Ropes course instructors finished their course training over spring break. Intructors used spring break to prepare for this summer’s opening to the public.
Above left: Sarah McDonough climbs a 50-foot pole to set up equipment.
Right: Greg Freeman poses while rock climbing during training.
By Sara Eisenhauer
Cardinal Staff
The Saint Mary’s University ropes course will open to the general public June 1. The course will facilitate team bonding, leadership training and self-confidence building through a variety of physical challenges.
According to Davey Warner, outdoor leadership coordinator and ropes course manager, the university built the course to stimulate excitement about leadership opportunities among the student body. Construction on the $85,000 project was completed in December, and instructor training was finished over spring break in order to prepare for this summer’s opening.
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“The ropes course is another way to educate people, both at Saint Mary’s and the larger community, through experiential education,” said Warner.
With help of the instructors, participants will learn to build team and personal skills on the high and low ropes courses. The low ropes course encourages teamwork and trust by walking on cables and swinging logs, while the high ropes work to boost individual self-confidence through the use of zip lines and 35-foot climbing poles.
Vanessa Grams, junior and ropes course instructor, sees the ropes course as an educational tool for groups and a way for people to test their limits. Grams said it was a challenge to actually complete the course while training. “I did things I didn’t know I could do,” said Grams.
Warner agrees and said the course challenges people to “do things they have never done before and realize that they can do it.”
Most of the ropes course was funded by donations and pledges, but the course still is not completely paid for. The low ropes course was also funded by the senior gift from the 2008 graduating class.
Reservations for the course begin May 1 and should be made through Davey Warner in the Office of Outdoor Leadership.
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