Rock Ventures offers programs designed for Girl Scouts.
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Located just north of the Finger Lakes, Rochester is home to a network of Girl Scouts, with troops organized by the Girl Scouts of Western New York (gswny.org). For those looking to earn a rock-climbing special interest patch close to home, there is only one option within the city limits at an indoor rock climbing facility called RockVentures (rockventures.net).
Patch Requirements
The rock climbing special interest patch was created to help girls learn how to climb safely at the gym, which offers team building and physical exercise. In order to qualify for this patch, scouts must prove that they have learned about a number of aspects to successful indoor climbing. They must learn how to safely use all equipment, about climbing technique and about the different styles of rock climbing. RockVentures can help Girl Scouts gain this knowledge through first-hand experience and instruction.
RockVentures
Located on University Avenue in downtown Rochester, RockVentures features over 18,000 square feet of climbing surface, making it one of the largest indoor rock-climbing facilities in North America. Besides just climbing, RockVentures also offers equipment rentals, instruction courses and late or overnight activities for groups, all of which might be helpful for any Girl Scout troop looking to earn patches.
Girl Scout Package
RockVentures offers a climbing package designed to allow Girl Scouts to earn a rock-climbing patch. Scout leaders are required to know the specific skills necessary for acquiring the patch in advance. As long as the leaders have this knowledge, RockVentures will happily host any such certification event, with staffers on hand to help instruct in the fundamentals of rock climbing and safety. Scouts can even use this package in conjunction with a late-night or overnight package that allows the troop to stay extra late or to camp overnight in the facility. The program costs $400 for a minimum of 10 girls with an extra fee for additional scouts. All girls are must also be 12 years of age or older.
Other Scout Opportunities
For scouts that already have or aren't going for the rock climbing patch, RockVentures also offers other scouting opportunities at the facility. This includes a 2 1/2-hour scout meeting that costs about $250 for 10 participants. During the program, girls can climb for two hours with specially trained belayers and also have access to two high ropes courses. RockVentures offers a meeting space with pizza for the final half hour.
References
About the Author
Brianna Byrne has been writing professionally since 2009 with multiple works published in the "From the Sofa" alumni newsletter. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film and animation from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has been working as an independent filmmaker for more than three years.
Photo Credits
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