Ropes programs are non-competitive programs. High ropes programs take place 30 feet above the ground. Low ropes programs take place a few feet above the ground. They are based in the Challenge by Choice philosophy. All activities are voluntary. The decision to participate empowers people to perform to their potential, freely and without pressure. Safety is a primary concern. The perception of risk creates high-impact learning environments by moving groups outside their comfort zone. Participants are challenged physically and mentally by activities designed to simulate various aspects of high-performance teams.

A sense of community and purpose is established by evoking the trust, camaraderie and esprit-de-corps that comes from challenging and fun experiences performed collectively. Participants are generally more willing to take calculated risks in their daily lives once they have experienced the sense of accomplishment and well-being resulting from the day's activities.

Debriefing the activity is an important part of the training. Our team of facilitators will lead a discussion after the activity to reinforce the deeper significance of the group's experiences including goal setting, effective communication, collaboration, role definition, leadership, problem solving, trust and risk-taking.

Sample High Ropes Activities

Pamper Pole
Participants are fitted with a full body safety harness and attached to 3 safety ropes and then attempt to climb a ladder to the top of a 25’ pole. Once they get to the top they stand on a platform and then jump out to a trapeze. (At any point if they fall or want to come down they are immediately caught by their safety lines and slowly lowered to the ground.)

High V
(Similar safety system as the Pamper Pole) Two participants climb a ladder to two cables suspended 20’ above the ground. The cables go from the one starting tree to two other trees forming a V. Each participant stands on one of the cables facing their partner. While holding onto one another, they attempt to walk as far out on the cables as possible. (At any point if they fall or want to come down they are immediately caught by their safety lines and slowly lowered to the ground.)


High Y
(Similar safety system as The Pole) Two participants climb up individual poles till they reach a cable thirty feet in the air. Each person then stands on their own cable and starts walking across this cable towards a middle point. For balance they hold onto a rope which is attached to the pole where they started. They will eventually reach a rope
which is hung where the two individual cables come together. After they reach this center point, they then have to work together to reach the pole at the tail of the “Y”. This causes the partners to really rely on each other and commit to the partnership. Once they reach this end point they let go and are safely lowered to the ground with their safety lines.

High Beam
(Similar safety system as the "High V'S") Participants climb up a 30’ tree to a 12’ beam that is suspended between two trees. Upon reaching the beam and gaining their balance, they begin walking across the beam to the other tree. This event requires total concentration and support. Once a participant reaches the second tree they jump off the beam, being caught immediately by their safety lines.

The Wall
Working together, the team must pass all of their team members over a fourteen feet tall wall. This exercise challenges teams to use all of their resources, strategy and strength to get everyone up and over the top. The inspiration that occurs when the team accomplishes the task is magnificent. This is an event where the team experiences the true power and potential of alignment, commitment, full utilization of resources and absolute synergy.

Zip Line
Participants walk to the edge of a “cliff”. Once there, they are attached to two pulleys located above their head. They then jump off the cliff, sliding 400 feet down two cables to the ground below.

Sample Low Ropes Activities

Blind Team Square
The team is presented with the challenge of making a perfect square with a piece of rope while all team members are blindfolded. This exercise illuminates the importance of communication, innovation and leadership.

Team Skis
Teams of 10 people stand on two large "skis" (nylon treads with rope handles). Once they are situated, they must move and work in unison to negotiate an obstacle race course against the other teams. Team alignment and clear focus on the common goal are critical.

Electric Wires
The team must work together to solve the problem of passing every team member between two parallel ropes suspended four and six feet off the ground, without anyone touching the "electric wires". This is a fun event that requires innovation, communication and collaboration of all team members.