24 SUMMER ACTIVITY GUIDE 2021
LIFETIME HOBBIES: A LABOR OF LOVE FINDING A HOBBY TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER AND BEYOND Every student, no matter their grade, has encountered the timeless question: what are your hobbies? Usually asked during an icebreaker activity, these icebreakers usually elicit answers like rock climbing, painting, skiing, or something else kids enjoy in their free time. Having hobbies is important because they help you engage in something that you truly enjoy. It’s an activity where you aren’t doing it because your parents told you to or you are being paid to do it. If you’ve got a job, you’re likely using that money to participate in your hobby. Hobbies are also important because they allow you to meet people interested in the same activities. Whether much of your free time is spent on the golf course or on a mountain bike, hobbies bring you closer to like-minded people and give you the chance to meet lifetime friends. When you’re young, you go through stages of learning your likes and dislikes. Maybe ballet is crossed off the list because you are the least coordinated person alive, or football
because of its high contact. Either way, the best time to explore new hobbies is while you’re young. Try a new one out every few weeks and see if it sticks. Here are a few options for lifetime hobbies you can try this summer!
Spire Climbing and Fitness Summer Camps
Spire Climbing and Fitness is one of Bozeman’s rock-climbing gyms open to all ages. This summer they are offering both weeklong summer camps and day camps for kids ages 5-16. Rock climbing provides a great upper body exercise all the while teaching hand-eye coordination skills. It can also teach life skills like trust and determination through repeated work on a challenging climb. Rock climbing’s laid-back attitude will also always remind you not to take the sport, or life, too seriously. The PIR Day Camp will help campers learn the basics of rock climbing and focus on developing some of the life skills essential to succeed in the sport like strength, confidence, fo-
cus, trust, and teamwork. The camp is open to kids of all abilities and tries to introduce rock climbing to kids in a fun and engaging way. Children ages 5-9 will be split into one group, and children ages 10-12 in another. The next available day camp is being offered April 8, but dates the camp is offered do change, so it is best to check Spire’s website. Information on the PIR day camp can be found at https://www.spireclimbingcenter. com/PIR-day-camps. In addition to the PIR Day Camp, Spire also offers weeklong summer camps for kids ages 5-16. Camps are offered just about every week beginning June 14 and go Monday-Friday, 8:30-12 p.m. Afternoon sessions are also offered on special occasions. Campers are split up into one of the three groups: Monkey Mania for kids ages 5-8, Rock Warriors for kids ages 8-11, and Rock Stars for kids ages 1116. Each camp will focus on Spire’s mission to help kids learn the essentials of the sport and take their skills to the next level. Monkey Mania
will focus on skills like tying knots, commands and technique through games and activities. Rock Warriors will expand on the basics learned in Monkey Mania and move on to advanced climbing techniques. Rock Stars will try to ascend to rock climbing glory, and will focus on learning to rappel, tying a variety of knots, and understanding the fundamentals of lead climbing. Registration for all summer camps is available now at https://www.spireclimbingcenter. com/summer-camps. Spire is implementing a number of safety guidelines in response to COVID-19, including: limiting all camps to 15 participants, requiring sanitization when leaving or entering their facility, sanitizing high-touch surfaces frequently, and performing activities outdoors whenever possible. Those seeking more information on camps being offered this summer can check out https://www.spireclimbingcenter.com/, or call 406586-0706 for more information.
