UKC

Hi,

My school have just had a new indoor climbing wall installed and I'm looking for advice how we can get the best of this great new feature.

Can anyone help pointing us in the right direction?

Thanks

Todd

In reply to toddR:

Going out on a limb here but ... maybe get some kids to climb on it?

More seriously, are you wanting to get a route setter in to set a number of routes or are you asking about training regimes to give kids, forming a club or what? I'm not quite clear on what sort of answers you're expecting.

In reply to toddR:

Speak to the BMC Climbing Walls officer.

In reply to toddR:

Iain Mackenzie would be a good person to speak to. http://www.iainmckenzie.co.uk

In reply to toddR:

Get in touch with local climbing clubs with a view to opening it in the evenings to create income for the school?

In reply to toddR:
A "new school" climbing wall you say?

So: lots of volumes & big round blobby holds in bright colours. Compression, dynos and precarious sloper shuffling, nae crimping. That sort of thing?

In reply to toddR:

Todd
Depending on whereabouts in the country you are, you may have an outdoor education adviser that could help with this. Have a look on oeap.info - 'find an adviser' should be on the home page or drop me a line and I'll try and help.
The BMC also have their 'Fundamentals' course that might be worth checking out.
Cheers
Mick

In reply to toddR:

How big is it?
What age kids?

Will it be used within PE lessons or just extra -curricular use?
Who will staff it?

In reply to toddR:

Good routesetting is absolutely key. You can have the best structured wall in the country but if the routesetting is sh*t the wall be too.

In reply to stp:


This, BUT, you need to set with your pupils in mind, setting at a grades that will challenge them but are achievable. When I ran my school climbing club, I found anything harder than about 6a was too much for most of them. Once they get more experience you may find you can set harder. It's quite challenging trying to set interesting routes in the lower grades.

In reply to AlanLittle:



You forget the 'too hip for you' soundtrack.

In reply to toddR:


Up?

In reply to Mick Bradshaw:

Given you a like Mick.

Good to see a plug for my old profession.

Martin

In reply to toddR:

Engage with NICAS more details specifically for Schools here: http://www.nicas.co.uk/schools-clubs-and-groups

Become an "Advised" Member of the Association of British Climbing Walls for oodles of support, advice and access to a huge collection of wall specific experience: https://www.abcwalls.co.uk/about/joining-the-abc/

Consider employing a Technical Advisor. A good starting place would be a member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors BUT ensure that you engage with one who has extensive first hand experience of climbing walls. http://www.mountain-training.org/associations/ami (I do a lot of this sort of work but am based in Scotland- happy to offer help contacting someone suitable and more local if you wish to PM me).

Attend BMC FUNdamentals 1 and 2. Physical Training 1 and the Coaching Children Workshop are also highly relevant to you. http://www.mountain-training.org/associations/ami

Think about putting relevant staff through the Foundation Coach Award. http://www.mountain-training.org/climbing/awards/coaching-scheme

The BMC Climbing Wall Manual is still a relevant and useful document for managing walls of all types: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/the-bmc-climbing-wall-manual there are also some small good practise notices here: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/information-for-wall-managers?s=1

All the best, Al

In reply to Trangia:


^^ this is what our club do, it works well. Various other parts of the school are used in the evenings for nightschool, sports clubs etc. so they don't have to pay a caretaker extra for opening up 'cos he's already there.

In reply to toddR:
Lots of important factors involved,
Safety and Maintainance, routesetting, technical advice, staff training etc
Contact Nate at 'climbing wall services' for all of the above

In reply to Wil Treasure:

Cheers Will, hoping all is good?

Todd, if you want to pop me through an email to iain@nicas.co.uk I can give you lots of info on NICAS and NIBAS and how to set up a kids club, Al has also posted a fair bit of info aswell.

Cheers.

Iain

In reply to toddR:

Get a technical advisor (MIA or above theres loads about have a look on http://www.mountain-training.org/) They will be very useful and can come up with some site specific training for your staff or get your staff qualed if any are keen indoor climbers, but consider getting some freelance instructors in (your Tech A can help there) once the kids start to progress.

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/information-for-wall-managers?s=1 This has some useful info.

Where abouts in the UK are you?

I've been setting for a school down south east recently. Close co-operation between the school and the setters is vital.

Get some quality Route setters and do it as regularly as you can, change helps. But don't go getting pro climbers to set, they're good at hard routes but not so good imo at easier routes. Get a pro Route setter who has experience with setting for schools. Or speak to your nearest wall.

Have a look here for setters in the area: https://www.routesettingassociation.org/

Have a chat with Nate from CWS his company does a lot of setting and runs good training course: https://climbingwallservices.com/

Feel free to message me on here for further info.