Summer 2014 — Splash Outdoor Living — Page 33

Grace McKeehan com- petes at the World Cup in Chongqing, China. The 15-year-old trains at Canyons Gym in Frisco.

The Metroplex offers quite a few indoor climbing options, with gyms in Grapevine, Dallas, Carrollton, Arlington and Frisco.

“We have something for everybody, re- gardless of your fitness level,” said Mark McKeehan, who co-owns Frisco’s Canyon Climbing Gym with his wife. “We have everything from beginner routes to very start your experienced; there’s a route that almost everybody can make. It’s a championship climb wall.”

Built in 2004, Canyons features top rope, Canyons and , which is For beginners, McKeehan recommends “If we can get just 2 percent of the kids canyonsclimbinggym.com climbing without a rope. The gym offers wearing shorts, T-shirts and athletic shoes. in Frisco, McKinney, Allen and Plano to 7164 Technology Drive, Ste. 202 three- and five-day summer sessions Frisco, 214-872-2992 for children ages 6 to 13. After learning Specialized shoes and harnesses are avail- come in once a month and put down their Dallas Rocks safety tips and stretching, coaches teach able to rent for $6; a day pass sells for video games and start climbing, [I’ll feel $14, or $9 for children ages 12 and under. Dallasclimbing.com them climbing techniques. successful],” he said. “We’re trying to get 9201 Forest Lane, No. 200 Memberships and family rates are also kids to be active instead of sitting Dallas, 972-231-7625 “It definitely works every muscle in your available. around. ... It’s more fun that school.” Exposure Indoor Rock Climbing body, and kids [should] be doing some- “I’ve been doing it for 16 years, and it’s my rockclimbing.com thing to keep fit,” said Kim Puccio, For those willing to brave the heat and 2389 Midway Road, Ste. B life,” Puccio said. “All three of my children Canyons coach. “It’s a lot of problem solv- enjoy the scenery, Texas also offers quite Carrollton, 972-732-0307 ing. Even though kids aren’t actually doing rock climb and travel all over the world a few options for outdoor climbing, in- Dyno-Rock Climbing Center schoolwork [over the summer], they’re climbing. It’s an amazing sport, and you can cluding Lake Mineral Wells State Park, dynorock.com problem solving and working their minds always do it. It’s not like soccer, where you Reimers Ranch Park in Austin, and a 608 E. Front St. as much as their body. It’s definitely some- have to get a whole team together.” Arlington, 817-461-3966 thing everyone can do. There are very few world-famous bouldering favorite, Hueco Despite a lack of scientific evidence, Mc- Tanks in El Paso. Summit Climbing Gym sports out there where your kid actually summitgyms.com becomes your teacher. I see 8- or 9-year- Keehan said he’s seen children with atten- 1040 Mustang Drive olds teaching their parents how to rock tion deficit disorder succeed with climbing I BRITTANY FEAGANS Grapevine, 817-421-3888 climb all the time.” because it’s similar to solving a puzzle. [email protected]