BREMERTON — For kids who have stared up from the base of a mountain and thought that climbing never looked so good, Poulsbo Parks and Recreation has offered a foothold.

In coordination with the Vertical World climbing gym in Bremerton, PPR is providing a whole new summer activity that is sure to pull one up by the seat of their pants. Children ages 6-17, at any skill level, can take advantage of multiple Vertical World camps which will solidify the basics, providing a foundation on which climbing knowledge can be built.

“They have the supervised facility and the experienced instructors for training … they can show you how to climb,” PPR programmer Joe Schiel said of the program’s coordination.

At an average 1:5, instructor-student ratio, Vertical World’s climbing gurus have been belaying climbing novices since their camp programs began during the last weekend of June. Headed into the third and final month, Vertical World manager Chessa Winter said the demand for indoor exhilaration is not ceasing.

“It’s been full almost each time,” she said, noting a capacity of 10 campers per session for the youngest group — the Little Rockers. “They are only here for three hours a day for three days, so they aren’t here for too long.”

Along with the Little Rockers camp for ages 6-10 — which start up again beginning at 9 a.m. Aug. 7 — a basic Rock Camp — ages 10 and up — and a Vertical Adventure Camp — ages 12-17 — offer “beta” for older kids.

The Rock and Vertical Adventure Camp sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The next Basic Rock Camp session begins Aug. 14, while the next Vertical Adventure Camp will begin Aug. 7.

“We get a lot of newcomers in this gym that have never climbed before,” Winter said, noting the gym staff’s enhanced ability to teach. “It’s usually that (novice climbers) end up progressing a little bit each day and by the end they can make it all the way to the top.”

During the Little Rockers camp, where the overlying goal is to summit the Vertical World’s 40-foot climbing walls, instructors work to ingrain the fundamentals of climbing through skills games, relay climbs and group activities.

“Some kids come in afraid of heights and we get to tackle that fear while they are here,” Winter added. After that fear is diminished and basic rope work and knot tying skills are under a camper’s belt, the sky is the limit, Winter joked. In actuality after those skills are mastered, instructors will introduce belay techniques and safety skills for the Basic Rock Camp.

“The last day they get to do something fun,” Winter noted.

Though each camp has its own culminating event, the final day of the Vertical Adventure Camp will take campers out of doors for a true rock climbing experience. Throughout the week, campers will learn lessons on lead climbing, rappelling, rope work and advanced climbing techniques from the Vertical World instructors in house. Then on the final day, the group will travel to one of the area’s local climbing hot spots, Winter said.

“Exercise!” Winter noted as the biggest benefit kids can receive from the camps, adding, “Just getting introduced to another sport that they may not ordinarily get a taste of in school.”

The price of that taste ranges from $85 for Little Rockers to $280 for the Vertical Adventure Camp, for more information or to register call PPR at (360) 779-9898.