Indoor Rock Climbing Club
Indoor Rock Climbing is one of Canada’s fastest growing sports and Garrison Petawawa’s Indoor Rock Climbing Club offers the best climbing in the Ottawa Valley!
The Indoor Rock Climbing Club (IRCC) operates two walls at Garrison Petawawa, offering 9 climbing lanes in a range of techniques and styles to challenge climbers of every level! The season typically runs from October to May of the following year, and activities include regular climbing hours three nights a week.
Allow our Climbing Wall Instructors to show you the ropes, help harness your strengths, and chalk up the courage to try something new! Experienced and brand new climbers alike love to share community and social connection while challenging themselves with physical and mental problems on the wall, making rock climbing a very diverse and exciting activity! Consider trying it out for a date night, activity with friends/family, or a new hobby you may love! Heights aren't everyone's thing - but it can be a great opportunity to push your comfort zone and gradually increase your tolerance. Everyone starts somewhere; even the most experienced climbers. Passionate climbers can help encourage you to start in ways that feel more achievable than you might imagine.
All participants must complete the course ‘Intro to Belay’ and/or a Skills Test prior to climbing during Open Gym hours. Experienced top rope belayers or participants are confident in their belay technique, can choose to proceed directly to the Skill Test. Belay courses are offered weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:15pm and 6:30pm on a drop in basis; no need to register. Belay courses are not offered on Fridays.
Participants have the option of paying a drop-in fee or purchasing a membership for the season. See below for details
HOURS OF OPERATION
Open Gym
Dundonald Hall
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 5-8 pm
DROP-IN / MEMBERSHIP RATES
Memberships are available for purchase ONLINE or in-person at the Recreation Complex during regular operating hours.
Non PSP Plan Members who purchase online will need to obtain a membership card from the Recreation Complex.
Drop-In
Individual: $16
Family: $29
PSP Plan Members | NON PSP Plan Members | ||
Monthly Membership - Individual | $24 | Monthly Membership - Individual | $69 |
Monthly Membership - Family | $43 | Monthly Membership - Family | $88 |
Seasonal Membership - Individual | $140 | Seasonal Membership - Individual | $185 |
Seasonal Membership - Family | $250 | Seasonal Membership - Family | $295 |
*Note: For Non PSP Plan Members an initial administration fee of $45 applies when the membership is activated. If you choose to purchase a monthly plan, you will need to register each month. Memberships are not auto-renewable.
**Children must be accompanied by a parent and/or guardian**
GEAR RENTAL
Harnesses, belay devices, and shoes.
Programs
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Intro to Belay
Mondays & Wednesdays beginning at 6:00 pm
October through April
A complimentary and mandatory course required for all new climbers. This course will provide the necessary skills to top rope belay using either an assisted braking device or unassisted belay device. The club will provide all required gear: harnesses, shoes and belay devices.
Following the completion of this course, participants will:
• Understand the equipment used for climbing top rope including shoes, harness, passive belay device
• Be able to tie a figure eight knot and know how to inspect it
• Use basic techniques to climb beginner routes
• Most importantly, be able to safely belay a climber and lower them back to the ground
There is no cost for the course. Children under 14 years of age are not eligible to take this course but are welcome to climb with a parent/guardian who has been certified.
To register for an Intro to Belay course, please send an e-mail to irccpetawawa@gmail.com with the full names & ages of all participants, as well as the desired course date. Each course can accommodate up to 8 participants. -
Intro to Lead
Lead climbing is a style of climbing that, unlike top rope, requires the climber to progressively clip themselves to the wall as they make their ascent, since there is no rope pre-positioned at the anchor. Lead climbing is an especially valuable skill for any club members wanting to venture outdoors; please note, however, that this course is strictly an indoor lead climbing course.
To participate safely in an Intro to Lead course, participants must already be proficient at top rope climbing and be comfortable and competent with the associated gear. It is recommended that you be able to comfortably climb 5.10 on top rope, as climbers must successfully lead climb a 5.9 route to be certified.
On this course, you will learn:- Proper, safe clipping technique
- Safe and controlled belay technique
- How to fall safely, and how to catch a falling climber safely
- Possible errors that may arise that are unique to lead climbing, and how to remedy them
The lead climbing course is delivered over the course of 2 days, and there is a $65.00 fee for all participants. -
Youth Program
Ages 6-12 yrs
Note - At this time the Youth Program will unfortunately not run during the 2025-2026 climbing season.
This is a six week course designed to introduce participants to climbing using basic techniques, games and skills-based exercises to build confidence in a fun and safe environment with certified instructors.
Maximum capacity is 12 participants per session.Costs
PSP Plan Member $140 | Non PSP Plan $185
Note: Parents must be in attendance for the duration of the course due to the nature of the sport.Course Dates - Tuesdays & Thursdays
Fall Sessions (Oct-Nov)
Winter Sessions (Jan-Feb)
Spring Sessions (Mar-Apr)Register Online
Frequently Asked Questions
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What do I wear? What shoes do I need? What do I bring?
Unrestrictive clothing that allows for free movement is recommended - think athletic, exercise, or yoga wear. Children under the age of 16 must wear a helmet. Harnesses, belay devices, shoes and children’s helmets are available during Open Gym hours at Dundonald Hall. Bring a water bottle as bottled water is not available. Water fountains are available in the facility to fill personal water bottles.
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Can I book the climbing wall for training and/or events?
To book either climbing wall for military training, reach out to your Unit Training Officer and/or the Facility Coordinator for the respective building. At this time we are not offering public event booking outside of our regular climbing hours. Please stay tuned for any changes.
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Can I bring my children? How old do they have to be to climb?
There is no minimum age for climbing. There have been members as young as 3 years old! We have full-body harnesses to accommodate even the smallest climbers.
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Do I need to remain on site while my child/children climb?
Yes! The club is not responsible for the supervision of children. Adults must remain on site and participate by learning how to belay. All children under 16 years of age must be belayed and supervised by a parent/guardian.
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Do I have to belay my child/children?
Yes. While volunteers are available to answer any questions, they do not have the capacity to directly supervise children on club nights. If clients do not know how to belay, intro lessons are available every week and take approximately one hour to complete - see “Programs” above for details.
