Back-to-Basics Series: Simple, No-prep Traverse Wall® Activities

We are featuring a Back-to-Basics Series for our weekly blog posts during the month of November. These posts are ideal for those with new climbing programs or new climbing instructors. They’re also great refreshers for experienced instructors, or those in need of some retraining. In case you missed them, in week one, we featured safety rules and day one activities. Week two detailed how to install, remove and move hand holds. Week three provided quick ideas to refresh your climbing wall. Week for was all about cleaning. This week we share simple, no-prep activities that require no extra materials or props beyond your climbing wall.

Simple, No-prep Traverse Wall® Activities

Elimination

Climbers must eliminate one color of hand hold and still make their way across the climbing wall.

Grade Level: 2 and up

Materials: None

Advance Set Up: None

Activity:

Have climbers start by climbing across the Traverse Wall using any color of hand hold. Next, have them climb again, but this time they much choose one color hold to eliminate. For example, they should climb without using any of the red holds. A less challenging variation of this activity has climbers eliminating one color for their hands and using any hold color for their feet.

This activity can become more challenging over time by having climbers eliminate two colors of hand holds. For example, they should try to climb without using red and yellow holds.

Note:

It may be helpful to reference our past blog post that explains the color-coded hand holds.

National Standards: 1,2,3,4 & 5

Grade-Level Outcomes:

Non-locomotor (S1.E7, S1.E8, S1.E10)
Movement concepts (S2.E1, S2.E2)
Engages in physical activity (S3.E2, S3.M3, S3.M4, S3.M5)
Personal responsibility (S4.E1, S4.E2, S4.M1, S4.M2)
Rules & etiquette (S4.E5, S4.M5, S4.M6)
Safety (S4.E6, S4.M7)
Challenge (S5.E2, S5.M3)

Front to Back Climb

Climbers rotate their bodies as they make their way across the climbing wall.

Grade Level: 4 and up

Materials: None

Advance Set Up: None

Activity: Climbers begin climbing facing the wall. As they traverse across the wall, they carefully rotate so they are facing out. Then they turn again to face the wall and repeat “flipping” until the end of wall is reached.

Note: This is challenging and should only be done by experienced climbers.

National Standards: 1,2,3,4 & 5

Grade-Level Outcomes:

Non-locomotor (S1.E7, S1.E8, S1.E10)
Movement concepts (S2.E1, S2.E2)
Engages in physical activity (S3.E2, S3.M3, S3.M4, S3.M5)
Personal responsibility (S4.E1, S4.E2, S4.M1, S4.M2)
Rules & etiquette (S4.E5, S4.M5, S4.M6)
Safety (S4.E6, S4.M7)
Challenge (S5.E2, S5.M3)

Add On

Climbers traverse the climbing wall by repeating and adding onto each other’s moves.

Grade Level: 4 and up

Materials: None

Advance Set Up: None

Activity:

Create groups of 3-5 climbers. Begin by deciding who will be the first, second, third, etc. climber. The first climber gets on the wall and does three moves. These moves must be distinct and involve no more than three hand or foot holds. Then s/he climbs down and the second climber repeats the moves of the first climber and adds one additional move, after which s/he climbs down. The third climber then gets on the wall, repeats the moves of the two previous climbers and adds one more move. The routine continues in this way, starting over with the first climber after everyone has had a turn, for as long as the group can manage. When they reach the end of the climbing wall, they can reverse direction. If at any point in time a climber cannot complete the series, someone in the group can help and show the next hold (as pictured) or have that climber step down and have the next climber in the rotation try.

Teaching Tip:

Split the climbing wall in half or thirds to allow more than one group on the wall at a time.

National Standards: 1,2,3,4 & 5

Grade-Level Outcomes: