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Process
of Creating Change
Haywood
County Schools will soon open its ninth traverse climbing wall in
the public elementary schools. Three of the walls were obtained
by the school system itself. Six are projects of the local health
partnership known as Healthy Haywood. Approximately 3,500 children
have the opportunity to challenge themselves physically in a fun
way on the walls each year.
Teachers
have been pleased and surprised to see great benefit from "the
wall experience" for "special needs" children and
those who do not excel in sports and fitness. They can go at their
own pace, do not have to be "chosen," and are pleased
with their accomplishments. The potential for confidence and team-building
as well as increased physical activity is only limited by what the
teachers do with them. Wall climbing contributes to upper and lower
body strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, eye-hand coordination,
and increased aerobic capacity... not to mention a desire by the
children to participate in physical activity!
Before
building the walls, Healthy Haywood's physical activity action team
found out about the success of a wall installed by Penny Road Elementary
School in Cary, NC. The Physical Education teacher there stated
that within one year, he documented increased physical abilities,
enthusiasm, and academic performance in his students as a result
of using the climbing wall.
The
walls are eight feet tall and vary from 28 to 40 feet long, depending
on each school's available space. Four by eight foot æ inch
wood panels are attached to a frame made of 4" by 8' studs.
Each 4 by 8 panel has 64 T-nuts installed to provide enough anchors
for changing the climbing routes. The walls are equipped with handholds
that give the children routes of varying difficulty.
"Our
climbing wall is the best educational tool I have ever had for my
PE classes in all the thirty years I have been teaching! Every one
of my students have gained confidence and fitness skills from using
it. Thank you, Healthy Haywood!!!"
-Laura Allen, PE Teacher, Hazelwood
Elementary School
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 The
walls have been constructed over a three-year period with funding
from the NC Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch of the Department
of Health and Human Services, NC Healthy Carolinians, and The Kate
B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.
Importance
of Change
Climbing
walls in our public elementary schools have contributed to greater
physical activity opportunities for the children and have inspired
them to be more physically active.
Lessons
Learned
We
started out directly attaching the handholds to the cinderblock
walls, but soon discovered that this type structure becomes loose.
The holds can start spinning and it is not as safe and durable as
building a wooden frame, and attaching holds to wooden panels that
are attached to the frame. The school maintenance department was
glad to build and attach all the frames. They also attached our
panels to the frames. This insured professional inspection and correct
installation for the safety of the children.
Appropriate
safety mats are expensive, available, and a must. Our schools purchased
their own mats.
Training
for teachers and principals regarding the use and advantages of
the climbing walls, from the beginning of the project, was critical
to the cooperation and enthusiasm we found in the schools.
| Type
of Change |
Environmental |
| Behavior
Addressed |
Physical
Activity, Overweight/Obesity |
| Location
of Change |
Haywood
County Elementary Schools |
| Reach/Impact
of Change |
Approximately
3500 students in 9 schools |
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