Climb Tulsa and a Reluctant Seven-Year-Old Boy

July 24, 2024

Diane Morrow-Kondos,

“I don’t want to go, Granddad. I am not going!” Callister was adamant that he was not going to Climb Tulsa despite agreeing to it the day before. Through some magical grandfather powers, my husband talked him into at least going to Climb Tulsa to look around. He promised Callister that he did not have to climb if he didn’t want to. Fortunately, he was on board and participated fully once he walked in.

My husband had always been curious about Climb Tulsa, and after a little online investigation, he thought it would be the perfect activity for our grandson. Although plenty of classes are available for ages five and above, we opted for the least commitment available. A reservation wasn’t required, but waivers are, so our grandson’s parents filled his out online the night before. Because of the inherent dangers, everyone, even spectators or those taking a tour, must fill out waivers. Anyone under thirteen must have a parent or guardian with them.

After paying, they were given the equipment, including harnesses, a chalk bag, and climbing shoes. An instructor helped them put the gear on correctly and taught them what they would do. Safety is the priority, and the instructor ensured everyone was properly secured with the harnesses and clips. They were using an auto belay, which means a machine keeps the slack out of the rope. At the top, you can climb back down or allow the auto belay to lower you back to the thick cushions below. My husband and grandson climbed several walls and had a great time together!

Cal was surprisingly enthusiastic about climbing.

Classes and Amenities

Climb Tulsa has youth, teen, and adult classes. In keeping with its family-friendly atmosphere, it even offers a class a family can participate in together. There are walls for beginners and walls up to forty feet high that will challenge experienced climbers. Ropes courses, classes to transition to outdoor climbing, and yoga classes are also available. It also has a shop that sells camping and climbing gear. It’s a one-stop shop for all your climbing and camping needs.

Valuable Lessons

Callister and his granddad had a great time climbing together, but it went beyond a fun activity. Cal gained a bit of self-confidence as he climbed the wall, something he didn’t think he could do. Although he’s a big, strong kid, he has never been interested in traditional sports involving competition. Climbing can be competitive, but it’s mostly about challenging yourself to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and to be the best you can be. Spending time in a shared activity with his granddad was bonding. I’m hoping our grandson’s positive feelings about this experience will help make him more open to other new adventures.

He wasn’t the only one that learned some valuable lessons. I learned a lesson in clear communication. As adults, we all too often assume kids know what we’re talking about, but sometimes they don’t. As it turned out, Callister thought he was going to have to go out and climb a big mountain. A few days before, I had shown him a picture of his granddad and me climbing Pulpit Rock in Norway, and he thought we were taking him to do something like that! He was so relieved when he found out he was going to climb a wall inside. I need to communicate more clearly!

Poor kid, no wonder he didn’t want to go if he thought that was the climb we had in store for him!

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

You may wonder why we occasionally push Callister outside his comfort zone. This concept is probably foreign to you if you have a child who loves trying new things and is always enthusiastic about jumping into activities. That doesn’t describe our grandson. Cal needs a little push, but we always respect his limits if we get somewhere, and he still feels he does not want to participate. Fortunately, this rarely happens. In Cal’s own words, “I usually end up having fun even when I think I don’t want to go.” That’s good insight for a boy who has just turned seven.