CWA Blog Archive-Considerations For Returning To Youth Programming

Considerations For Returning To Youth Programming

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This Headwall Group article offers recommendations for safely reopening youth climbing programs as gyms across the US reopened or planned to. It acknowledges that while gyms' policies around occupancy, sanitation, and PPE make great general guidelines, running youth programming while keeping young climbers and other clientele safe is a unique challenge. It names the specific difficulties: young climbers might not be the most reliable followers of cleaning protocols, youth climbing games often involve tight quarters, and belaying safety protocols often require proximity much closer than the recommended six feet. These realities make youth programming distinctly harder to adapt than general gym operations. The article positions itself as the first of two, with recommendations for reopening here and suitable games and activities to follow. It stresses that before deciding to reopen youth programs, operators must follow CDC guidelines and check with their local health department, since health and safety are paramount. Among its general recommendations, the first and most important principle is to communicate, emphasizing that families and young climbers need clear communication. The throughline is that reopening youth programming during the pandemic required special care beyond standard gym protocols, because the nature of youth climbing, unreliable protocol-following by kids, tight-quarters games, and close-proximity belaying, conflicts with distancing and hygiene requirements in ways adult operations don't. Since these unique challenges make youth programs harder to run safely, gyms had to ground their decisions in CDC and local health department guidance, treating health and safety as paramount, and build their approach on a foundation of clear communication with families and young climbers. By flagging the specific risk factors (kids' inconsistent hygiene compliance, cramped games, sub-six-foot belay proximity) and prioritizing authoritative guidance plus proactive communication, the article helps coaches and operators reopen youth programs thoughtfully rather than assuming general gym policies suffice. For those serving eager young climbers during reopening, it provides a safety-first framework acknowledging youth programming's distinct challenges and establishing communication as the essential starting point for navigating them responsibly.

Asset Caption

This Headwall Group piece gives recommendations for safely reopening youth programs, noting they pose unique challenges beyond general gym protocols: kids follow cleaning rules unreliably, games involve tight quarters, and belaying requires sub-six-foot proximity. It stresses following CDC and local health guidance, with clear communication to families and young climbers as the essential first principle.