Youth Access Exemption Applications

In order for any exemptions to be granted youth must consistently demonstrate safe behaviour in class.

All children in the climbing areas will require 1:1 active supervision from an adult (18+).

Active supervision means staying close and engaged. Within arm’s reach or a few steps away, with full attention on the child.

To keep things safe:
Children should not be running, playing, or moving unpredictably on the mats
The supervising adult is responsible for making sure safety rules are followed at all times
Adults and children must take turns climbing, they cannot be on the wall at the same time
Supervising adults are still welcome to climb. It just needs to be done in a way that keeps the child properly supervised.

Why we're doing it
As more people come through the gym, the climbing areas get busier, and we've seen an increase in near misses. Most of these incidents involve children moving through fall zones or being unsupervised while others are climbing.
Bouldering spaces require clear fall zones and awareness of others. Younger climbers are still learning how to move through that environment, so having a supervising adult close by helps keep things safe and predictable for everyone on the wall and on the mats.

These updates aim to set clear expectations and ensure the space works well for both new and experienced climbers.

Adult to Child Supervision Ratios and Exemptions
Ages 4–8: 1:1 supervision (no exemptions)
Ages 9–13: Youth Program participants can apply for a 1:2 ratio
Ages 14–16: Youth Program participants can apply to climb unsupervised
As a thank you for your continual support, we are offering these exemptions only to our term-based youth, who are also coached weekly on safety guidelines. 

We value the safety and respect of all of our customers within our facilites, for this reason we have a strict application process for children between the ages of 14 + 15yo to be able to climb without a parent or guardian present, to keep our youth safer and to ensure we have the contact details of both guardians we have an application process for all youth to be able to use free climb time / their membership outside of the classes.

 

Currently the rules surrounding the youth in Portside are as follows:

-Children aged 4-15 will need an appropriate guardian/supervisor within the facilities, while children are climbing the supervisor must be on the matts with them.
-Youth aged 16-18 will not need supervision climbing.
-Once someone is 18+ they will be able to supervise others given they are not climbing at the same time.

 

We feel that this is fair for all patrons and will base our decision on the behaviour and attitude of the youth during our classes, this system is only available to youths in one of our programs.

Climbing unsupervised is a priviledge and if the application is grant we will maintain a 3 strikes policy for unsafe behaviour.

 

To ensure we have appropraite and correct contact information please complete the questions below.