“I’m Going to the Mountain”. This is exactly what I tell my two sons each and every time when I am going climbing. It doesn’t matter whether I am going sport climbing, traditional climbing, big walling or new routing, I am always just going to the mountain.

My boys are young, nearly 5 and 7 years old. They know that their daddy loves to go climbing. They know that I work at a climbing gym. They know that I train other climbers. They know that we have climbing photos and magazines and books all over the house. So does all of this predispose them to becoming climbers or hating climbing in a few years? I don’t know, but this is what I do to try to facilitate a love of the outdoors whatever the venue might be.

1. I never force them to go climbing. I make sure to give them the chance to choose and suggest what we do each day after school or on the weekends. (That being said there were a few times when the boys were in car seats that I did take them climbing, but once they could choose I always let them choose.)

2. If they ask, I teach them. When it came to tying their first figure 8 or when they wanted to learn how to rappel and eventually belay. I never said that you have to be older to do that, I just taught them the safe and proper way to achieve those tasks.

3. If when they choose to go climbing they decide after a few minutes that they want to do something else, I will entertain the idea if possible. Normally, I have enough supplies in the car to ensure a fun hike or fishing adventure if climbing isn’t on the table for the entire day. This rarely happens, but it has and because I make climbing days their days I never try to force them to climb.

4. When they get frustrated, I am patient. This is always tough to do. I want to tell them to try and try again, but I really want them to try on their own. I will suggest that they rest and if they feel like they want to try again that they can.

5. I never mention grades of climbs. Grades and egos are why people stop climbing. Grades can motivate climbers initially, but they eventually chew up and spit out those who are engrossed with them.

6. While climbing or outside, I remind them that we need to take care of the outdoors. It is important to me that my kids know how to take care of the environment. I make sure that my kids and I take time to pick up trash each time we are outside on adventures.

7. Finally, and most importantly if it’s no longer fun then it’s time to take a break. Pushing through a lack of fun might have to happen while at your job or when your cleaning up puke, but when your climbing it’s ok to take a break and try again another day.