Last year in Sofia, Bulgaria, AFCM built the first Climb Academy. Located in the same building as the famous Walltopia Climbing Centre – the biggest climbing gym in Eastern Europe, Climb Academy perfectly complements the parents’ climbing activities and passion. Designed entirely with children in mind, this kids’ climbing centre results from the company’s efforts to provide more opportunities for intensive physical activity in a safe environment for those aged three to 11 years.
AFCM entrusted the training programs to climbing and gymnastics coaches with numerous years of experience with kids. Each program is tailored to the age and individual abilities of the children. The task was to find the balance between technique, difficulty, and speed. Gymnastics exercises are also incorporated into the concept because they enhance children’s physical development and develop skills like strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, and body control and help 
frame a healthy sports routine for kids.
Climb Academy is a bright climbing hall with a combination of natural and vivid colours that children enjoy. It appeals to their senses in every possible way.
The academy has an impressive installation of climbing walls, a boulder area, gymnastics facilities for kids, a parkour track, a slackline, and a ninja course. Training sessions incorporate relay games and physical efforts are combined with fun competitions and challenges. For the little ones, there is a special play area – an elevated playground – as always, inspired by climbing, but unharnessed and designed to be safe for children from the age of two.
The Academy also provides ergo therapeutic sessions for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Trainers who are both climbing and occupational therapy specialists work with them to improve their independence and autonomy. Climbing has proved to be an extremely successful tool for Ergotherapy for autistic children, and the benefits are numerous.