TEAM CHALLENGE COURSE DESIGNS
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Low Ropes Courses & Group Initiatives OverviewSo-called "group initiatives," involving real and imaginary ground-based obstacles, present physical, mental, and emotional challenges that invite a group to explore teamwork strategies and demonstrate for themselves the importance of planning, cooperation, and communication. Courses can be permanently constructed or designed to be portable. Low ropes course elements are hybrids of the high course elements, often strung together in succession one to two feet above the ground. Group participants are trained to manage risk by aggressively spotting individuals as they make their crossing. Focus is on both team and individual efforts. |
Low Ropes Courses & Group Initiatives Designs
Low ropes course programs generally consist of a variety of types of elements and activities. Depending on the type of program, populations served, and desired outcomes, a variety of games, elements, and activities can be sequenced to achieve the groups' goals. Many team challenge activities require little to no props; others require permanently constructed obstalces.
Our builders and trainers will work with you to help decide which activities and elements best serve your needs. When determining training and course design requirements, the following offers a brief list of factors to consider: the number of estimated groups to be served at any one time, age of the clients, population, available facilities, budget, and projected income. For more information, please read the considerations for designing a challenge course.
Overview of Types of Team Challenge Activities
Group Games, Ice-breakers, Fillers: fun activities designed to reduce inhibitions and break down barriers. These activities are often not based on a defined task but on a sequence of events. Users are often placed in positions where they are encouraged to try new things that may place them outside their normal comfort zones.
Group Initiatives: problems involving real and imaginary ground-based obstacles (either natural or constructed) that challenge a group to pool their resources and work together to find solutions. Success is achieved only when all members have contributed to the outcome [visit the design gallery for more information about constructed obstalces].
Trust-Building Activities: activities designed to provide members the opportunity to demonstrate their trust in other members of the group through a series of sequenced actions.
Low Ropes Events: a series of cables, ropes, and obstacles strung between trees or poles, 12 to 18 inches above the ground, low rope elements present tests of physical strength, stamina, agility, balance, and flexibility, and invite participants to confront such emotional issues as the fear of falling, the fear of failure, and the fear of losing control. Risk is managed by group members who assume critical spotting roles [visit the design gallery for more information about constructed obstalces].
