Six Simple Ways to Spice Up Your Traverse Wall®

Six Simple Ways to Spice Up Your Traverse Wall®

Whether you are hosing a summer climbing camp or are just looking to add some variety to the climbing experience, here are some easy ways to quickly refresh the climbing experience on your Traverse Wall®.

1.      Try New Activities

The best way to add variety to the climbing experience is by trying new activities with your climbers. Use the search bar on our website and search “activities” for all the fun climbing wall activities that we have shared over the years. We also offer an on-demand webinar with 30 activities titled 30 in 30: 30 Traverse Wall® Activities in 30 Minutes that will introduce you to some new ideas.

2.      Rotate or Move your Hand Holds

Our hand holds are versatile and designed to be used from all sides. Some positions are easier than others to grasp. Using the installation instructions and Allen wrench that came with your climbing wall, one by one, loosen some hand holds and rotate them 45 – 180 degrees. Play around with the options you get when you rotate the holds and once you choose a new position, tighten the holds. You can also move the location of some holds to add new challenges. Check out this recent blog post for tips on installing hand holds for even more ideas.

3.      Add Climbing Wall Accessories

Our two most-affordable climbing wall accessories will bring new opportunities to your climbing wall:

The Versa® Challenge Course quickly makes an obstacle course on your climbing wall.

The Discovery® Plates allow for cross-curricular activities, like testing knowledge of state capitols or math facts.

4.      Try Partner Climbing

This protocol creates pairs – one climbing and one offering support. The non-climbing partner follows nearby and reminds the climber of the safety rules and offers verbal assistance or encouragement during the climbing wall activity. They take turns climbing. It’s a great way to enhance team building and communication skills with your youth. More details about partner climbing can be found here.

5.      Change Sides or Start in the Middle of the Traverse Wall®

Vary where you have climbers start their climb. Sometimes start activities from the left side, with climbers climbing to the right. Other times start activities from the right side, with climbers moving to the left. This challenges participants to lead with different sides of the body. You can also start activities in the middle of your climbing wall and have climbers move to each end.

6.      Add Some Positive Thinking

Positive thinking has been proven to be good for physical and mental wellbeing. It is shown to lower heart disease, cancer and respiratory disease and increase life span. It can also improve energy levels, lower rates of depression, improve the ability to manage stress and more. Here are some ideas for adding positive thinking to the climbing experience:

·         Play upbeat, happy music in the gym or space where climbers are climbing.

·         Post positive messaging on or near the climbing wall.

·         Hang signs such as “Stay Strong,” “Believe in Yourself” and “Never Give Up.”

·         Encourage climbers to be positive towards each other:

·         Compliment fellow climbers:

·         “You climbed really well today!”

·         “You did an amazing job during the activity.”

·         “It was great how you helped (name) during the activity.”

·         Cheer on and support fellow climbers:

·         “You can do it!”

·         “Great job!”

·         “There’s a big foot hold by your right knee that might help get you across.”

·         Encourage climbers to practice positive self-talk before, during and after climbing:

·         Before Climbing:

·         Tell yourself that you are a strong climber.

·         Tell yourself you will climb well today.

·         Tell yourself you will have fun today.

·         Tell yourself you will encourage/support another climber today.

·         During Climbing:

·         Tell yourself to give your best effort.

·         Tell yourself “You got this!”

·         Consider alternative ways to climb when you encounter a challenge.

·         After Climbing:

·         Identify one thing you did well.

·         Identify one thing that was fun about the activity.

·         If something doesn’t go as well as you had hoped, tell yourself you will approach things differently next time and it will go better.

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