Ropes Course

Stevenson built a ropes course in the woods behind our football field several years ago. This course was meant to be a place where students, as individuals and group members, are faced with specific mental and physical challenges. It is an alternative to the classroom or the playing field, where our students are given the opportunity to grow as a whole person.

The elements on the course are built on the ground and high in the trees. The low elements are mostly used for group initiatives. Students are faced with an obstacle to overcome, and they try to successfully complete it together. Whether it is getting everyone over The Wall safely, or finding the best way to balance everyone on the Whale Watch while singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” all participants are bound to learn something about themselves.

 These initiatives allow students to set goals and discover the best way to achieve them. They are able to build their self-confidence and test their skills as a leader. And they are forced to see themselves as a team player and learn how to act when working with others.  Students can also choose to take a personal risk and try to tackle a high element.

There are five high elements on our course, each possessing its own challenge. Every student is given the opportunity to participate in one of these high elements when they come onto the course. They can either decide to take the individual challenge up in the trees or become a helpful member and stay on the ground to support and encourage the group members who do climb onto the high elements.

Whatever role they decide to choose will become an exciting place from which to learn. Students have found they were able to overcome a lifelong fear of heights with the help and support of their teammates or classmates.

We spend a great deal of time on the course with all sorts of different groups. The course is used extensively in the training of our campus leaders. Both prefects and Senior Forum leaders are trained on the course at the beginning of the school year. Both groups will use the course as a tool when working with their dormitories and community forum classes throughout the year. The Wilderness Expedition leaders also use the course for their leadership training before we leave for the expedition in February.

Underclassmen will find themselves on the course at different points throughout the year as well. Sports teams, advisee groups, dormitories, and clubs take advantage of the course’s ability to
enhance group cohesiveness. Finally, the incoming freshman class spends time on the course during their retreat in September.

As one can see, the ropes course is integrated into the Stevenson curriculum outside of the classroom. It has become a valuable tool for us to use in the growth of our students