Oaktown Boulders
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Oaktown Boulders offers highly personalized bouldering coaching from Alex, an expert climber, for all skill levels from absolute beginners (including moms and children) to advanced climbers. It stands out as an intimate, non-crowded, and non-intimidating alternative to larger climbing gyms, providing tailored sessions and unique light-up climbing technology that ensures a 'seemingly infinite' number of climbs. It's particularly welcoming for families, with specific programs like camps and birthday parties for kids.
Key Highlights
- ✓Alex, the coach, is highly skilled, provides excellent personalized feedback, tips, and even extra time and pointers after sessions.
- ✓The gym offers an intimate, friendly, and non-crowded climbing environment, ensuring more individual attention.
- ✓Unique light-up technology on the wall provides a 'seemingly infinite' number of diverse climbing routes.
- ✓The space is described as fun, accessible, and non-intimidating, making it ideal for beginners, including parents new to bouldering.
- ✓Coach Alex is specifically noted as being great with coaching children.
- ✓Offers dedicated services for children, including camps and birthday parties.
- ✓Parents report noticeable improvement in confidence and skill after a few sessions.
- ✓Easy parking available at the gym's location.
Standout Features
- ⭐Personalized, expert coaching by Alex tailored to individual skill levels and goals, including specific feedback and extra help.
- ⭐A non-intimidating and welcoming atmosphere that helps novices (like moms and kids) gain confidence quickly.
- ⭐Availability of kids' camps and birthday party packages.
- ⭐The unique light-up climbing wall technology for constantly varied routes.
- ⭐Easy parking.
- ⭐The benefit of a non-crowded space, ensuring a more focused and individual climbing experience.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →If you or your child are new to bouldering or feeling intimidated by larger gyms, Oaktown Boulders is highly recommended for its welcoming and accessible environment.
- →Parents looking for dedicated coaching for their children should inquire about sessions with Alex, as he's praised for his ability to coach kids.
- →Consider Oaktown Boulders for children's birthday parties or holiday camps, as these services are explicitly offered.
- →If you're an experienced climber feeling stuck, Alex's personalized coaching can help target weak areas and improve technique.
- →Expect a smaller, more intimate setting compared to a 'standard mega gym', which contributes to the individual attention and non-crowded feel.
Things to Consider
- ⚠No specific problems or negative experiences were reported by parents in these reviews.
Price & Value
No specific pricing is mentioned in the reviews. However, the consistent praise for personalized coaching, individual attention, tailored sessions, extra pointers, and the 'true local gem' status suggests a high value for the experience provided, especially compared to less individualized 'standard mega gyms'. The focus is on quality of instruction and personal growth.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations were mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information about food or drink policies was mentioned in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Easy parking is available at the gym's location.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Consistently described as a 'non-crowded space' with an 'intimate' atmosphere, offering more individual attention.
- •An alternative to 'standard mega gyms' which implies it's generally less busy.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Alex, the coach, is noted for creating a 'safe and positive environment', but no specific equipment or procedural safety features were detailed.
⏰When to Avoid
- • No specific times or situations to avoid were mentioned in the reviews, as the gym is consistently described as 'non-crowded'.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Kids Parties
$320 deposit for the first 8 climbers, +$40 per additional climberDuration: 1.5 hours climbing time + 30 minutes reception (2 hours total)
Book your child's next party at Oaktown Boulders!
Includes:
- •Free shoe rentals and chalk
- •1.5 hours of climbing time and instruction on the climbing wall
- •30 minutes for reception
2025 Summer Camps
Varies depending on how many days are being offered each weekDuration: Week-long camps
Led by knowledgeable and passionate staff, filled with bouldering, top roping, fun games, and activities for social and athletic development. Focuses include perseverance, building muscles and friendships, problem-solving, confidence, team building, creating and playing.
Includes:
- •(1) Oaktown Boulders t-shirt
- •(1) Oaktown Boulders water bottle
Youth Programs (General)
No membership dues, suggested amounts for families that can afford to donateDuration: Ongoing
Youth programs are 100% made possible through donations.
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
2025 Summer Camps
Week-long camps (exact weeks may vary due to holidays)
Varies by number of days offered; full balance due at confirmation. Scholarships and payment plans available.
An introduction to bouldering and top roping, fun games, and activities aimed to help children improve social and athletic development. Includes a t-shirt and water bottle.
Kids Climbing Parties
Bookable by request
$320 deposit for the first 8 climbers, +$40 per additional climber
1.5 hours of climbing and instruction, followed by 30 minutes for reception. Free shoe rentals and chalk included.
🍎Food Policy
- • Summer Camps: Lunch is not provided; campers should bring lunch, water bottle, and snacks. Some additional snacks and refreshments will be provided.
- • Summer Camps: Please let us know if your child has any food allergies.
- • Kids Parties: Guests can bring their own food, refreshments, drinks, and cake for the 30-minute reception.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Oaktown Boulders provides a safe and private climbing space.
- • A waiver is required for first-time visitors.
- • COVID Policy for Camps: Do not send children to camp if they have any COVID symptoms.
- • Camps take place inside the private gym, which is closed to the public.
📅Booking Policy
- • Registration for after school classes is now open (via form).
- • Summer Camp enrollment requires application (via button/form). Full balance due at confirmation.
- • Kids Parties require requesting a date (via button/form).
- • Waiver required before visiting.
Photos
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Megan Hoffman
5 years agoOTB is a phenomenal place to climb for newbies like me, or any experienced climber who wants a more personalized approach to training (not me yet!). Alex is wildly skilled at climbing himself, and excellent at offering feedback and tips during your session. It's nice to climb in a non-crowded space and have more individual attention. Even though the gym is small, a seemingly infinite number of climbs are available through cool light up technology on the wall. Weights and other workout options are available too. The location of the gym was great, with easy parking.
Edward Murchison
6 years agoI had an excellent time training at Oaktown Boulders. I am an intermediate level climber and have been stuck in my progress. Alex is great to work with! He helped me target some of my weak areas and even gave me extra time and pointers after my official session was over! I recommend this gym to anyone from beginner to advanced climber. Alex will tailor your session and help you individually. This is a really cool alternative to the standard mega gym.
Jiamei Deng
5 years agoSuper unique climbing gym, with an intimate but friendly atmosphere. Alex is a wonderful coach, which makes the space welcoming for climbers of all levels (even children!) Would highly recommend OTB for individuals who want to get started with bouldering, or for experienced climbers that would like a more private space to hone their skills.
Sarah Fleischer-Ihn
5 years agoI love Oaktown Boulders! I am definitely not of the typical bouldering demographic – I’m a mom of two young kids and haven’t worked out regularly in a minute. This space makes bouldering fun, accessible, and frankly, non-intimidating! In a few sessions here, I went from climbing novice to noticeably more confident and skilled on the climbing wall. Alex is also great with coaching kids and offers camps and birthday parties. This is a true local gem and I encourage you to check it out.
Daniel Eng
6 years agoThis gym is perfect for climbers working to improve technique and climbing habits. I have been climbing for a couple years, although not frequently, but like most recreational climbers it’s all through trial and error without knowing some nuances that can help make it a more enjoyable experience. Alex was able to point out a few things during our session without making me feel bad because he creates a safe and positive environment. Check it out and level up.
Contact Information
2744 E 11th St A11, Oakland, CA 94601, USA
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