The ᓴᑭᒋᐛᐤ Saakichiwaaw Climbing Wall opened at the Shinapest Tooma Arena on August 23, 2026. It is the first climbing wall in Kawawachikamach, built for everyone in the community, from small children climbing with a parent to adults trying it for the first time.
How long the wall is up
The wall will come down before winter, once the snow comes. No date has been set. Watch the Naskapi Sports and Recreation Facebook page for word on the last climbing days.
The plan is to put it back up next year, and what you tell us in the survey at the bottom of this page will help decide what that looks like.
Hours
The wall is usually open from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on weekdays.
Hours depend on the weather and on the arena staff’s schedule, so they can change from day to day. The Naskapi Sports and Recreation Facebook page posts the hours each day. There is no climbing in the rain, and the wall stays closed until the mats are dry.
Who can climb
- Children 12 and older, and adults, can climb.
- Children under 12 must have a parent or legal guardian with them the whole time. The adult needs to know the climbing rules and step in when they are not being followed. Children cannot be left at the wall alone.
- Everyone who climbs needs a signed waiver. It is good for one year. A parent or legal guardian has to sign for anyone under 18.
- Check in at the arena office before you climb.
Learning to fall
Falling is part of climbing, and knowing how to land is what keeps people from getting hurt. Before climbing, everyone watches the How to Fall Safely video and shows a supervisor or arena staff member that they can do the three falls: T-Rex, Turtle, and Roll.
School field trips
Schools can book the wall on weekdays. Send your request to the Naskapi Sports and Recreation Facebook page at least one day ahead. The staff bringing the students are responsible for making sure everyone, adults included, has a waiver on file. The teachers, SETs, staff, or guardians who come along are the supervisors for that trip.
What happens next year
Two ideas are being looked at for 2027: putting the wall up inside the arena from May to August, or building a permanent indoor space so people in Kawawachikamach can climb all year round. Other ideas on the table are hiring professional route setters who would also teach local staff to set routes, and starting a climbing team, climbing trips, or competitions.
Nothing is decided yet. That is what the survey is for.
Tell us what you think
This takes a few minutes. You do not need to have climbed the wall to answer.