Valentine’s Day-Themed Climbing Wall Activities

Having themed games, activities and decorations on the climbing wall bring extra enthusiasm and engagement to the climbing experience. Here are some ideas that are perfect for Valentine’s Day.

ADD VALENTINE’S DAY SPIRIT TO THE CLIMBING EXPERIENCE

· Decorate the area around the climbing wall and/or gym with hearts, red or pink streamers and other Valentine’s Day-themed decorations. Consider some climbing-related phrases:

o Let’s Climb Valentine

o You Rock

o You’ve Got a Hold on Me

o All Routes Lead to You

o My Partner in Climb

o Love Rocks

· Create or locate a Valentine’s Day playlist and play during climbing sessions.

HIT THE HEART

A “fun-for-all-ages” climbing wall activity where climbers toss bean bags into heart-shaped targets. This activity is easily modified for a variety of ages and ability levels.

Grade Level: K and up

Materials:

Bean bags (preferably white, pink and/or red)
Heart-shaped targets (jump ropes or masking tape made into heard shapes)

Advance Set Up: Place bean bags on the climbing wall and heart-shaped targets on the floor, one per climbing panel. Vary the sizes of the hearts and the distances from the climbing wall to provide a variety of challenges.

Grouping: Whole group

Activity:

Have participants begin climbing, with one person on each panel. Remaining participants form a line and begin climbing when the first person has reached the second panel. As participants climb, they remove one bean bag per climbing panel and try to hit the heart (land the bean bag inside the target). When they reach the final panel, they climb down, step off mats and rejoin climbers and continue the activity trying to improve accuracy with each climb or trying harder targets.

*Note that bean bags will have to be periodically replaced to the climbing wall.

Standards: 1, 2 & 3

Grade-Span Learning Indicators:

Motor Skills: 1.2.1, 1.2.3, 1.2.4, 1.2.5, 1.5.1, 1.5.2, 1.5.8, 1.5.21
Movement & Fitness Concepts: 2.2.1, 2.2.4, 2.5.4, 2.5.5, 2.8.7
Social Skills: 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 3.2.5, 3.2.7, 3.5.3, 3.5.4, 3.5.6, 3.8.2, 3.8.6, 3.8.7, 3.12.2, 3.12.6, 3.12.7

HOOP HARMONY

This is a great cooperative climbing challenge that requires climbers to work together and communicate in order to succeed.

Grade Level: 3 and up

Materials Needed: Hoops (preferably white, pink and/or red)

Advance Prep: None

Grouping: Partners (2) then Small Group (3-4)

Activity:

Climbers make their way across the climbing wall with arms linked by a hoop. This requires climbers to adjust their speed and communicate so that they remain linked by the hoop for their entire climb. If they become separated, they should stop and climb down from the wall and start over. After partners have had success with this activity, try it again with three climbers and two hoops. If that goes well, try with four climbers and three Hula Hoops.

Variations:

· Challenge climbers to complete the activity without speaking.

· Time the activity and work towards faster times, while still making safety a priority.

Teaching Tip: For safety reasons, do not have more than four climbers attempt this challenge.

Standards: 1, 2 & 3

Grade-Span Learning Indicators:

Motor Skills: 1.2.1, 1.2.3, 1.2.4, 1.2.5, 1.5.1, 1.5.2, 1.5.8
Movement & Fitness Concepts: 2.2.1, 2.5.5, 2.8.7
Social Skills: 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 3.2.5, 3.2.7, 3.5.2, 3.5.3, 3.5.4, 3.5.5, 3.5.6, 3.8.2, 3.8.3, 3.8.6, 3.8.7, 3.8.8, 3.12.2, 3.12.3, 3.12.6, 3.12.7