Carl Marrs
Welcome back! Each week, The Mountaineers youth team is sharing ideas and activities for kids of all ages to stay engaged while also staying home and safe. Last week's Stuck Inside explored ways to show all the adventure moms out there we love them. This week, we’re going to check out some fun in-home workouts the whole family can do together.
Before we get into the exercise ideas, a quick message from our Gear Library Coordinator, Hannah: Attend a virtual craft afternoon on May 23 and learn how to make several easy types of fire starter. It's a craft that is both fun to make and useful! This event is free, open to the public, and great for people of all ages.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...
Quarantine 15? No thanks!
use your body
You don’t need any fancy equipment (other than a couch cushion and a couple stuffed animals) to complete a quality workout! Check out this series of videos from Freida MacLeod, daughter of renowned Scottish climbing legend Dave MacLeod, on at home PE. Sure to get the blood flowing and sweat pouring, these workouts will be a great way to have fun together as a family while getting some exercise.
These videos were inspired by PE with Joe, which you might find useful as well.
USE WHAT YOU HAVE AROUND THE HOUSE, OR JUST THE HOUSE
Climbers all around the world have been posting tons of pictures of harrowing first ascents around their homes. While we at The Mountaineers can’t condone such risky undertakings, we do believe there are ways to use the features of your house to safely keep those muscles and fingers strong. Here’s some ideas:
MAC Student Noah Chabot sends the Garage Traverse (V4 - unconfirmed). Photo by Christian Chabot.
MAC student Ada Kuhtz does a “campus” workout on the underside of her basement stairwell. Photo by Ada Kuhtz.
HAVE YOU BUILT A HOME WALL YET?
Another strange phenomenon of world-wide quarantine is an extreme proliferation of home climbing walls. Do you have some extra plywood lying around your backyard or shed? Do you have little-to-no carpentry experience and even more limited access to tools? Well, that means you’re at least as prepared to build yourself a climbing wall in your own home as most of these people from the internet! Their walls turned out okay, so yours will too!
While some public lands have reopened and folks are beginning to get out again, not everyone will be as able to follow guidance about recreating in the outdoors responsibly as others. Make sure to read up, and if you’re not quite ready to venture out as a family yet, building a backyard climbing wall could be a fun project to pass the rest of the time we have under “Stay Home, Stay Safe.”
THE TABLE CHALLENGE
Disclaimer: The Mountaineers cannot be held responsible for any wrecked furniture caused by undertaking this challenge. No climbing wall? No problem! The table (or chair) challenge is to climb from the top of your sturdy, 4-legged table, underneath, and then back up the other side. Seemingly simple, the table challenge has foiled many great, strong climbers.
MAKE A GAME OUT OF IT
There’s nothing like a good old fashioned game of backyard flag-football or kickball, and a quick Google search will yield hundreds of ideas for games the family can play together to get some exercise for the day. Leave a comment with your favorite!
OTHER IDEAS?
If you’ve got any ideas of your own of fun ways to stay active while at home, feel free to post them in the comments.
YOUTH TEAM HIGHLIGHT: carl marrs
Being stuck inside has definitely been difficult for me as someone who loves to climb so much, but one thing that has helped keep my spirits up is making sure to get some exercise every day. Some days I go for a bike ride, others I set up my slackline in the front yard, do a hangboard workout, or work through an antagonist muscle training routine specific for climbing using my trusty yoga mat, body weight, a set of resistance cables, bands, and free weights.
The pandemic has been extraordinarily difficult for so many people in so many different ways, but one thing we don’t have to let the pandemic adversely affect is our own physical and mental health. I’m a firm believer that our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being are all inextricably linked and wish you the best in doing what you can to maintain your overall wellness!
ABOUT YOUTH PROGRAMS
The Mountaineers is committed to bringing outdoor experiences to today's youth through our outdoor youth and family programs. We introduce young people to the benefits of outdoor experiences: a healthy lifestyle, outdoor recreation skills, perseverance, self-confidence, self-reliance, an appreciation for the natural world, and a commitment to protecting outdoor spaces. We can't wait to see the places you are most excited to explore and the activities you can't wait to do!
The Mountaineers youth team has so many favorite outdoor activities. If we had to choose a favorite season for outdoor fun, it would have to be summer. Hiking, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking, camping, backpacking. There is so much fun to be had when the days are long! Summer camps are in full swing, mountain workshops are run almost every day, and clubs are going on many adventures. Learn more about the programs we offer.
Check out all Stuck Inside blogs for more ideas!
