youth climbing, at gyms, camps and tours
on South Africa's best rocks!
Sport Climbing
Waterval Boven Tour
Coming soon...
youth climbing for lifelong learning
CLIMB. PLAY. GROW
Youth climbing coaching, school extra mural programmes and outdoor adventures in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa.
At Southern Climbing Academy, we use climbing to help young people become stronger, more confident and more curious, both on the wall, rock and beyond.
upcoming events
it's more than just climbing
Climbing is a sport, but it's also a powerful way for young people to learn about themselves.
Every climb asks a child to solve a problem, manage uncertainty, try again when something doesn't work and offers opportunity to discover what they're capable of.
OUR PROGRAMMES BLEND FOCUSED COACHING WITH PLENTY OF FUN, HELPING YOUNG CLIMBERS DEVELOP:
CONFIDENCE
trusting in oneself, taking on challenges and celebrating progress.
RESILIENCE
try, fail, adapt and try again. In supportive environments where progress matters more than perfection.
STRENGTH
develop physical strength, coordination, movement skills and body awareness.
CONNECTION
build friendships, engage in supportive team dynamics and belong in a positive climbing community
FOCUS
learning concentration, problem solving and thoughtful decision making.
ADVENTURE
taking climbing beyond the gyms to experience the mountains, rocks and landscape of South Africa.
find your climb
Whether your child is getting on a climbing wall for the first time or already dreaming about their next project, there's a place for them at SCA.
SCHOOL EXTRA MURAL CLIMBING
A different kind of school sport
We partner with schools and climbing gyms in Cape Town and Johannesburg to provide climbing lessons throughout the school year.
Our coaches create engaging sessions that develop climbing skills, physical confidence and a love for movement... without losing sight of the most important ingredient: having fun.
Our extra mural programs can run once or twice a week and can be tailored to suit the school, age group and experience level.
While not inherently competition-focused, we also support progression into the competition circuit.
YOUTH COACHING & DEVELOPMENT
&
From first climb to serious progression.
Some young climbers simply love being on the wall. Others want to push their skills, enter competitions or set themselves bigger challenges in the mountains.
We meet them where they are and guide progress from there, tailoring programs to their goals.
Sessions focus on climbing technique, movement, problem-solving, strength, confidence and the mindset needed to keep learning.
Whether your child is a complete beginner or an experienced young climber, we help them discover what they're capable of.
FROM THE GYM TO THE MOUNTAIN
Real climbing. Real adventure. Real places.
Climbing indoors is only the beginning.
Our outdoor camps and excursions give young climbers the opportunity to take the skills they've developed in the gym and experience climbing in the mountains.
From Rocklands in the Northern Cederberg to Waterval Boven in Mpumalanga, our trips combine climbing with movement, hiking, games, exploration, environmental education and time spent outdoors.
These aren't ordinary school camps.
They're opportunities to step away from screens, spend time in nature, challenge yourself, make friends and experience South Africa's incredible climbing landscapes.
Blending focus with fun, building self confidence, self awareness and strength.
why SCA
?
EXPERIENCED COACHES. A HOLISTIC APPROACH.
A GENUINE LOVE OF CLIMBING
Southern Climbing Academy is the youth branch of Breathe In Experiences.
Our team includes outdoor educators, occupational therapists and sports scientists and, most importantly, people who are passionate climbers themselves.
This combination of skills enable us to look beyond simply teaching someone how to climb.
We're interested in the whole young person: how they move, how they think, how they respond to challenges, how they connect with others and how they grow.
GUIDED BY 4 SIMPLE VALUES:
COLLABORATION
we learn with and from each other
KINDNESS
we create spaces where young people feel supported and respected
CURIOSITY
we encourage questions, exploration and a willingness to try
JOY
climbing is challenging, but it should also be fun!