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City of Albuquerque, Outdoor Recreation, Monster Adventures

Address: 1801 4th St. NW
Pricing: $45 for three-day session
Phone: 505.768.5349
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How To Get There:
Take I-40 to the 6th Street exit and go south on 6th to Haines (2nd street on left). Take a left on Haines, pass 5th, then turn right on 4th. Go to the 2nd driveway on the right past the railroad tracks, just past the black wrought iron fence and before the City gas pumps. Turn right into the driveway, then right again immediately into the parking area. Our building is the one straight ahead. It says Parks and Recreation Department on the door. Ask for the Outdoor Recreation Section.
Parking:
Free, but limited
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Outdoor Recreation's Monster Adventure programs allow youth to climb to new heights

Jun 1, 2010

Summer is here! It is time to put away the school supplies and dust off the outdoor supplies. It is a time to climb to new heights and conquer old fears. The City of Albuquerque is prepared to help youth ages 11 to 17 do just that through the Outdoor Recreation program's Monster Adventures.

    During June, July and August, Outdoor Recreation will be offering several three-day packages for $45 per youth age 11 to 17. During June and July, there will be one package each month for caving, one for climbing and one for rappelling. In August, there will be a sampler package comprised of one day of each activity. All adventures start at 8 a.m. at the city's Parks and Recreation office at 1801 4th St. NW and end back at the office at 5 p.m. Pre-registration is required for all activities.

    "We are trying to get kids back into nature," said Shauna Kapel, Senior Adventure Leader for the Monster Adventures. "Doing something fun like caving, climbing or rappelling is a good way to get kids back without getting preachy."

    During the caving program, the kids do get back into nature -- way back into the deep, dark crevices of the Alabaster Cave at the Zia Pueblo, the Buckman Cave near Santa Fe, and the Four Windows Cave at El Malpais National Monument. As they climb and squeeze through the extensive, maze-like passages, the youth learn the basic skills of respecting nature. They learn to leave no trace and adhere to safety rules.
   
    "I have a passion for these sports," Kapel said. "If I can spread that around and share it with these kids, that is a good thing."

    In the rappelling program, they learn to overcome fears of heights and rappel down White Wash in Piedra Lisa Open Space, and Las Conchas and Battleship Rock in the Jemez Mountains.    
 
    "A lot of kids conquer their fears during the program," Kapel said. "I can generally talk kids into trying the activity at least once. When the kids rappel off Battleship Rock and realize they can do it, that makes me feel good."

    In the third program, climbing, they can begin to learn how high they can really climb by conquering the Ranger Wall near Tijeras Ranger Station, the Cattle Call Wall in the Jemez Mountains and the Waterfall Wall in Box Canyon. They learn the skills of belaying, climbing, anchoring and safety.    

    "Many come to the program because their parents made them," Kapel said,  "but they end up having a lot of fun by the end of the first day and are excited about the rest of the program."

HelloMetro Tip: Call early to reserve your spot. Only 12 spaces are available for each adventure and spaces fill quickly.



- by Julie Medina, Albuquerque Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Julie Medina

Julie Medina has experience as a reporter at the Albuquerque Journal and has written freelance articles for the Albuquerque Tribune, Albuquerque the Magazine, New Mexico Magazine and New Mexico Kids Magazine. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in print journalism from the University of New Mexico in 2008. She has lived in Albuquerque since 1984 and believes it is best to remember to play like a tourist in your own hometown so you don't forget the vast culture around you.
"We employ our own Local professional journalists (not bloggers) to give you an accurate hyperlocal story"





 

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Click Images To Enlarge
A caving adventure in Junction Cave, El Malpais National Monument, near Grants. Photo courtesy of Shauna Kapel.
Adventures head for home at the Four Windows Cave in El Malpais National Monument near Grants Photo courtesy of Shauna Kapel.
Adventurers challenge themselves to reach the top of Waterfall Wall, Box Canyon, near Socoro Photo courtesy of Shauna Kapel.
An adventurer challenge themselves to reach the top of Waterfall Wall, Box Canyon, near Socoro Photo courtesy of Shauna Kapel.
It is a long way down, but participants in the Monster Adventure programs are up for the challenge at White Wash, Piedra Lisa Open Space, Albuquerque Photo courtesy of Shauna Kapel.
It is a long way down, but participants in the Monster Adventure programs are up for the challenge at White Wash, Piedra Lisa Open Space, Albuquerque Photo courtesy of Shauna Kapel.




 



     
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