Sport Lancaster is proud to deliver National Indoor Climbing Award Schemes (NICAS®), a nationally-recognised introduction to climbing, providing a gateway to learning more and developing a love for the sport.

Enrolment is open for new participants on the 15-week Autumn Term, commencing on Monday 1 September 2025, with a break for October Half Term (Monday 27 October - Sunday 2 November)

The NICAS sessions are split into different age groups; 7-9 years, 10-13 years, and 14+ years, so that the instructor can focus on the needs and abilities of each participant in the session.

Upon enrolment, participants should choose one day of the week which suits them:

7-9 years

15-week tuition: £127.50

Upon enrolment, participants should choose one day of the week which suits them.

• Monday, 5.30pm - 6.30pm
• Tuesday, 4pm - 5pm
• Wednesday, 4pm - 5pm
• Thursday, 4pm - 5pm
• Sunday, 9am - 10am

The 7-9 year old sessions are the first age group eligible to take part in the National Indoor Climbing Award Schemes (NICAS®). Young people will be introduced to climbing and develop a love for the sport. The key aim is to provide a safe introduction to climbing for anyone aged 7+ years on artificial climbing structures (e.g. indoor climbing walls).

10-13 years

15-week tuition: £187.50

Upon enrolment, participants should choose one day of the week which suits them.

• Tuesday, 5.30pm - 7pm
• Wednesday, 5.30pm - 7pm
• Thursday, 5.30pm - 7pm
• Saturday, 10.30am - 12pm

These sessions are suitable for young people aged 10-13 who have progressed through to the higher levels of the National Indoor Climbing Award Schemes (NICAS®). Participants will learn more about the history, ethics and styles of both indoor and outdoor climbing.

14+ years

15-week tuition: £187.50

Upon enrolment, participants should choose one day of the week which suits them.

• Tuesday, 8pm - 9.30pm
• Sunday, 12.45pm - 2.15pm

Also known at Sport Lancaster as Young Climbers Club, this session is available to young people from the age of 14 who have progressed from earlier NICAS levels.

The nationally recognised scheme helps to standardise the teaching and coaching of climbing in a structured manner whilst providing lots of fun too.

Young people from 14 years old are also eligible to take their Competency Assessment at Sport Lancaster and register to use the Climbing Wall unsupervised, without the structure of the NICAS qualification.

NICAS logbooks and certificates for each level completed are included in the course cost for all age groups.

Registration

Email the climbing team (climbing@lancaster.ac.uk) or call Sport Lancaster on 01524 510600 with your child's name, age and climbing experience.

Learn more about National Indoor Climbing Award Schemes (NICAS) on the Kids' Climbing webpage.