Project Based Learning
to the Ropes Course
by Janeva Reasor
September 05, 2007
On Friday, August 24, the PBL students went to the Ropes Course at Greenbush. The event took place inside the building at first, due to the rain. Inside there were two activities set up. The first activity was the Mountain Top and the second activity was Zigzag. The group was separated into two groups. The Mountain Top consisted of four platforms and two 2 x 4 boards. The task was, as a team, to get the entire group to the other side. The catch was you couldn’t have the boards touch the ground, or have anyone fall off the platforms. If so then two people, a boy and girl, had to go to the end of the line and not talk for 5 minutes.
The Zigzag was similar but the boards were on their side and you had to fit them into the platforms that fit that size. Both activities were designed so the whole group had to communicate and listen to each other. By the time both of these activities were completed the rain had quit and we went out to the ropes.
Once outside we learned how to put on a harness, then where given safety tips. Next we where told about the two courses. They had two--the rock wall and the island. The rock wall consisted of climbing up a wall. The island consisted of climbing up a pole, then walking across a bridge that had no side rails. The groups remained the same as for the indoor activities. Then after both groups had finished we switched courses.
After both groups had a chance, we headed back to the building to eat lunch. Finally we were thanked for coming and happy to have a group like us to come out and start out the year. The trip was fun for everyone. Everyone communicated as a team and enjoyed themselves.
