Rope Course Lesson Plan
Fun Facts
Did you know that the British Royal Parachute Regiment use an advanced rope course as training for their troops?
The course builds confidence and tests troops’ ability to overcome both physical and emotional obstacles. The same ideas are used in recreational rope courses, which aim to build teamwork and cooperation, as well as boost confidence and leadership skills in participants. While we offer many lessons aligned during each activity/obstacle, it is also worthwhile to reflect on the experience after the course. Ask students to describe their feelings during each part of the ropes course/and specific elements, what challenges they faced, and what strategies they used to overcome those challenges. Ask how these examples can be applied to real-life situations.
Before You Go:
Review relevant vocabulary and key terms and concepts: cooperation, teamwork, confidence, strategy Aerial, Adventure Park/course, Free-fall, Pods, Pinzaguer (what are some vocabulary terms?)
Description of Candia Springs Adventure Park:
The aerial park consists of 2 separate levels with 5 different pods. As participants progress through the course, the elements begin to grow more challenging. Elements include various suspension bridges, ziplines, and balance orientated challenges.
Ask them to write about their expectations, fears, anxiety level and confidence level. After the trip, have the students reflect on the same topics and compare the two.
Before working together on the ropes course, provide an opportunity for the students to work together in the classroom. Have students participate in the “Human Knot” activity. Have groups of students form a circle and then have students reach across the circle to hold hands of another student. Continue until every student is holding the hands of two different students. They created the “Human Knot”. The goal for the students is to work together to untangle the knot so that every student is standing in the circle, facing forward, and holding the hands of the student immediately to their left and right, all while not letting go of anyone’s hands. During this activity have students observe how well the worked together.
Overview:
Students build confidence and leadership skills while working together to overcome the obstacles of the Adventure Park.
What to Wonder:
Ask: What is the goal of this obstacle? How can my classmates be helpful in overcoming this obstacle? How can the obstacle be used as an advantage rather than a hindrance?
Describe: Your feelings before, during and after an obstacle.
Observe: The students you are working with. What are the interactions among people like? What do students who successfully overcome and obstacle do or say? What do the students who struggle to overcome the obstacles do and say?
Opinion: Which obstacles were the hardest? The easiest? Why ?
Compare: Two obstacles. What is challenging about them? What are the strategies that can be used to overcome them?
