Three Activities to Try with New Rock Climbers

Here are some fun climbing activities to try with beginner climbers. They will help familiarize new climbers with the Traverse Wall® and will build confidence and climbing skills.

Welcome to the Wall

Children are introduced to the Traverse Wall through a simulated climb.

Grade Level: PreK and up

Materials:

• Poly Spots or marks made from tape, enough to place 3-4 in front of each 4-foot wide climbing wall panel

Advance Set Up: 

Place Poly Spots or marks on safety mats, about 8 inches away from the climbing wall.

Activity:

This activity is designed to introduce children to the Traverse Wall in a nonthreatening manner. By using this activity as a starting point, you will reduce the anxiety that some children may feel about climbing.

Position one child in front of, and facing, the first panel of the Traverse Wall. The rest of the children should line up at the start of the wall to create a line of children that can move along the front of the climbing wall. All at one time, all children should walk slowly in front of the wall, moving in the same direction, using only their hands on the hand holds and their feet on the spots on the floor. They should maintain at least an arm’s length of space between each other. They should feel the holds and pick ones they would use if they were actually climbing. They should pretend the spots on the floors are the holds for their feet and step on them. Have children travel across the front of the Traverse Wall two or three times in this simulated climb.

After several simulated traverses, discuss this experience. What did they notice about the climbing wall, holds, etc.  What holds and spots did they use? Why? Invite children to share some words to describe what they think it will be like to climb on the Traverse Wall. They are now ready to learn the rules of the climbing wall and to begin climbing.

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)

Scavenger Hunt

Climbers are challenged to find hidden (or not-so-hidden) objects on the climbing wall.

Grade Level: PreK and up

Materials:

• A variety of small items that will fit on hand holds and still allow room for hands on holds (plastic animals/insects, pennies or small bean bags)

Advance Set Up: Place items on the hand holds on the climbing wall. There should be several per panel, high and low.

Activity:

Before they climb, let climbers know that there are objects on the climbing wall. Challenge them to find as many as possible. Have them look, but not move or remove them. For older children, you can challenge them to find a specific number of things. For example, “Try to find the 10 spiders and 6 pennies.” Or you can have them keep a mental tally of how many things they find. This activity is easily modified to fit a theme, holiday or special event.

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)

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)

Looking for climbing wall activities beyond the beginner level?

• Read these past blog posts: Best Climbing Wall Activities for Team Building and New Rock-Climbing Activities to Try in the New Year
• Join our School of Rock…Climbing Webinar. It’s on demand and free!