High Ropes Courses: Challenge Yourself!

By Kim Cassell

EXPERIENTIAL CAN BE DEFINED AS INVOLVING OR BASEDON EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION. IN THIS CASE, THEEXPERIENCE – THE CHALLENGE – INVOLVES ROPES.

Climbing the pole is the first step in Sacred Grove Retreat’s high ropes course.

Photo Courtesy: Sacred Grove Retreat

“In general, a challenge course is like an obstacle course for adults – but one that comes with more than just physical fitness benefits,” according to Learn Through Experience.

“A challenge course is typically a physical challenge to complete, and these challenges often require teamwork to reach a goal. Challenge courses often have elements of difficulty that may cause some participants to feel fearful.”

Employers, for example, put their employees in an unfamiliar – and perhaps uncomfortable – environment where they must rely on each other.

“It’s a whole new way of thinking about professional development because it gets at the heart of the human experience by asking your coworkers to understand themselves and their peers – and then to use that insight to solve problems, discover strengths and weaknesses and take new interpersonal skills back into the workplace to apply them to your business,” Learn Through Experience says. “Done properly, team-building on a challenge course can be a turning point in your workplace.”

High and low rope obstacle-type courses are designed using wooden poles and platforms with cables and ropes strung between. Low ropes courses are usually one to 12 feet in height and may utilize traverses (movements), mazes, bridges and balance beams.

Trusting your team members is essential in high ropes because the team has to complete course elements together.

Photo Courtesy: Sacred Grove Retreat

The common denominators in each task are balance, coordination, concentration, teamwork and trust. Low courses are great for children, beginners and those with a fear of heights. Group members spot each other using communication and strategy to reach the goal: completing the tasks and the course.

High ropes courses can stand 15 to 60 feet in height. Designed to be more physically and mentally challenging, they may use ziplines and climbing walls in combination with ropes. Wearing safety harness equipment, these courses push participants to trust each other and face their fears while also facing something unfamiliar.

Sacred Grove Retreat sits on 11 acres in Gold Hill. Established by Ellen Whiteside in 2006, it was created as a restorative center that has offered hiking trails, a vortex and labyrinth, butterfly garden, drum circles, a metaphysical library and rental retreats, including yurts. It’s also become a Super host on AirBnb, has added a dance arbor, is home to Robbie Warren’s Otter Dance School of Earth Medicine and hosts weddings.

In 2013, Jade Reese joined Sacred Grove as co-owner. “Together, we have added an outdoor kitchen and shower area with composting toilets. We added a second 30-foot yurt, which positioned us to be able to host multiple retreats at the same time,” Whiteside says. “We upgraded the Grove House with dorm-style rooms so now it sleeps 16 people. Last fall, the baby yurt got a complete makeover. We added a new water filtration system to each side of the property and both yurts now have heating and air conditioning. And, of course, the ropes challenge course.”

Sacred Grove’s ropes course came to fruition when Whiteside was exposed to one at Mooresville’s Gratitude Trainings’ Ropes Challenge Course Day. Designed and constructed by Daniel Miller (a 30-year industry veteran) of Chiji Team Dynamics, the course at Sacred Grove was completed in 2016.

“When Ellen told me she wanted to build a ropes challenge course, I thought no way was I going to have anything to do with it,” Reese laughs. “I am afraid of heights and it made no sense to me to climb 30 feet in the air without something chasing me.

“Shortly after we built the course, I was able to experience it firsthand through a leadership development training I was in. It is called a challenge course for a reason...it was a challenge and I did it. That was the biggest thing for me – realizing that when things are hard, I can push through to the other

side. That’s where the real juice is,” she adds.

“It also taught me to lean in to my team and they will be there for support. I can tell you firsthand that the team that walked onto the ropes course in the morning was not the one that walked off in the evening. We had a better understanding of our limitations as individuals and as a team. The activities taught us how to see our blind spots and to allow others to fill in where that was their strength. When we left the course we felt tired, exhilarated and, above all, empowered.”

High ropes participants are put in unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations.

Photo Courtesy: Sacred Grove Retreat

Since then, both Reese and Whiteside have earned their Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Ropes Certification. “Ellen and I love seeing teams show up disconnected and walk away with a firm grasp of team, vision and the feeling of confidence one finds from breaking through self-limiting beliefs that have held them back for years,” Reese says.

Groups that arrive at Sacred Grove to take part in the ropes course are given a questionnaire in which they describe what their goals are for their team. “This way we can custom design the day to create a heightened awareness and spark the team to improve their leadership and creativity,” Reese shares. “Through the use of fun and challenging exercises, teams experience

a greater connection to both their team and personal vision.”

As to the size and scope of the course, Reese says, “Element is the term used in reference to the specific events that make up the Sacred Grove Retreat Ropes Course. Each element represents a unique problem for the participant to solve on an individual or group basis. The height of the high elements

varies between 30 and 33 feet. We also have low ropes activities, which are performed on the ground. The low ropes are done prior to participating in the high ropes activities.”

Sacred Grove Retreat outlines its goals for corporate groups that complete the high ropes course:

• Have a better understanding of the company mission and core values;

• Collaborate and problem-solve through new and eye-opening processes;

• Communicate more effectively;

• Create a safe and supportive environment;

• Increase the level of trust amongst team members;

• Break through limiting beliefs about themselves and see their team members in a different light;

• Understand the importance of their role in the overall delivery of the company brand;

• Get to know each other more deeply and authentically;

• Bring a new level of understanding and leadership to those they

manage to create extraordinary results in building trust, team and results. It’s hoped that employees will achieve these goals when they gain personal self-confidence, overcome obstacles, create leadership skills, develop problem-solving skills, experience synergy, increase trust, focus on a mission, improve communication, increase productivity, have fun and support others.

“Sacred Grove Retreat Center’s ropes challenge course is great for corporate team-building and leadership development,” Reese says. “It is also great for sports teams and other groups where trust, communication and a shared vision are important. Another great use of the ropes course is for family reunions. It gives the family the opportunity to be challenged and also learn new ways to support each other while increasing communication and trust among family members.”

Sacred Grove offers half-day and full-day ropes course experiences for groups of 10 to 30.

A half-day session lasts four hours while a full-day session lasts eight hours. Both include low-ground activities, team building exercises, high ropes course activities and certified supervision. Prices starts at $75 per person and $150 per person respectively.

“Ropes facilitators are trained and experienced professionals who are passionate about personal development, leadership training, the groups they serve and the programs they provide,” according to Sacred Grove’s website. “The Sacred Grove Retreat Center Ropes Course follows the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) standards for installation, inspection and safety operations. It is designed to bring teams together through both low and high activities.”

For more information, call 704-299- 5124 or visit sacredgroveretreat.com.