Penny Holds

Name and Purpose

Penny Holds is a precision climbing game that trains foot placement and weight shifting.
Players develop body awareness and patience as they focus on quiet, deliberate movement.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 8-16 | 2-12 players taking turns | 15-30 minutes | Bouldering or traversing wall (low height; no lead climbing required)

Materials

Quick-Run Card

Staff places coins on foot holds across a traversing route.
Climber starts at one end and traverses using only coin-marked holds for feet.
Hand holds are unrestricted.
A coin knocked off means the climber pauses, resets, and tries again from that point.
Rotate to next climber; let advanced climbers choose a harder coin pattern.

Setup and Boundaries

Use traversing height only (feet stay within 1-2 metres of the ground) unless your camp’s ropes protocols and staff certifications allow higher work.
Signal: one raised hand from staff means pause and step down safely.
Check the mat and floor area for tripping hazards before play.
Staff familiar with camp climbing protocols must supervise.

How to Play

Staff sets a coin pattern: easy routes use every other hold, harder routes space coins further apart.
The climber starts at one end of the wall.
Feet may only touch holds with a coin on them.
Hands may use any hold.
If a coin falls, the climber pauses, staff replaces the coin, and the climber continues from that hold.
Successful traverse earns a point. Next climber goes.
Optional challenge: climbers set their own coin pattern for others to follow.

I-OPt Options

Start: A (Active) – climb the route. S (Support) – spot the climber and track which coins stay on. Q (Quiet) – watch the first climber and choose a hold route to try. O (Observer) – observe the full group before deciding.
Mid: A – try a harder coin spacing. S – help replace fallen coins, cheer climbers on. Q – choose a gentler traversing route. O – count successful traverses from the ground.
Late: A – challenge themselves by setting a new coin pattern. S – coach a friend on foot placement. Q – attempt one section of the traverse at their comfort level. O – keep score for the group.
End: A – try the hardest pattern available. S – celebrate everyone’s personal bests. Q – share one thing they noticed about balance. O – join in one low hold for the finish.

Inclusion Adaptations

Players who use mobility aids or have lower-body differences may complete a floor-level version: coins placed on a grid mat, players step only on coins while crossing the mat.
Verbal encouragement from a Spotter role is equally valued as climbing.

Stewardship Moment

Collect all coins at the end; return to the activity kit for reuse.
Reflection: “How did slowing down and being precise help you? Where else in camp life does moving carefully matter?”

Consent

Pre-brief: “This activity involves climbing on the wall. For those not comfortable with height or wall climbing, the Spotter and Coin-Keeper roles are just as important, and there is a floor-level version too.”
Mid-game check: After each rotation, check in. “Thumbs up, sideways, or down. How is everyone feeling about the height?”
Opt-out/re-entry: Step off the wall at any time. Rejoin as a climber at the next open turn.

Risks and Mitigation

Falling: stay on traversing height; crash mat must cover the full base of the wall.
Slipping on coins: coins should lie flat; staff checks holds are stable before play.
Overreach causing a fall: remind climbers to move one hold at a time, no lunging.
Staff must be aware of any relevant physical needs in the group before this activity begins.

Warm-Up Suggestions

Debrief Questions

What? “Which part of the traverse was hardest? What did you try when your foot kept slipping?”
So What? “What did you notice about how slowing down changed your climbing?”
Now What? “Where else in your life would slowing down and being precise make a difference?”

Cleanup and Reset