The Guelph Grotto Climbing Co..

Day Pass

Unlimited facility access during operating hours — there are no hourly or half-day rates. Reservations are not required for casual climbing; top-rope belaying for age 12+ requires passing a belay test first, and auto belays have a 25 lb minimum. Gear rentals are separate for adults: shoes $7.08, harness $6.20, chalk $3.50. The gym only permits Petzl GriGri belay devices.

Adult $24 / Discount (under 18, students, 55+) $21 / Family $62 + $18 per additional family member / Child under 13 $20 (rentals included for under 13)

Beginner Adult Technique Series

A six-week series for first-time climbers covering fall technique, climbing terminology, muscle activation, skills for boulders and routes, auto-belay use, and top-rope belaying. Rentals are included in the drop-in price, so a non-member can attend a single session without committing to a membership or buying gear. Pitched for those who are nervous about climbing as much as for outright beginners.

Members $35 + tax (drop-in); Non-members $50 + tax (drop-in). Rentals included.

Intermediate Adult Technique Series

A six-week series for climbers working to break into the intermediate (blue/red) boulder range. Sessions cover efficiency, footwork, hand-hold strategies, problem-solving, and dynamic movement. Can be booked as a full six-session block or as drop-ins, with separate member and non-member rates for each option.

Members $199 + tax (6 sessions) or $35 + tax (drop-in); Non-members $289 + tax (6 sessions) or $50 + tax (drop-in)

Youth Programs — Alpine, Beta, and Competitive Streams

Three parallel streams: Alpine is beginner-friendly and game-based; Beta is lesson-based skill development through four progressive levels; Competitive Teams train twice weekly under head coach Nolan Pisciuneri and require regional competition participation at the top end. Monthly pricing bundles a camp week, two PA day camps, gym membership, and rental gear. Youth Program Scholarships are available.

Ages 6–7 $100/month; Ages 8+ $130/month — includes participation in every session, 1 week of camp, 2 PA day camps, gym membership, and rental shoes and harness

Summer Camp

Week-long indoor climbing camp covering rock climbing, skill building, games, crafts, weekly challenges, and field trips to CTRL-V Virtual Reality. Includes all gear (shoes, harness, chalk), a Grotto Camper shirt, and a special lunch on Friday. Optional add-on trips to Hilton Conservation Area and Rattlesnake Point are available for an additional fee, with bus included.

Contact for details

Outdoor Summer Camp

Five-day camp built around outdoor days at Hilton Falls Conservation Area and Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area, with bus transportation to and from those two days included. Activities span low/high ropes, river cooling, wildlife observation, fort building, escarpment exploration, and outdoor climbing — a fuller outdoor week than the gym-based Summer Camp.

Contact for details

PA Day Camp

Half-day or full-day camp on school PA Days. Includes all gear (shoes, harness) and a pizza lunch; early drop-off and late pick-up are available for additional fees.

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March Break Camp

Week-long March Break camp blending rock climbing, games, and challenges. Campers learn to use a harness, tie knots, and belay. Includes all gear (shoes, harness, chalk) and a pizza lunch on Friday.

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Winter Break Camp

Holiday camp across seven dates during the winter break, in Full Day (9 AM–4 PM) or Half Day (9 AM–1 PM) formats. Children registered for all seven days are charged for six; sibling discounts apply.

Contact for details — register all 7 days for the price of 6 days; sibling discounts apply

Top Rope Belay Lesson

A two-hour lesson covering harnessing, knots, and belaying on a top rope using a Petzl GriGri. Includes a two-week Grotto membership starting the day of the lesson, plus rental gear for participants without their own. Available as an open class up to 6 participants or as a private booking with one climbing partner. The certification test is not included — it is completed separately on the next visit.

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Just Climb

A one-hour staff-belayed climbing session for individuals, families, or groups who want to climb without learning to belay first — "we handle the ropes, you do the climbing." Includes a staff belayer, rental gear (harness, shoes, chalk), and a day pass.

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Birthday Party Package

One hour of staff-belayed climbing followed by 45 minutes in the air-conditioned party room. The room comes set with tables, chairs, plates, napkins, cups, cutlery, water, pizza (pepperoni or cheese), candles, lighter, and a knife. Guests bring cake and any additional snacks.

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Date Night

A one-hour session for two with harness and shoe rentals included, plus a refreshing brew from Royal City Brewing Co.

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Aerial Silks

Aerial silks classes for ages 18+, from complete beginner through advanced aerial student. Contact silks@guelphgrotto.com for availability.

Trapeze

Trapeze classes for ages 18+ covering foundational mounts, hangs, balances, and seated and standing poses. Contact trapeze@guelphgrotto.com.

Outdoor Instruction — Rattlesnake Point & Metcalfe Rock

Outdoor courses run at Rattlesnake Point (Conservation Halton) and Metcalfe Rock. Offerings include Intro to Rock Climbing, Top Rope Anchor Course, Gym to Crag (two ~3-hour sessions), Outdoor Climbing Social, Caving and Outdoor Adventure, and Custom Climbing Adventures for groups or special occasions. All technical equipment and professional guidance are included.

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Lead Belay Lesson

Two three-hour sessions covering gear, belaying, catching falls, and clipping for indoor lead climbing. Participants must bring their own dynamic climbing rope and Petzl GriGri, and may not exceed a 50 lb weight difference with their partner unless using an Ohm.

Contact for details

Schools, Scouts & Guides Programs

Three Scouts and Guides packages with a 1:6 staff ratio and harness rentals included: Climb Time (1 hour, gym intro and belay instruction), Climb & Badge Work (1.5 hours, half-hour of knots/carabiners followed by climbing), and Climb & Belay Lesson (ages 8+, 2 hours, learn to belay each other using GriGri). School groups receive a certified-staff session tailored to experience level, and a Portable Wall School Visits option brings a portable wall to schools for a full week of programming.

Corporate Team-Building Packages

Three packages with a 1:6 staff ratio and harness rentals included: The Approach (1.5 hours — base intro to bouldering, top ropes, auto belays), Basecamp (2 hours — teams learn to tie knots, belay, and lower a climber, with belay-certification eligible after 24+ hours), and The Ascent (3 hours — full-spectrum retreat including blindfold and tandem climbing challenges).