Crate stacking at Calvert Devon
What is a crate stack?
As a team, the goal is to stack plastic crates as high as they can in a tower.
The catch? Two people are standing on top of the tower while building it. They’re tied into a belay system that ensures they’re caught safely should the tower fall, but they’ll need to use their problem-solving and communication skills to keep the tower steady and build it as tall as they can. They’ll also need help from those around them, who pass crates, manage the rope systems and offer lots of encouragement.
This can be repeated in twos to see which pair can have the most crates stacked before they fall or the tower topples down.
At Calvert Devon, we adapt the activity and provide support with specialised equipment to ensure everyone can enjoy crate stacking, regardless of age or disability. This could include the use of slings and hoists and even pairing participants in a way that promotes and develops their skills best.
With both an indoor and outdoor crate stacking area, our trained and qualified instructors can run sessions come rain or shine.
Your crate stack session
Click on each step for more information on what you can expect from a crate stack session at Calvert Devon…
1: Get ready
- You will meet your instructor at your allocated meeting point
- Your instructor will take you to the sports hall and into the equipment room to help you kit up with harnesses, helmets and any other specialised accessories needed for the session
2: Learn how
- Whether you’re using the indoor or outdoor crate stack area, your instructor will give you all a safety briefing before the activity starts
- This briefing will include teaching you how to use the ropes and equipment, what your team challenge involves 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 goals that are achievable and fun
3: Have a go
- During the session, each member of the group will rotate through various jobs, to try out each role within this activity
- Two of you will be on top of the crates, and other group members will either be helping to pass crates up or assisting in belaying alongside the instructor
- Each pair on the crates will have a chance to build the tower as tall as possible and once it falls, they will then take on a different role within the team
- This cycle repeats until everyone has had a go at each role
- Do you think you can beat the record of 21 crates high?
4: Finish up
- At the end of your session, once you’re all safely on the floor, your instructor will remove any ropes attached to each of you
- The crates will need to be removed from the middle of the hall and stacked away properly
- The instructor will ensure helmets and harnesses are returned to the store room before guests head back to 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, ready to be lifted into the air
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 harnesses can also be used – these are put on like a jacket to engage around the top half of the body, which creates a full-body support system
Crate attachments
- Each crate will have a string attached to it with a little hook on the end
- This is designed to attach around the central cord so that when the crate tower does collapse, the tower has a controlled fall
Ropes and belays
- A belay consists of a rope that runs from the people on the crate stacks, to other people standing on the group (the belayers) who stop the climbers from falling to the ground
- Those acting as the belayers will hold the ropes, helping the instructor to ensure everyone is safe
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 crate 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 crate stack areas.
The first is in our sports hall at the heart of the centre.
The second and newer area is outside, at the bottom of our main carpark, looking out over the reservoir.
Every instructor has extensive in-house training, including observation hours logged before running a session independently.
Every instructor also has specific qualifications:
- Either
- a Climbing Wall Instructor (CWI) qualification, including an abseil module by the British Mountaineering Council
- OR
- a Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) qualification by the British Mountaineering Council
Both of these qualifications are transferable to crate stacking.
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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