photos by Stephen Eginoire

Searching for that perfect after school activity? Tired of being forced to run penalty laps around the football field? Or maybe youd just like to learn the essentials of a fun new sport. The Rock Lounges Kids Rock program could be right up your alley. This hands-on rock climbing class for elementary and middle school students teaches kids the fundamentals for safe, fun climbing. Check out www.rockloungedurango.com/kids-rock for information.

5-year-old Jake Washburn ponders if photography actually has anything to do with climbing. Learning to use every climbers favorite type of hold, the sloper. The Kids Rock crew, ages 5-9. The team gets quick safety speech from from instructors, Cara Kropp, left, and Ian Altman. DIxon Shropshire learns the basics of tying in with a figure-eight knot. Isabelle Washburn works throuh a few tricky moves while her fellow students lounge below.