Climbing at Calvert Devon
What is climbing?
Get ready to conquer new heights with climbing, an adventurous sport that involves scaling natural or man-made walls using physical strength and strategic thinking. Each climb improves your confidence, problem-solving skills, and communication.
We have an indoor and outdoor climbing wall, so we can promise adventure come rain or shine.
Our inclusive approach, with specialised equipment like hoists and slings and our highly-trained instructors’ expert guidance, patience and compassion, ensures everyone can take part and no one is left behind.
We don’t allow free/solo climbing at Calvert Devon. Instead, we use ropes and harnesses to ensure everyone can ring the bells at the top. A range of adapted equipment means that anyone can take part with help, even amputees and wheelchair users with limited or no limb movement.
Your climbing session
Click on each step for more information on what you can expect from a climbing session at Calvert Devon…
1: Get ready
- You will meet your instructor at your allocated meeting point
- Your instructor will take you to the equipment room to show you the harnesses, helmets and other specialised accessories needed for individuals
- Everyone takes time to get into their harnesses and put their helmets on before the instructor checks that everyone is ready
- You’ll then move to the indoor or outdoor climbing wall
2: Learn how
- Whether you’re using the indoor or outdoor climbing wall, your instructor will give you all a safety briefing before the activity starts
- This will include teaching you how to use your equipment and what to expect from the session
- Your instructor will be able to teach you techniques and answer any questions you have, as well as setting you challenges that are achievable and fun
3: Have a go
- After your brief, you’ll climb one or two at a time, with the rest of your group and the instructor supporting you along the way
- On the outside wall, individuals can go on our ‘cableway’, which is often described as a back-to-front zip wire, as it goes from the floor to the top of the climbing wall – this gives you an opportunity to get a feel for the heights and ring the bell at the top, without having to physically climb up the wall
- On the inside wall, people with physical disabilities can still take part due to the hoisting system, getting the ultimate help to reach the top
- When you’re not climbing, you might be given the opportunity to help belay the climber with the instructor
- Set yourself some challenges: whether that’s just giving it a good go or climbing a more challenging route
4: Finish up
- At the end of your session, your instructor will remove any ropes and make sure everyone moves away from the climbing wall
- Harnesses and helmets are returned to the storage room
- Collect any belongs you may have and stroll back to the main building of the centre
Climbing equipment
Get an idea of what our kit looks like, and see some of our specialised gear that helps make our sessions more accessible.
Click on each item for a description…
Mobile hoists
- These hoists can be used to transfer a wheelchair user from their own chair into the appropriate harnesses and safety systems
Harnesses
- Harnesses come in all shapes and sizes – these ones are called “sit” harnesses and are commonly used for rope-based activities like climbing
- This picture shows harnesses on the floor ready to put your feet into the smaller circles and then pull up and over your waist, like a pair of trousers
- Our instructors will help you to choose the right harness for you and show you how to put it on correctly
Chest harness
- Much like a “sit” harness is pulled on like a pair of trousers, the chest harness is put on like a jacket
- This harness engages around the top half of the body and attaches to the “sit” harness, which creates a full-body support system
- This is typically used for those who are larger-bodied or smaller-bodied, lack core strength, or would simply like to feel more supported
Kite harness
- This harness has velcro strips which allow instructors to attach some special padding that increases the rigidity of the harness
- Without the padding, the Kite harness adds a different level of support: the harness is easily moulded to the shape of the user
- Individuals who need extra spinal support benefit from this gear
- The red seating adds more structure to the seat, which can be a better option for some people than its flexible counterpart
Point harness
- The Pont harness is similar to the Kite harness in that the seat section is rigid, but the back support is not
- This harness benefits users who may need extra support but still have the core stability to sit upright by themselves
Rope equipment
- Don’t worry, it’ll be the instructor’s responsibility to use this equipment and, should you need to use it yourself, they’ll teach you exactly how to use it safely
- This equipment could include ropes and various metalwork
Helmets
- In all of our rope-based activities, you must wear a helmet
- We have helmets of all sizes
Yes! We leave no one out, and no matter what, we do everything we can to ensure that you can enjoy the climbing experience in a way that suits you and keeps you safe.
The Calvert Devon instructors use the term ‘challenge by choice’, which ensures that while you’re taking part and given challenges along the way, you ultimately always have the agency and control over your own limitations.
Our staff are there to keep you safe but also build your confidence, even if this means accomplishing a simpler version of the activity.
There are two climbing walls, one in the sports hall and one outside it. Both are easily accessible from the equipment room which is just a few steps away.
Every instructor has extensive in-house training, including observation hours logged before running a session independently.
Every instructor also has specific qualification:
- Either
- a Climbing Wall Instructor (CWI) qualification, including an abseil module bythe British Mountaineering Council
- OR
- a Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) qualification by the British Mountaineering Council
Established and essential governing bodies monitor instructors and the centre, such as the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres (AHOEC) and the Activity Activities Licensing Authority (AALA).
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