Climb to New Heights at the Y!
The Y specializes in outdoor rock climbing, team building, and challenge course experiences. Our staff-facilitated programs allow participants to develop skills and relationships in a respectful and supportive learning environment. All of our facilitators are CPR/First Aid certified, and trained to Association of Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) standards.
Registration for climbing classes opens on the 15th of the month at 6:00 am for the next month of classes.
Rock Climbing Programs
Reserve a spot to open climb at a tower, sign up for a kids or family climbing class series, or learn to belay. Climbing gear and helmets are provided.
Open Climb Reservations
Our towers at our Auburn Valley, Dale Turner Family, Matt Griffin, and Northshore Y's are open to members ages 5 and older as an included membership benefit! Reserve your 90 minute spot up to two days prior. Kids under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult from the same membership and household.
Youth & Family Classes
Learn about climbing safety, equipment, technique, and commands, plus knot tying from our rock star staff! Kids, tweens, and families will be challenged while having a blast! Beginner and advanced youth, tween, and family options available.
Teen & Adult Classes
Launch into basics including skills like climbing safety, climbing technique, knot tying, and belaying. If you’ve wanted to try rock climbing or learn more about it, this is the place to be!
Belay Certification
This three-hour class is the perfect way for Y members, ages 14 and older, to learn the basics and get certified to belay within the YMCA of Greater Seattle climbing network. Your certification will allow you to belay at our various climbing walls during designated hours. Other skills covered will be climbing safety, climbing technique, and knot tying.
Tower Rentals & Challenge Programs
Celebrate a special occasion or take your team to new heights with a climbing tower or challenge course program rental. All of our climbing towers are available to rent, or you can customize a challenge course program at our Odyssey Course in Woodinville, the Alpine Tower in Auburn, or low-challenge course at YMCA Camp Terry. We can even come to you with portable ground-based team building programs! Outdoor locations are available April 1– October 31. Contact us at the inquiry form below to learn more.
Climbing Tower Rentals
We have four rock climbing towers that can be rented for two hours for a variety of occasions in Auburn, Bothell, SeaTac, and Shoreline! Sports teams, birthday parties, and scout troops are just a few of the types of groups that can benefit from a rock climbing tower rental. Two Y instructors and all safety gear including helmets provided. No party room or party supplies are provided.
Challenge Course Programs
We have four unique challenge course options: the Odyssey Teams Course in Woodinville, the Alpine Tower and Giant Swing in Auburn, the Low Challenge Course and Giant Swing at YMCA Camp Terry, and our Portable Ground-Based Teambuilding Programs. Each of these options offers something different and can be customized to meet your group’s needs and goals. Minimum ages and group sizes vary by location.
Ground-Based Team Building
Are you limited on the ability to travel, or wanting a program that is completely portable and on the ground? Then our portable ground-based team building programs would be perfect for you! These programs are focused on teamwork, leadership development, and having fun as a group. You can come to one of our locations, pick a custom location, or we can come to you! These programs accommodate all ages and abilities.
Tower & Challenge Locations
Our climbing towers and challenge courses are located throughout King County.
Auburn Valley Y Alpine Tower
Our Alpine Tower is a 3-sided pyramid structure made of wood and has six different routes ranging in difficulty. Participants climb and maneuver around the various obstacles, using hand holds, ropes, wood, and nets.
Location: Auburn Valley Y in Auburn, WA
Camp Terry Ropes & Giant Swing
Camp Terry is a great outdoor location available for team-building programs and rentals. The low ropes course offers six different activities, ranging in heights of 1-3 feet off the ground. The high ropes course activities include a tree climb and giant swing ranging in heights of 20-40 feet.
Location: Y Camp Terry in Issaquah, WA
Dale Turner Family Y Tower
This 25 foot indoor rock climbing tower is located inside the gym. It has six routes, and uses a mix of auto-belays and manual rope belays.
Location: Dale Turner Family Y in Shoreline, WA
Matt Griffin Y Huling Climbing Tower
This 25 foot indoor rock climbing tower is located inside the lobby. It has six routes, and uses a mix of auto-belays and manual rope belays.
Location: Matt Griffin Y in SeaTac, WA
Northshore Y Tower
The tallest in the YMCA climbing network at 35 feet, this tower has 10 different routes and uses both auto belays (cables) and manual belays (ropes). It's a great way to team build or celebrate a special event.
Location: Northshore Y in Bothell, WA
Odyssey High Ropes
The Odyssey Course is a "Teams Course," designed for small groups to navigate our bi-level ropes course from start to finish. A trained facilitator will be their guide for the duration of the program. This high ropes course ranges in heights of 20-40ft, includes 10 different obstacles, and culminates with a "zip line" to the ground!
Location: Cottage Lake Park in Woodinville, WA
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who do I contact with questions?
Email us at ychallenge@seattleymca.org.
When does registration open?
- For open climb, reservations open two days prior.
- For climbing classes, registration opens monthly on the 15th at 6:00 am for the next month of classes.
- To book a challenge program, please fill out the Inquiry Form above, or email ychallenge@seattleymca.org.
Who are the instructors?
Our instructors are ACCT (Association of Challenge Course Technology) trained facilitators with an enthusiasm for safety and customer experience. They are excited to work with groups and ages of all abilities to take you to the next level, or to just help you have some fun climbing outside! Usually there are at least two instructors present for each program.
How challenging are your structures?
As you might guess, the difficulty and challenge varies depending on who you are. But no matter what, every location has a challenge level appropriate for you. Our instructors are skilled in matching the challenge level to fit your needs and comfort.
What do I bring to class?
- Closed-toed shoes
- Water bottle
- Comfortable athletic clothing that is appropriate for being outside for the duration of your program.
- Any snacks that you may want during your program.
The Y will provide all necessary safety gear for your program, including your own harness and helmet. Please do not bring your own safety gear.
Where and how do I check-in for my climbing class?
Please check in at the front desk of the Y facility before proceeding to the climbing or challenge course area. For the Odyssey Course at Cottage Lake Park and Y Camp Terry, please proceed directly to the program area.
What are your safety protocols?
There is nothing more important to us than the safety of you, our members, our staff, and our volunteers.
- Disinfection of personal gear: Items such helmets will be disinfected at the end of each use.
- Staff Training: All of our staff are trained to ACCT (Association of Challenge Course Technology) and must be certified before working at any of our locations. We pride ourselves in our staff's technical competency and facilitation skills.
- Inspections and Maintenance: All of our locations go through strict periodic inspections, as well as daily pre and post inspections each time the site is used.
- Double Checks: We always double check every single person prior to engaging in climbing or challenge course activities.
How many participants are involved in a program?
Group sizes may vary depending on program length and location. Safety and program quality are our top priorities. We try our best to maintain industry standard instructor ratios, and are mindful of how many participants a location can safely handle at one time.
- Auburn (Alpine Tower and Climbing Wall)
- Climbing Programs - 8 participants and 2 instructors
- Challenge Programs - Group max size of 30
- Northshore (Northshore Climbing Tower in Bothell)
- Climbing Programs - 10 participants and 2 instructors
- Climbing Rentals - 15 participants and 2 instructors
- Odyssey Course at Cottage Lake Park in Woodinville
- Group max size of 40 at one time. With program modifications, we can accommodate much larger groups.
- Group max size of 40 at one time. With program modifications, we can accommodate much larger groups.
- Indoor Climbing Towers (Matt Griffin and Dale Turner Family YMCAs)
- Climbing Programs - 8 participants and 2 instructors
- Climbing Rentals - 15 participants and 2 instructors
- YMCA Camp Terry
- Depending on program length and activities selected, we can accommodate groups sizes up to 100 at Camp Terry.
What about bathrooms?
All of our locations have access to water and restrooms, if needed, during your program.
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Camp & Outdoor Leadership
The YMCA has been the leader in Summer Camp for over 130 years. Over this time, we’ve fine-tuned our programs to meet youth and their families wherever they are in their journey with the outdoors.
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