sends with bananas and good vibes.
Michelle loves cave and corner climbing and her current donkey obsession influences her "stubborn but cute" projecting style. You can always count on her to bring homemade pasta salad to the crag, but she'll also insist that giving in to post-climb burger cravings is non-negotiable. When she's not at her favourite crag (Area 44), you can find her admiring sage green and doing other seasonal sports like skiing or mountain biking; just don't ask her how to play chess.
Youth in our facilities require adequate, dedicated supervision appropriate to their age. Please refer to the supervision ratios near the top of this page for more information.
No, Hive Heights operates with their standard supervision rules at all times. These are as follows:
Youth ages 0–8 need an adult supervisor within arms reach at all times. Depending on the age of the child, the supervisor may be able to climb beside the child on auto belays.
Youth ages 9–12 need an adult supervisor on the mats, with a clear line of sight to their child. Supervisors must visually check the setup before each climb. A supervisor may climb beside children on auto belays.
Youth aged 13 and older can take the top rope belay test or use the auto belays and climb unsupervised. After the first booking, youth over 13 may book in for their session as adults.
Youth aged 15 and older are eligible to take the lead belay test, provided they have passed a top rope belay test.
Appropriate active clothing is recommended: think about climbing, stretching, reaching, taking big steps or small leaps. Long pants or leggings to protect from abrasions are ideal. We don't recommend skirts, dresses, or excessively baggy clothing as these could snag on limbs or climbing holds.
Climbing shoes are included with day passes, memberships, and youth programs. On occasion, size availability may be limited. All children may bring a pair of clean indoor shoes, ideally snug-fitting runners, as a backup.
Appropriate active clothing is recommended: think about climbing, stretching, reaching, taking big steps or small leaps. Long pants or leggings to protect from abrasions are ideal. We don't recommend skirts, dresses, or excessively baggy clothing as these could snag on limbs or climbing holds and are challenging to wear with harnesses.
Climbing shoes and harnesses are included with youth day passes, memberships, and youth programs. On occasion, size availability may be limited. All children may bring a pair of clean indoor shoes, ideally snug-fitting runners, as a backup. Belay devices are also included with youth day passes, memberships, and youth programs, but can only be used by individuals who have passed a belay test. Belay tests are available for youth aged 13 and older.
Our compact Vancouver Bouldering location has a kid-friendly area for your young ones to get comfortable on the wall before exploring our main gym area at Vancouver (520 Industrial Ave) which is shared as a teaching space for courses, birthdays and other youth programs and may sometimes be unavailable; feel free to give us a call to check.
Vancouver: 604 683 4483
No, as an older gym, Hive Heights was not built with a separate kids' room outside of the main climbing area. Appropriately supervised children are always welcome in this gym, and if you're looking for a quiet time, try a weekday (before 5 pm) or weekend evening (after 5pm).
The Hive offers dedicated kids’ space for your young ones to get comfortable on the wall before exploring our main gym area at Hive North Shore, but it is important to note that this space also acts as teaching space for birthdays and other youth programs and may sometimes be unavailable; feel free to give us a call to check.
Hive North Shore: 604 990 4483
The Hive Surrey does not have a closed climbing section just for children, however it does have a shorter wall at the back of the gym which is set for kids and new climbers, or you can look for the 'youth friendly' tags throughout the gym which have shorter space between holds and the final hold isn't generally as high up as 'regular' climbs.
No, Hive PoCo does not have a separate closed off area for young climbers, however there is a wall toward the back of the gym which is great for young climbers and beginners – our staff will be happy to guide you there!
The Hive Winnipeg does not have a closed climbing section just for children, however you can look for the 'youth friendly' tags throughout the gym which have shorter space between holds and the final hold isn't as high up as 'regular' climbs.
For booked events and parties, The Hive can store your food and drink in our fridge.
Sorry, Hive Heights has no freezer/fridge available for guests.
Yes! For booked events and parties, The Hive can store your food and drink in our fridge/freezer.
Yes! For booked events and parties, The Hive can store your food and drink in our fridge/freezer.
Yes, a fridge and freezer are available for party guests. If you are bringing anything large, please mention this when booking.
Our programming starts at age 10 with our Inters class.
KidSport BC Ages 18 and under
https://kidsportcanada.ca/british-columbia/vancouver/apply-for-a-grant/
Athletics 4 Kids Ages 5-18
https://www.a4k.ca/apply-now
JumpstartAges 4-18
https://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca/pages/individual-child-grants
iSPARC-RISEAges under 27
https://isparc.ca/grants-recognition/rise-grants-individuals/apply-now/
Kidsport Ages 18 and under
https://kidsportcanada.ca/manitoba/provincial-fund/
Jumpstart Ages 4-18
https://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca/pages/individual-child-grants
For those too small to wear a regular sized harness, we have a full-body children's harnesses. These are suitable for kids 94-126cm (37-49") tall, and with leg loops adjustable from 32-40cm (12.5-15.75"). Auto belays have a minimum weight limit of 11.3 kilos (25lbs) and are not recommended for children younger than 4.
All registration happens online through our website. The exact dates will vary year to year, but we will update the booking page with the next registration date shortly after the previous one has passed. On the opening date, registration opens at 10am SHARP! Our quarterly youth newsletter includes advance notice of registration dates, we recommend you sign up for that if you're interested.
We have 3 registration periods per year and the rough schedule is as follows:
Fall Registration: Mid-August
Winter Registration: Mid-November
Spring Registration: Mid-February
Absolutely! Most of our recreational-level classes meet once per week for the duration of a term, and are suitable for any experience level. Any kid is welcome to register (provided there is space in the upcoming term).
Exceptions to this are Hornets and Climbing Forward, which meet twice weekly, require experience, and have a mandatory application process.
We have both Youth Recreation Programs and The Competitive Pathway.
Youth Recreational programs are for any and all youth climbers to learn and reach their individual climbing goals. We offer Youth Rec programs at all of our Hive locations, and anyone is welcome to join.
Our competitive pathway (Swarm Team) is for youth climbers wanting to participate in competitions. They can start on this pathway at age 10. This requires an application and tryout process, along with minimum experience requirements.
Our programming starts at Age 4 with our Mini Bees class.
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