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An extended view of the indoor sports hall at Calvert Exmoor. To the left is empty space and to the right is a group of people wearing harnesses and helmets with their backs to the camera, watching a Calvert Exmoor instructor who is explaining the activity of Crate Stacking. There is a pile of crates in the background.

Crate Stack

Adventure awaits at Calvert Exmoor's Crate Stack challenge! Stack crates, break records and make memories with friends, come rain or shine...

Crate Stack

 

What is crate stack?

As a team, crate stacking participants are challenged with the task of stacking plastic crates as high as they can in a tower. The catch? Two people are standing on top of the tower whilst 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.

Crate stack at Calvert Exmoor

At Calvert Exmoor, we make sure everyone can enjoy crate stack, regardless of ability. With both an indoor and outdoor crate stack area, our trained and qualified instructors can run sessions come rain or shine, adapting the activity and providing support with specialised equipment. This could include the use of slings, hoists and even pairing participants in a way that promotes and develops their skills best.

Crate stack in action

Your crate stack session

Click on each step for more information on what you can expect from a crate stack session with us…
A room with a red door and green floor. There are helmets on shelves and ropes hanging on hooks on the wall, a wheelchair in the centre at the back and in the foreground, there is a selection of harnesses on the floor laid out ready for guests to put them on.

1: Get ready

A room with a red door and green floor. There are helmets on shelves and ropes hanging on hooks on the wall, a wheelchair in the centre at the back and in the foreground, there is a selection of harnesses on the floor laid out ready for guests to put them on.

1: Get ready

  • You will meet your instructor at your allocated meeting point
  • Your meeting point will be given to you on arrival at the centre in advance of your activity sessions
  • Your instructor will take you to the equipment room to help you kit up with harnesses, helmets and any other specialised accessories needed for the session
In the background of this photo is the indoor climbing wall, then in the middle there is a group of guests who are wearing harnesses and helmets and facing the camera but looking at a Calvert Exmoor instructor who has their back to the camera, with their arms raised above four blue plastic crates on the floor. The instructor is giving the the guests their introduction to the activity of accessible crate stacking.

2: Learn how

In the background of this photo is the indoor climbing wall, then in the middle there is a group of guests who are wearing harnesses and helmets and facing the camera but looking at a Calvert Exmoor instructor who has their back to the camera, with their arms raised above four blue plastic crates on the floor. The instructor is giving the the guests their introduction to the activity of accessible crate stacking.

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 will include teaching you how to use your 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 challenges that are achievable and fun
Two guests are standing on top of a tower of crates, attached by harnesses and ropes to the ceiling out of shot and they are looking down at a person standing on the floor who is pointing and directing them what to do.

3: Have a go

Two guests are standing on top of a tower of crates, attached by harnesses and ropes to the ceiling out of shot and they are looking down at a person standing on the floor who is pointing and directing them what to do.

3: Have a go

  • During the session, as a group, you’ll take it in turns 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 to you or assisting in belaying you to keep you safely suspended, should the tower fall
  • 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? The group that managed this feat were able to do pull-ups off the roof!
Two people with harnesses and helmets on are suspended high in the air on ropes with a tower of crates beneath them crumbling to the floor.

4: Finish up

Two people with harnesses and helmets on are suspended high in the air on ropes with a tower of crates beneath them crumbling to the floor.

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 and will take you to the equipment storage, where you’ll return your helmets and harnesses, before heading back to the centre

Crate stack equipment

Whether you want to get an idea of what our kit looks like, or see some of our specialised gear that helps make our sessions more accessible, have a look below…
A silver metal mobile hoist in front of the climbing wall with a black T section with hooks on.

Mobile hoists

A silver metal mobile hoist in front of the climbing wall with a black T section with hooks on.

Mobile hoists

  • These hoists can be used to transfer a wheelchair user from their own chair into the appropriate harness within their own wheelchair
A selection of seven different harnesses laying out on the floor at the bottom of the indoor climbing wall.

Harnesses

A selection of seven different harnesses laying out on the floor at the bottom of the indoor climbing wall.

Harnesses

  • Harnesses come in all shapes and sizes – these ones are called “sit” harnesses and are commonly used for rope-based activities
  • 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
The foreground shows plastic milk crates, with a rope extending out from the middle of them, where someone's hand is clipping a black clip onto the rope.

Crate Attachment

The foreground shows plastic milk crates, with a rope extending out from the middle of them, where someone's hand is clipping a black clip onto the rope.

Crate Attachment

  • 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 if the crate tower does collapse, the tower has a controlled fall
A Calvert Exmoor instructor sitting on some crates smiling, using a sit and chest harness, attached into a rope system with her hands in her lap.

Chest Harness

A Calvert Exmoor instructor sitting on some crates smiling, using a sit and chest harness, attached into a rope system with her hands in her lap.

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 onto the “sit” harness, which creates a full-body support system
  • This is typically used for those who are
    • larger-bodied
    • smaller-bodied
    • lack core strength
    • would simply like to feel more supported

FAQs

Yes! We leave no one out and no matter what, we do everything we can to make sure you can enjoy the experience of crate stacking in a way that suits you and keeps you safe.

At Calvert Exmoor, it’s what you CAN do that counts. Our 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.

Every instructor has:

  • extensive in-house training including observation hours logged prior to running a session independently
  • Either
    • a Climbing Wall Instructor (CWI) qualification including an abseil module by British Mountaineering Council
    • OR
    • a Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) qualification by British Mountaineering Council

Our crate stack activity can take place either in our sports hall or outside at our newly-built outdoor crate stack area. Both of these are onsite (1-2 minute walk away from the main centre)

Our accreditations