European first for Devon climbing centre
100 schoolchildren from a Devon Village school were the first to experience the heights of fun at a new climb launched at Clip ‘N Climb on Exeter Quay. The pupils from Sidbury Primary School were invited to take up the challenge of the new ‘Astroball’ climb, the first of its kind in Europe, before it opened to the general public.
Clip ‘N Climb owned by Entre-Prises UK, launched the new climbing centre in 2011 in the former Electricity building, a well-known landmark on Exeter Quay for over a century. Today it boasts 26 exciting climbs offering varying challenges for both adults and children from the age of four years up.
As well as being open to the general public, Clip ‘N Climb accommodates local schools with around four - five visits a week on average, which fits well within the national curriculum and covers many areas required for physical education.
Ian Stocker, Centre-Manager said: “Our fully-trained team was very keen to get involved and inspect our new challenge. They got together bright and early on the morning of the launch for some great staff play time and a training session before welcoming our special guests from Sidbury Primary School. The Children soon got stuck into all of the various climbing challenges with parents and teachers offering encouragement from the side-lines. Following the school visit we opened to the public and it was a sell out with 152 children, 36 adults and our ‘rock stars’ kids club all attempting the new climb on its first day of opening. He adds: “It was a great fun way to open a new climb and so good to see so many people of all ages and abilities taking part. Astroball is the first, and currently the only climb of its kind in Europe, right here in Exeter. Taking on this challenge promotes agility, core strength and balance, but more importantly it’s just really good fun for any age!”
Sidbury CE Primary School is a primary academy, and part of the Primary Academies Trust. The students aged from six – eleven, were invited to tackle the many climbing walls including the new Astro-ball climb, which caused great excitement. The trip was an integral part of the school’s first ever sports week, aimed at putting sport at the centre of all the children’s learning. The week included a list of sports activities to enrich the children’s education and was kicked off with the new Astroball challenge.
Mrs Samantha Andrews, PE leader responsible for sports leadership at Sidbury organised the school visit. She comments: “The Children were absolutely thrilled to be the first to try this exciting new piece of equipment. They couldn’t help challenging each other to climb higher, and to reach the top if they could. Adventurous opportunities are a valuable part of our curriculum at Sidbury. This kind of activity is especially wonderful for children’s development, as they get to overcome some of their fears and set themselves exciting and achievable goals. They are also introduced to new active hobbies which at the same time promote a healthy lifestyle and sense of well-being.”
To build on existing relationships and attract more local schools to visit the centre, Clip ‘N Climb will run a special promotion throughout the month of September. Any registered teacher working in a school with an EX postcode will be able to contact the centre and arrange to attend a public session and climb for free from Mondays – Fridays throughout the month in order to have first-hand experience before booking a school visit. Ian Stocker explains further: “We want to actively encourage local schools to utilise our facilities to enhance the students’ physical educational requirements in line with the national curriculum. As a result we have created this special promotion so we can demonstrate the benefits of Clip ‘N Climb to the teacher and answer any questions they may have. It’s also a great opportunity for the teachers to see first-hand the challenges the children will experience when they visit the centre.
For further information please contact the Reception Team:
T: 01392 422559 or by email: climb@clipnclimbexeter.co.uk
