ROPES Challenge Course:
activity descriptions
Team Initiative activities
Low Ropes Activities
High Ropes Activities
Initiative activities
(These team ROPES activities involve very low levels of physical effort or emotional stress.)
Available on all of our outdoor ropes/challenge courses.
Many are also mobile and can be set-up at a location of your choosing. Some of the activities described here require fixed props however, and are not mobile. In addition, all activities described in the InterActive Teams program description can be modified to include in the Learn the ROPES program. Ask about other available activities. Bottom line: people generally stay grounded - and don't get winded - doing these activities.
To plan out your program, look over the quick theme descriptions next to each activity title and consider what experiences would be most valuable for your team. We guarantee they're all a lot of fun as well. Each of these activities require about one hour to complete, including the debrief discussions.
Bridges:
(initiative, figuring out the problem as your working the problem, attention to detail)
An activity in which the team starts out on one end of a space and must cross the space by making bridges across blocks without touching the ground, which is covered with a potent "acid". The team has multiple boards to build the bridges, but can lose a board if it touches the ground, and participants can lose use of an arm or vision if they touch the ground. The team needs to finish on or ahead of schedule. The problem solution doesn't reveal itself until after the team is typically well into an action mode, trying out different tactics, which may work at first, but ultimately need to change to be successful.
KPM Transit (Kinetic People Movers or Trolleys):
(Managing multiple requirements to complete a task, focused execution, skill sharing, cooperation)
An activity in which the team attempts to complete an assigned task on time, and to specs. The props are described to participants as trolleys that each person on the team needs to be standing on in order for their team to advance. A course area is set out for the trolley. The objective is for the team to finish at the exact time set, not early, not late, like an efficient trolley company. Participants need to effectively cooperate to make the trolleys work. If everyone isn't working in unison the system breaks down and mishaps can occur. Teams typically rise to the challenge and develop the coordination to be successful.
Hot Stuff (Three Mile Island)
(Creativity under pressure, identifying clear roles and responsibilities)
A "nuclear reactor" is represented by a circle on the ground, about twelve feet in diameter. In the center is the "reactor core" with some "fuel" lying on top. A "containment device" is located off to the side. Outside the reactor, in the "control room," are materials available to the team. The team is informed it has about thirty minutes to contain the fuel (some balls) on the nuclear reactor core (a pedestal) to prevent a nuclear meltdown. No one can go into the reactor area, and must wear protective gear (blindfolds) if touching anything that does go into the reactor. This is a "hot" activity to demonstrate the need for clear roles and responsibilities, effective leadership, good communication, and shared problem solving to be successful. Teams can do this activity simultaneously and potentially help each other's problem solving. Or they can work in isolation and compare results later.
Sherpa Walk
(taking initiative, empathy for the needs of others, clear two-way communication)
This activity simulates a guided adventure in rugged terrain, presumably dependent on a leader. The leader is a volunteer who is sighted and guides a blindfolded group, trailing in a line behind the guide through a woods and over obstacles that are described by the guide in a fantasy adventure. The group follows along and listens to the description for clues on what to expect and what to do. The leader can either be very focused on guiding each member of the group or give general descriptions to the person next to him, in the front - to be passed along. The blinded participants soon learn how much they need to depend on and support each other for their safety and success. The activity simulates how teams, typically with less information than their leaders, need to generate an additional element of initiative and leadership to support each other and be successful. Sighted leadership can change once or twice during the activity, allowing for different styles to be experienced.
All A-Board:
At the end of the Sherpa Walk the group is taken to a small 2' x 2' elevated platform that simulates a precarious mountaintop on which the whole team must be supported at the same time, still blinded. This experience often provokes valuable discussion on the ways "followers" on teams need to still take initiative and support each other to be successful.
Islands: (understanding the problem at the outset, support, and knowing when you're finished)
This is a one, two, or three team activity that requires each team to move from atop its starting island (a large wooden platform), across to a middle island (a small platform), used by every group, and then across to each team's respective outlying island. (The program area is made up of square box-like platforms.) The objective is for each team to get to its outlying island in a set time using only the boards available. The boards represent limited resources to the groups. If anyone comes off an island (box) or drops a board in the process, the respective team must begin again. This activity requires clear problem identification up front to be successful. It's a good start-off activity.
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Low ROPES Activities
(each of these activities typically requires from 60 to 90 minutes to complete.)
The Low ROPES activities involve team members in challenges that elicit greater physical effort and emotional energy. These activities take place on cables and other props a few feet off the ground. Trust and one-to-one interaction between teammates is emphasized. Balance, mutual support, sharing control and coaching for shared success are necessary to be a successful team in these activities.
The Trust Series:
(identify the elements of trusting relationships and how they apply to teams and individuals.)
Participants engage in three different trust falls; 1st with one catcher and one faller, 2 nd with both being catcher and faller at the same time, and 3rd with one person falling and the whole group continuously catching and supporting. The activities follow with a discussion of how the three activities can suggest what's needed in developing trusting relationships, the different orientations people have regarding trust, and how they affect work relationships. Each person in the group can then choose to do a fourth activity: a high trust fall, backwards, off a platform.
Spider Web: (setting and maintaining high standards, mutual support and trust, shared problem solving)
The team members find themselves at a large web like structure made out of string, and containing a dozen holes of various shapes through which people need to be passed to the other side. The group needs to set a quality standard for their performance related to how much movement is allowed in the process of moving each other from one side to the other, and enforce their standard during the activity. The group figures out who best fits through which hole and in what order, and aims to complete the task in 30 minutes or less. This activity stimulates a lot of excitement and cheering as the group succeeds in meeting, hopefully, high standards that it sets and maintains.
Bermuda Triangle:
(shared learning as a team, effective ways to communicate and lend support)
This is an activity that requires personal initiative and reliance, through communication, with a partner. In addition, other team members are nearby to offer support and spotting as needed. The mystery of the Bermuda Triangle requires that no one ventures into its interior, or risk never being heard from again. This activity demands that we even manage our slip-ups, minimize the consequence, and get on with the challenge at hand! The Challenge: three cables, suspended above the ground, are attached in the form of a triangle to three trees. Two participants team up, one standing on a cable, while the other stays on the ground. A free running rope is suspended from above with a knotted ball tied on one end. The cable walker holds the ball at the end of the rope, while the grounded partner provides slack or tension as needed from the ground. The cable walker can step off the cable at any time, as long as the step off is to the outside of the triangle. A cable walker who winds up inside the triangle may never be heard from again. The challenge is to traverse the entire triangle as skillfully as possible, holding only the knotted ball at the end of the rope (you cannot grab higher on the rope for leverage). The walker must work with the grounded partner, and rely on the ground crew of other team members for support.
Wild Woozy:
(inter-reliance, redefining control, learning to let go in order to advance.)
Two cables, suspended above the ground, begin at the same point on one tree and gradually diverge to two separate tress, several feet apart and thirty feet from the start. Two participants team up, each one standing on one of the cables. While supporting each other, the two start moving along their respective cable until both of them are at the other end, or as far as possible. Everyone completes the introductory level woozy and can choose to advance to the true experience in higher leaning! -- Wild Woozy II - higher and wider than the first level. When working with others on a team it is important that people rely on each other while taking risks to move forward into uncharted areas in order to accomplish things that are not possible alone. This is a great climactic experience at the end of a program that can include two activity teams together.
The Crossing:
(understanding the details, setting high standards, creativity, mutual support)
Here's an activity involving a high level of group problem solving and some individual performance. The Dilemma: The entire team finds itself on the edge of a great canyon in the desert. There is an urgent need to get across the canyon and to bring as much of the liquid treasure as is possible. Not unlike Indiana Jones, the team needs to escape the wrath of the attackers by crossing the canyon before they arrive. Much to good fortune, and a sign of support from the gods, a sky hook hangs from the sky above with a rope attached that can be used to cross the great divide. But first they have to retrieve the rope. They have nothing but themselves and what they have on their person to help with this feat. The requirement, of course, is for the entire group to get across the canyon without anyone falling in. If someone does "fall in" there are consequences. The team also needs to decide before they leave how to get the treasure across without spilling a drop.
Triangular Tension Traverse:
(inter-reliance and shared support so both can win.)
... a variation of the Bermuda Triangle, this activity has two people on the cable at the same time and both holding on to either ends of the same rope. They both need to give each other the slack and tension each other need so that both can be successful.
Mohawk Traverse:
(problem solving, mutual support, and trust)
Get everyone around the three legs of a triangular cable - all together as one team - without touching the ground! This activity requires a good deal of balance and shared support to be successful. Advance planning and constant reconsideration is essential. Who goes where and when? Real creativity is needed to gain the final success, as balancing at the final point requires the team to change its plan and learn a new approach.
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High Ropes Activities
... are total team experiences. They require focused trust, confidence, cooperation, commitment, encouragement, and some appropriate risk taking. There are a few basic skills participants will need to learn to be absolutely safe on these events. Belaying (or ensuring safety support) during the activity is a mutual responsibility among participants. The instructor will monitor this coordination and provide input as needed. Everyone's progress will be somewhat interdependent. Good communication is essential. The Challenges are over thirty feet in the air.
Here's a partial list of activities available on High Ropes.
Two Line Bridge (Postman's Walk) -
the first time to sense the exposure out on a cable
Three Line Bridge (Burma Bridge) -
longer element, lower and less stable hand holds
Grape Vine Traverse -
reach for and let go of your security lines
Team Beams -
two team members support each other as they cross narrow beams
High Balance Beam (Cat Walk) -
walk across a high beam with no hand holds!
Hour Glass -
get across three crisscrossed ropes to the finish platform
Zip Line -
hang below a pully that speeds you from the top of the course - 40' down to the ground.
Trapeze Leap - climb to the top of a 35' pole, from its perch at the top, leap to a trapeze several feet from the pole.
The Climbing Tower
(Choose your own level of challenge and try it with the support of the team)
... is over thirty feet high. This activity simulates technical rock climbing. There are routes of various difficulty on two or three sides. The object is to have each participant climb as high as they can up the side of the tower. In doing so each person needs to be safely belayed by someone on the ground. Special calls are learned as well as the skills to ensure safety and success. When a person reaches the top they get to simulate a rappel down to the ground. The belayer is always conscious of the need to keep the belay hand, also called the brake hand, on the rope at all times. That is the contract and promise that is made to the climber from the outset. The activity is kept fun and challenging by the facilitators. During the climb, the climbers are tethered to each other to elicit interdependence. The wall has climbs rated from 5.4 to 5.8.
The Giant's Ladder (Dangle Duo)
(can be done in from 2 to 4 hours per 12 person activity team)
This event is a five rung ladder that is attached at the top, and is free to swing at the bottom. The ladder's rungs are five or more feet apart. (Each rung is further apart from the one below as you climb upward.) As two people climb together, secured to their belayers below, they need to support each other to gain each subsequent rung.This is the biggest physical challenge on the high ropes. Lone rangers, who try to do it themselves, learn to take support along the way up.
Safety First! Considerations
These activities are very safe. Even if there is a slip up by someone along the way, every critical point in the system has a back-up to prevent accidents.
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