Facility Rules and Policies

Please read the policies. Find the waiver here.

Facility and climbing rules are prominently posted throughout the gym for your convenience, but for complete explanation of all rules and policies, please read through this page carefully.  To reinforce risk awareness and safe practices, Climb Smart posters are also displayed throughout the gym. The rules emphasize safety and specific house practices.

Individuals violating these rules will be warned appropriately. Method reserves the right to expel any customers failing to abide by the rules.

General Rules

  1. CHECK-IN: All guests must check-in at the front desk whether climbing or not.
  2. WAIVER: All visitors must complete a waiver to enter the climbing or fitness areas regardless of participation.  Guests under the age of 18 must have the waiver completed by a legal guardian.  
  3. MIND YOUR KIDS: Parents/Guardians/Chaperones are responsible for the behavior of their children.  Please refer to our Climbing With Kids policies below for more information.
    • Our age limit starts at 7 years old, children 7-10 years old must be directly supervised (within arm’s length) by an adult at a 1:1 adult to child – ratio. 
    • All children between the ages of 10-13 must be supervised by an adult at a 1:2 – adult to child – ratio.
    • All kids the age of 14 are permitted to climb alone after taking Method’s orientation.
    • Children under 16 are not permitted in the fitness areas.
    • If you bring more than one child, please plan accordingly.
  4. MIND YOUR CHALK: To keep the facility as clean as possible, chalk bags may not be worn while climbing, and please keep chalk bags and buckets off the climbing mats.
  5. MIND YOUR STUFF
    • Management is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen property of visitors while on the premises and other areas within the vicinity of Method.
    • All personal belongings, including gear, must either be kept in lockers or cubbies, not on the mats.
  6. RESPECT THE MATS
    • No food, drinks or gum are allowed on the padded landing surface.
    • No running or playing on the mats.
    • If you are not climbing, please stay off the mats; do not sit on the mats.
  7. SHOE POLICY: Climbing shoes must be worn while climbing (i.e., no street shoes or bare feet). Climbing shoes are not permitted to be worn in bathrooms (that’s gross).  
  8. RETURN YOUR GEAR: Participants will be charged for unreturned rental equipment.
  9. BE SAFE AND COURTEOUS: Method reserves the right to expel any patron whose behavior is judged unsafe or objectionable to other customers.
  10. REFUND POLICY: If you need to cancel an event, we offer a full refund only if the cancellation request occurs 14 days or more prior to the day of the event or class. If you are altering your booking within that period, we are happy to make those requested adjustments at no penalty. We will not offer refunds for no-shows or cancellations within 24 hours before the event or class.
  11. METHOD RESERVES THE RIGHT to add or change its policies from time to time.  Any such addition or change to these policies may be posted on gym signage and/or on Method’s website. All visitors are required to inform themselves of Method rules and any rule changes.  If at any time you are unsure or confused about any of our rules/policies, please ask a staff member or management for clarification.

Climbing Rules

  1. BE AWARE: Never stand or walk under an active fall zone.  Climbers are focused on climbing and cannot be expected to be aware of what’s below them.  If someone falls on you, it is your fault.
  2. RIGHT OF WAY: Whoever starts their climb first has the right-of-way on the climbing wall. If you become aware of a conflict, please yield.
  3. BE COURTEOUS TO OTHERS: Take turns on the bouldering wall.  Make sure you are giving others a chance on the wall.
  4. WHEN IN DOUBT, DOWN CLIMB: If you ever feel uncomfortable falling, down climb using any hold available to a level where you are comfortable. Nearby down climb jugs are also available.
  5. HELP OTHERS: We encourage experienced climbers to help newbies.
  6. AUTO BELAYS
    • Auto Belays are to be used ONLY AFTER certification.
    • No one under the age of 14 is permitted to use auto belay unless permission is granted by Method Climbing + Fitness management.
  7. ROPE CLIMBING
    • All belayers and rope climbers must pass a belay test administered by Method’s staff.  Teaching, practicing, and refreshing of skills is not allowed.
    • Climbers must tie in using the rewoven figure eight knot with a double fisherman’s backup knot.
    • All climbers and belayers must perform a safety check before any rope climb.
  8. METHOD RULES: Method staff have the right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to determine unsafe and inappropriate behavior and to revoke climbing privileges, either temporarily or permanently, for such behavior.

Climbing with Kids

Children 7 years old and older are welcome at Method! We encourage getting kids started early. They love to climb, have unbelievable enthusiasm and progress at an incredible rate.  Climbing is also a great family activity that everybody can enjoy. That’s why we put effort into making Method a family-friendly atmosphere while still offering the highest level of climbing for the hard core athlete. 

To make this work, everybody needs to understand that climbing is a technical sport and Method is a sports facility.  Please don’t mistake us for an amusement center or indoor playground. Climbing can be enjoyed at any age and any level, but the need for safety is a constant, and safety is our highest priority.  

Experience has repeatedly shown that unsupervised children can unknowingly create situations that are unsafe for themselves or others, and they can do it in the blink of an eye.  Supervision alone isn’t enough if the supervisors themselves haven’t been to a climbing gym or don’t climb themselves. To help make your climbing experience safe and rewarding, we ask for your cooperation by reviewing our Climbing With Kids policies and helping everybody climb safe.  It will also help you plan your visits so you’re sure to have the best possible time and get the most out of what we have to offer.

AGE LIMITS AND SUPERVISION:

  1. Our age limit starts at 7 years old, children 7-10 years old must be directly supervised (within arm’s length) by an adult at a 1:1  adult to child – ratio. 
  2. All children between the ages of 10-13 must be supervised by an adult at a 1:2 – adult to child – ratio.
  3. All kids the age of 14 are permitted to climb alone after taking Method’s orientation.
  4. Children under 16 are not permitted in the fitness areas.
  5. If you bring more than one child, please plan accordingly.

KIDS CLIMBING RULES:

  1. Bouldering can be dangerous – climbers routinely fall and jump from the wall without warning.  When climbing with kids at Method, please exercise judgement in the area in which the child is climbing in and while selecting routes.  Kids often insist on attempting expert, overhanging routes that they have no chance of climbing. If other climbers are waiting, such routes should be avoided.
  2. No running, anywhere.  Please.
  3. No throwing chalk or chalk bags.
  4. Kids need to use their “inside voices.”
  5. Please accompany your child to the bathroom if they are under 10. 
  6. No climbing shoes in the bathrooms. 

These rules are designed for the safety and comfort of all participants.  Our staff has been instructed to monitor these rules; please help them do their job.  Thank you for your cooperation and support.