Squamish Climbing Camps Compared
An honest look at the three youth climbing camps in Squamish: Mountain Skills Academy & Adventures, Ground Up Climbing Centre and Squamish Climbing Academy.
Squamish has three main options for youth climbing camps, and each one is built differently. We run one of them, so we have tried to keep this page factual: our details come from our own programs, and the details for the other two come from what they publish on their own websites and booking pages, checked in October 2026.
Prices, dates and programs change from year to year, so confirm anything important directly with each provider before you book. Where a provider does not publish something, we say so rather than guess.
Squamish Climbing Camps at a Glance
| Squamish Climbing Academy | MSAA | Ground Up Climbing Centre | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp lengths | 3, 5, 7 and 11 day camps, plus single drop-in days | 5 day summer camps, 3 day spring break camp, teen drop-in days | 4 and 5 day summer camps, 5 day spring break camps |
| Daily hours | 8am to 4pm. Overnight camps: drop-off 8am on the first day, pickup 4pm on the last day | 9am to 3pm | 9am to 3pm |
| Ages | Junior 6 to 12, Teen 13 to 18 | Kids 7 to 12, Teen 13 to 16 | 6 to 12 for spring break; summer age groups listed per program |
| Where the climbing happens | Outdoors on Squamish granite every day, mostly the Smoke Bluffs, with multi-pitch on the Chief in longer camps | Outdoor crags around Squamish, plus the Sea to Sky Gondola via ferrata on kids camps | Mornings in the climbing gym, afternoons at the Smoke Bluffs |
| Programming | Climbing only, progressing from movement and belaying to anchors, sport, trad and rock rescue, finishing with a peak experience climb | Teen camp covers top rope, lead and trad. Kids camps mix half-day climbing with hiking, navigation, via ferrata, mountain biking or water days | Roped climbing, bouldering, ascending and rappelling, games and crafts indoors, then outdoor top rope, hiking and rappelling |
| Camper to guide ratio | Maximum 6 campers per guide, 2 per guide on multi-pitch | Not published for camps | Not published for camps |
| Who is on the rock with your kid | At least one ACMG certified rock guide out on every camp, with ACMG certified lead guides | Certified guides, plus camp counselors who stay with the group | Gym climbing staff; camp staff qualifications not listed on the camp pages |
| Overnight option | Yes, for teens: Adventure Inn in Squamish, chaperones, family-style meals and evening activities | Not offered for these camps | Not offered |
| Community stewardship | Half-day volunteering with the Squamish Access Society | Not listed | Not listed |
| Listed price (CAD) | Day camps $399 (3 day) to $1,499 (11 day); 5 day $699. Overnight $949 to $3,149. Drop-in day $159 | Teen 5 day from $585, kids 5 day from $515 to $535, teen drop-in $135 | 5 day spring break camp $449 to $475 including tax (members and non-members) |
| Cancellation | Full program cost forfeited within 7 days of the start date | Full tuition forfeited within 30 days; $75 fee to reschedule or refund before that | Not listed on the camp pages |
Camp Duration and Daily Schedule
Mountain Skills Academy & Adventures (MSAA) and Ground Up both run their summer camps from 9am to 3pm, mostly as single weeks. MSAA camps are 5 days, with a 3 day spring break option. Ground Up lists 4 day and 5 day summer camps.
Our camps run 8am to 4pm, which gives working parents a longer day and gives us more time on the rock. We offer 3, 5, 7 and 11 day camps. The longer camps exist because real climbing progress, like building anchors or climbing multi-pitch, takes more than a week to learn properly.
Programming: Climbing Only or Multi-Activity
This is the biggest difference between the three. MSAA's kids camps are adventure camps: climbing is part of the day, alongside hiking, navigation, the Sea to Sky Gondola via ferrata, mountain biking and water days. Their teen camp is a climbing camp covering top rope, lead and trad.
Ground Up splits the day between their climbing gym and the Smoke Bluffs. Mornings are roped climbing, bouldering, games and crafts inside, then campers ride bikes to the bluffs for outdoor top rope, hiking and rappelling in the afternoon. Having the gym also gives them an easy indoor option in bad weather.
Our camps are outdoor climbing camps. Every day is on Squamish granite. Skills build from day to day, from movement and belaying to anchors, sport and trad climbing and rock rescue for teens, and every multi-day camp finishes with a peak experience climb chosen by the guides to fit the group.
Ratios: How Many Campers Per Guide
Ratio is the question we would ask first as parents, because it decides how much climbing each kid actually gets and how closely they are watched. We cap every camp at 6 campers per guide, and drop to 2 per guide on multi-pitch climbs.
Neither MSAA nor Ground Up publishes a camp ratio on their camp pages. That does not mean their ratios are high, only that you will need to ask them. It is worth asking how many campers are on the rock with each instructor, not just how many staff are at camp.
Staffing and Guide Certification
In Canada, the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) trains and certifies professional rock guides. On every one of our camps, at least one ACMG certified rock guide is out on the rock with the group, and our lead guides are ACMG certified. Overnight teen camps also have dedicated chaperones for the evenings.
MSAA says its camps are run by certified guides, supported by counselors who stay with the kids, and that its guides are criminal record checked and trained on its Child Protection Policy. Ground Up advertises ACMG qualified instructors for its outdoor courses; the certification of camp staff is not listed on its camp pages, so ask who will be leading the outdoor afternoons.
Leadership and Who Runs the Camp
Squamish Climbing Academy was founded by Jesse Godlington, an ACMG Rock Guide with a background as an outdoor educator, program director and school founder. Jesse holds a Bachelor of Tourism Management from Thompson Rivers University and an Outdoor Adventure diploma from Algonquin College, and is directly involved in planning every camp.
MSAA is a larger adventure company running camps, courses and tours in both Squamish and Whistler. Ground Up is the Squamish climbing gym, and describes its youth programs as following the Long Term Athlete Development model. All three are local, and all three know the Smoke Bluffs well.
Which Squamish Climbing Camp Fits Your Kid
If your younger kid wants a mix of adventures, with climbing as one part of the week, MSAA's adventure camps are a good fit. If your kid is new to climbing and you want a gym base, a shorter day and a lower price, Ground Up is a good fit.
If your kid wants to spend the whole day climbing outside, with small groups, a certified rock guide on site and a clear path from first climb to multi-pitch, that is what our camps are built for. Teens who want the full experience can also stay overnight in Squamish with us.
Questions to Ask Any Climbing Camp
- How many campers are on the rock with each instructor at one time?
- Which certified guide will be on site each day, and what is their certification?
- How much of each day is spent climbing outside?
- What happens on rainy or very hot days?
- What are the drop-off and pickup times, and where?
- What is the cancellation policy, and when does it start?
Sources
- MSAA Teen Climbing Camp Squamish
- MSAA Adventure Camps
- MSAA Kids Adventure Camp booking page
- Ground Up Youth Camps
- Ground Up Rock Climbing Summer Camp (Tourism Squamish)
- Ground Up Spring Break Camp (Tourism Squamish)
Squamish climbing camps · Junior camps · Teen camps · Jesse Godlington · Book