Old Town Indoor Rock Climbing

THELEDGE is open* for member and non-member use whenever the club is open, even when the wall is not staffed. * Climbers who are not yet Certified at THELEDGE cannot use the ropes. Until then, please limit yourself to bouldering below the red line.

note: Children under age 16 may only climb when the wall is staffed under staff supervision.

At FFC Old Town both the Climber and the Belayer must be Certified by THELEDGE rock climbing staff. All Top Rope and Belay Certification times are posted below and subject to instructor availability. No appointment necessary.
-- Novices taking the Full Certification Lesson should allow 60 - 90 minutes for a lesson. Full Certifications for non-members include a free second visit (must be used within 14 days).
-- Climbers who are already perfectly proficient in harnessing, belaying and knot tying may complete a "Test-Out" Certification. "Test-Out" climbers must complete their test in 15 minutes. See conditions below.

Monday - Friday Full Certification Lessons for Individuals -- Please arrive between 5:00 PM and 6:00PM and expect the lesson to take 60-90 minutes. Open climbing follows lesson.

Monday - Friday Test-Out Certification Lessons for Individuals -- Please arrive between 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM. You should be able to complete the Test-Out in 15 minutes. Open climbing follows lesson.

Saturday - Sunday Full Certification Group Lessons -- Individual un-certified climbers will be grouped together for a Group Certification Lesson. All participants must arrive at either 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM. Expect the lesson to take 90 minutes. Open climbing follows your lesson.

Saturday - Sunday Test-Out Certification Lessons -- Please arrive between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. You should be able to complete the Test-Out in 15 minutes. Open climbing follows lesson.

* In order to "Test-Out" a climber must be experienced enough to know how to 1) buckle securely into a climbing harness, 2) tie into a harness using standard climbing knots, 3) check their rope climbing partner's equipment, 4) use standard climbing commands, 5) belay safely

Current 6-Week Adult Climbing Classes
(April 15 - June 2)

Mondays 6:00pm -- BOULDERING 2
Mondays 6:00pm -- LEAD
Mondays 7:00pm -- BEGINNER
Mondays 8:00pm -- BOULDERING 2.5

Tuesdays 6:00pm -- SUPERBETA HYBRID
Tuesdays 6:00pm -- BETA 1.5
Tuesdays 7:00pm -- BEGINNER
Tuesdays 8:00pm -- BETA 3

Wednesdays 6:00pm -- BOULDERING 1
Wednesdays 6:00pm -- BETA 2
Wednesdays 7:00pm -- BEGINNER
Wednesdays 8:00pm -- BETA 3

Thursdays 6:30pm -- BETA 4 HYBRID
Thursdays 7:00pm -- BEGINNER
Thursdays 8:00pm -- SUPERBETA HYBRID

Fridays 6:30pm -- BEGINNER
Fridays 7:00pm -- BETA 1

Saturdays 11:00am -- BEGINNER
Saturdays 11:00am -- ADVANCED
Saturdays 1:00pm -- INTERMEDIATE

Sundays 11:00am -- BOULDERING/BETA 2-3
Sundays 1:00pm -- BOULDERING/BETA 1-2

Upcoming 6-Week Adult Climbing Classes

Next Session Begins Monday, June 3, 2013!
Class sizes are limited.
All classes are 1 Lesson per week on the same day of the week for 6 weeks.
All lessons are approximately 2 hours long.
Climbing shoes are provided. (You must bring your own socks to be given shoes.)
Harnesses and belay devices are provided.
All classes include 6 Open Visits for non-members.
Open Visits must be used within the 6 week period.
Beginners have the option to switch to another Beginner class in the same week if they need to.
Any missed lesson visits can be used as Open Visits during the 6 week period.
Lessons are structured and progressive, building skills week to week.
See class descriptions below.

Member Price: $125.
Pass Holder Price: $125.
Non-member Price: $175.
FFC Gift Cards are accepted!
Registration must be done prior to the class start date.
There is $25 late fee for same-day registrations.
No refunds are allowed.
Register by calling FFC Old Town at 312-640-1235.

For more information contact tpetraitis@ffc.com.

The schedule below is subject to change.
The Front Desk will have all recent schedule changes.

BEGINNER CLASSES:

7:00 PM Mondays (beginning 6.3.13)
7:00 PM Tuesdays (beginning 6.4.13)
7:00 PM Wednesdays (beginning 6.5.13)
7:00 PM Thursdays (beginning 6.6.13)
6:30 PM Fridays (beginning 6.7.13)
11:00 AM Saturdays (beginning 6.8.13)
11:00 AM Sundays (beginning 6.9.13)

ADVANCED CLASSES:
(beginning the week of Monday, June 3)

Mondays 6:00 PM BOULDERING 2
Mondays 7:00 PM MULTI-PITCH
Mondays 8:00 PM BOULDERING 3

Tuesdays 6:00 PM SUPER-BETA HYBRID
Tuesdays 6:00 PM BETA 1.5
Tuesdays 8:00 PM BETA 2

Wednesdays 6:00 PM BOULDERING 1
Wednesdays 6:00 PM BETA 2
Wednesdays 8:00 PM BETA 3

Thursdays 6:00 PM BETA 4 HYBRID
Thursdays 8:00 PM SUPER-BETA HYBRID

Fridays 7:00 PM BETA 1

Saturdays 11:00 AM ADVANCED
Saturdays 11:00 AM LEAD
Saturdays 1:00 PM INTERMEDIATE

Sundays 11:00 AM BETA/BOULDERING 2-3
Sundays 1:00 PM BETA/BOULDERING 1-2

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

BEGINNER - A thorough introduction to indoor toprope climbing and bouldering, emphasizing the safe and proper use of climbing equipment, knot tying, and reliable belaying skills. Includes Certification (in Week 2).

INTERMEDIATE - A course for anyone who has already been certified and knows what fun climbing is, focused on improving climbing and advanced belaying techniques and developing an understanding of what it will take to climb outdoors.

ADVANCED - A more rigorous course for climbers who have completed the Intermediate class, focused on basic lead techniques and strength training.

BETA 1 through BETA 4 - Climbers work together under expert guidance to discover various "preferred" or more efficient moves on specific routes with the goal of developing techniques and climbing harder routes. Small group format.
Level 1 - for post-Beginners working on 5.7
Level 2 - for 5.7 climbers working on 5.8
Level 3 - for 5.8 climbers working on 5.9
Level 4 - for 5.9 climbers working on 5.10a/b
5.10c and above toprope climbers interested in some leading and some bouldering see BETA HYBRID and SUPER-BETA

BETA HYBRID and SUPER-BETA - Beta for THELEDGE sport climbing routes and some bouldering! Small group format.

LEAD CLIMBING - Sport lead climbing, Anchoring, Rappelling and Safety. Everything you'll need to know to take it outdoors and nothing less! Small group format. Some additional gear required.

BOULDERING 1 through BOULDERING 3 - Pure cordless free climbing blending raw power with intelligent technique focusing on harder problems. Small group format.
Level 1 - for post-Beginners working on Bunny Pasture (V0-) problems
Level 2 - for climbers working on Monkey House (V0 - V1) problems
Level 3 - for climbers working on Hawk Nest (V2 - V3) problems

LEAD - Sport Lead Climbing in all it's magnificence! Lead Belaying. Anchoring. Rappelling. Small group format.

MULTI-PITCH - Our most advanced course focuses on basic necessary skills needed to tackle long, full-day outdoor multi-pitch sport and trad climbs with speed and safety as the common link between climbers. Some additional equipment required. Small group format.

KIDS CLIMBING POLICIES

Only kids age 16-18 can become Belay Certified. A parent or legal guardian must sign the certification form.
When the climbing wall is staffed kids at any age may participate in staff supervised climbing programs (Kids Camps or Private Lessons). They may also be belayed by their Belay Certified parents, and boulder as long as their parents are "spotting" them. Note: When the wall is staffed instructors are available to observe and enforce all safety concerns.
When the climbing wall is not staffed kids under age 16 may not use the wall or wander the club unsupervised.

KIDS CLIMBING PROGRAMS

Kids Camp
A day pass into the Kids Camp is $35. We refer to it as a "Trial Visit". If kids try the Kids Camp and parents decide the same day that they want their kids to join, they can apply the $35 Trail Visit payment toward immediate enrollment in any open KC day (or days). They can only enroll in a day that has room for another kid. Once a week for 10 weeks is $150. Twice a week for 10 weeks is $200. Any days they miss are lost.

2013 Kids' Climbing Camp is a terrific year-round feature of Old Town FFC's climbing school. Open to kids (recommended) ages 5 to 13, the Camp runs 6 days a week (just not on Mondays) and parents can pick a day (or days) of the week that fits their child's busy schedule! Instructors lead kids through all sorts of imaginative climbing games and challenges including everything from make-your-own short bouldering paths to pseudo-mountaineering rescue adventures and a swinging tree house rope ladder. Each day's class size is limited. Kids can be enrolled into any day of the week that has an opening. Parents can begin a child's 10-week enrollment whenever they like into any open weekday class (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays from 4:00 to 5:30 PM) or into the a weekend class (Saturdays or Sundays from 9:00-10:30 AM). Enrollment is $150 for 10 consecutive weekly visits on the selected day of the week or $200 for kids who want to climb twice a week on two selected days. Saturdays and Sundays may be used as open days for kids who have missed a lesson and would like to make it up - as long as parents stay and help belay. For more information please contact Tom Petraitis at tpetraitis@ffc.com.

Outside of the Kids Camps what can kids do on our wall?

one kid can get a private lesson ($35/hour)
two kids can get a double-private lesson ($35/ea for 90 minutes)
they can boulder as long as their parents are spotting them ($12 + $5 shoe rental) *
they can get on a rope as long as their parents are Certified ($12 + $5 shoe rental) *
If the wall is not staffed they must be at least 16 and a parent must have signed a Guest Card

* Parents will not be charged if they are not themselves climbing.

Yes, we offer fun-filled climbing activities for kids celebrating birthdays from 5 to 15. Please contact tpetraitis@ffc.com for more details.

"My son was turning 11 this year and all he wanted to do was Rock Climb. I googled rock climbing kids and Fitness Formula was the first to come up. I called and spoke to Tom Petraitis who answered all my questions and invited us to view the space. The day of the party was seamless. The front desk was very helpful with checking in the children and fitting them for shoes. The rock climb was a success as all the kids were able to participate as their were different levels. My son had so much fun that we will sign up for the rock climbing camp this fall."

This program offers a customized event designed to foster a non-competitive team-oriented approach to problem solving. Climbing challenges require participants to work on Reliance, Achievement, Excellence and Trust. For more details please contact tpetraitis@ffc.com.

Group trips organized by Tom Petraitis (FFC-OT Climbing Wall Manager) to Devil's Lake, Wisconsin include camping and in depth guidance in the safe setting of solid toprope anchors. Trips usually include two nights camping and two days of anchor setting, instruction, and climbing. Fee varies with group size.

For more details please contact tpetraitis@ffc.com.