Embedded Files
Knot Races
Knot Races
Type: No-contact
Age: Any
Group Size: 2+
Supplies: Climbing rope (or any cordage, extra cordelette, etc.)
Instructions: Once campers learn to tie basic climbing knots (figure 8, bowline, clove hitch, etc.) they can race one another to see how quickly and accurately they can tie them! With a larger group, you can divide into 2 smaller groups and play relay-style. This is also a good way to keep kids engaged during van rides to & from climbing areas.
Climbing Hold Scavenger Hunt
Climbing Hold Scavenger Hunt
Type: No-contact
Age: Any
Group Size: Any
Supplies: None
Instructions: Explain the various types of climbing holds to campers (jugs, crimps, slopers, side pulls, under clings, pockets, cracks, etc.) and then have them attempt to find examples of these near the base of the climbing area. Give campers a defined period of time and then have them take you on a 'tour' to show their findings.
Alternately, instructors can assign a specific type of hold to each camper, and have each camper tally how many examples of that type of hold can be found in their immediate area.
Optional extension: discuss the type of rock at your climbing area (granite/sandstone/limestone, etc.) and discuss why some types of holds are more common in specific types of rock. For example, you may be at an area where the granite has lots of cracks or crimpy crystals in the rock, or at an area with limestone that has lots of pockets, etc.
Blindfolded Climbing
Blindfolded Climbing
Type: No contact
Age: Any
Group Size: Any
Supplies: Blindfold
Instructions: Once campers are comfortable with basic toprope climbing, blindfolded climbing can be a fun challenge. Blindfolded climbing can help campers focus on really feeling the holds while the campers on the ground can help guide the blindfolded climber.
Climbing Communication Breakdown
Climbing Communication Breakdown
Type: No contact
Age: Any
Group Size: 3 (one climber, two campers on the ground)
Supplies: blindfold
Instructions: After tying in and completing belay check, the climber is blindfolded. One camper on the ground is facing the climber but can't speak; the other is facing away from the climber but is allowed to talk. The non-speaking camper facing the climber must non-verbally communicate to the camper facing away from the crag. The camper facing away must give instructions to the climber. The camper must then tell the climber what to do (while unable to see if their directions are correct). Campers can take turns performing each role.
Debrief: Ask campers what felt challenging about each role? Did some roles feel easier or more difficult than others? What went well during this game? What would you do differently next time? After trying one role, did you feel more empathy towards your teammates in the other roles, and why?
Tennis Ball Hands
Tennis Ball Hands
Type: No-contact
Age: Any
Group Size: Any
Supplies: 1-2 tennis balls
Instructions: Have campers climb with tennis balls in one or both hands. The campers can only touch the tennis ball(s) to the rock and not their hands. This helps campers to focus on using their feet to climbing instead of just their hands (great for non-vertical slab climbing). Additionally, if this is effective, campers can try to climb with one or both hands held behind their backs.
Are you my rock?
Are you my rock?
Type: Contact (requires passing rocks to one another around a circle)
Age: Any
Group Size: 3+
Supplies: Rocks found on site (remember to return them afterwards to Leave No Trace)
Instructions: Have each camper find a rock on the ground; it must be bigger than a quarter and small enough to fit into a closed hand. Once they have all found a rock, they should study it closely (even name it!) then turn the rocks over to the instructor.
Have campers get into a circle facing outwards, with their hands behind their backs, close enough so they can pass rocks to one another (campers face outwards so that they can't see the rocks being passed).
The instructor will place one rock into the hand of the first camper. Based off of touch alone, camper must figure out if it is their rock. If it is, they will hold onto it in one hand, and keep passing along the following rocks. If not, they will continue to pass it along.
This continues until each camper has a rock they think is their own. Once everyone has one, campers can turn into the circle and look at their rock they claimed as their own.
This can show how important touch is when identifying a climbing hold; how positive it is, and how it can come in handy when trying to find a hold that is out of view or on a seemingly blank face.
Climbing for Points
Climbing for Points
Type: No contact
Age: Any
Group Size: Any
Supplies: None
Instructions: Have campers try to complete a route with the least possible amount of moves (one point for each move). A fall adds one point, and a take adds two points. Students on the ground can help count moves, and cheer their teammates on.
Bouldering Traverse Simon Says
Bouldering Traverse Simon Says
Type: No contact
Age: Any
Group Size: 2+
Supplies: None
Instructions: This game is designed to be played while traversing (moving sideways) on a boulder. Climbers feet should be no higher than knee-to waist-high from the ground.
Designate a leader, and give participants 15 seconds to find a position on the rock where they are completely off the ground and then stay there.
Now, the leader calls out various commands: "Simon says, move your left foot." Everyone must move the designated limb to a new hold, unless the command is not prefixed with "Simon Says." Players are out if they fall off, or do not obey the commands.
The winner of one round can become Simon for another round.
Bouldering Beta Builder
Bouldering Beta Builder
Type: No contact
Age: Any
Group Size: 3-5 (can make multiple groups if needed)
Supplies: None
Instructions: Each small group of climbers will work together to create a bouldering route. The first climber makes one move, and the next climber must make that exact move and then add one more. Each climber follows the previous moves and adds one piece of 'beta' until the route is complete (beta=information on how to climb the route).
When one camper completes the climb, give all others in the group a chance to complete the climb according to the Beta as well.
LNT Climbing GAME
LNT Climbing GAME
Pick Up/Pack Out!
Pick Up/Pack Out!
Objective: Campers challenge themselves to explore the climbing routes to find items left by the climbing specialist and pick them up so they can pack them out! Game that highlights LNT principles #3 (Dispose of waste properly/Pack it in, pack it out)
Materials: Campers, items to hide on the wall
Time: Throughout the day
Activity:
To set up the game, have the climbing specialist place different items (“trash”) on different holds along the climbing routes they’ve set up. This could be many different items or just a few that campers can return after they’ve found them.
Tell the campers that during setup, the climbing specialist accidently dropped items along the route and they need help picking them up so we can pack them out.
Have campers retrieve all the items left on the wall.
Modifications: Climbers could also try and place these items in more challenging locations for the following climber to retrieve. For the younger climbers, make sure to hide the items in easier to access areas.
Wrap up questions:
What are some items you think you might find at a climbing staging area (wrappers, cans, animal waste, etc.)
Why are these areas so impacted?
What can we do to minimize our impact at a climbing staging area? What about on the climbing wall itself (gear, chalk, etc.)?
Why should we work to pick up the waste that we find (when it's safe) and pack it out?
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