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High Ropes/Rock Wall Expectations
The Ropes Course is the most challenging area at camp,
and requires elaborate safety measures in order for the
activity to run smoothly. This requires that all counselors
ask the specialist, when they arrive, if there is anything that
they can do to help, as there invariably always is. A
counselor shouldn’t even ask if the specialist requires help
with harnessing campers, whether or not the specialist is
present, counselors should immediately begin harnessing
the campers on arrival. Once harnessing is complete, it is
the counselor's job to multi-task at the Ropes Course.
Counselors should aid the specialist in any way they can if
the specialist is belaying a camper. A good counselor
would help their campers form some sort of order for the
ropes course and notifying the specialist when this order is
in place. The two campers who go after the one
completing the challenge course can be asked to help spot
or help out the specialist as needed. While the Ropes
Course is “challenge by choice,” campers should be
encouraged to climb and harness up, even if the camper
climbs two steps on the ladder, it is important that each
camper has an opportunity to participate in each element.
Counselors should be the center of support and
encouragement to any camper that is struggling or
excelling at any given element. Counselors should also
solicit other campers to give support and encouragement to
the climbing camper so that they feel confident enough in
their decisions on the element. Counselors must maintain
order amongst the campers that are waiting to climb. The
counselor must make sure that they do not distract the
specialist as it is imperative that the specialist remains
focused on the camper who is on belay. Encouraging all
campers to do their best at climbing is essential to
the whole group's success. Even if a camper has done
the element before, encourage them to try it again and
cheer for the rest of the group. Counselors should be
prepared and possibly carry a deck of cards with them for
the campers to use while they wait to climb, this way the
campers are kept in check during the duration of the
activity while they are not climbing.
At the Climbing Wall, counselors should take the same
precautions and initiatives as they would at high ropes.
They should automatically help with the harnessing of
campers and ask the specialist what they can do to help.
Again, the counselor should help the campers establish an
order in which they will climb and relay this order to the
specialist as needed. Providing quiet distractions for
campers waiting to climb is also very helpful. Counselors
must be the central support system for the climber and
solicit support from the other campers who are waiting to
climb. The counselors must also maintain order with the
campers who are waiting to climb so they do not distract
the specialist from the camper climbing. Climbing Wall is
not Four Square time. Campers should be discouraged
from going to the pavilion and playing four square during
Climbing Wall, because once one camper goes, many will
follow, and soon no one is climbing and all the kids are
involved in extraneous activities.
and requires elaborate safety measures in order for the
activity to run smoothly. This requires that all counselors
ask the specialist, when they arrive, if there is anything that
they can do to help, as there invariably always is. A
counselor shouldn’t even ask if the specialist requires help
with harnessing campers, whether or not the specialist is
present, counselors should immediately begin harnessing
the campers on arrival. Once harnessing is complete, it is
the counselor's job to multi-task at the Ropes Course.
Counselors should aid the specialist in any way they can if
the specialist is belaying a camper. A good counselor
would help their campers form some sort of order for the
ropes course and notifying the specialist when this order is
in place. The two campers who go after the one
completing the challenge course can be asked to help spot
or help out the specialist as needed. While the Ropes
Course is “challenge by choice,” campers should be
encouraged to climb and harness up, even if the camper
climbs two steps on the ladder, it is important that each
camper has an opportunity to participate in each element.
Counselors should be the center of support and
encouragement to any camper that is struggling or
excelling at any given element. Counselors should also
solicit other campers to give support and encouragement to
the climbing camper so that they feel confident enough in
their decisions on the element. Counselors must maintain
order amongst the campers that are waiting to climb. The
counselor must make sure that they do not distract the
specialist as it is imperative that the specialist remains
focused on the camper who is on belay. Encouraging all
campers to do their best at climbing is essential to
the whole group's success. Even if a camper has done
the element before, encourage them to try it again and
cheer for the rest of the group. Counselors should be
prepared and possibly carry a deck of cards with them for
the campers to use while they wait to climb, this way the
campers are kept in check during the duration of the
activity while they are not climbing.
At the Climbing Wall, counselors should take the same
precautions and initiatives as they would at high ropes.
They should automatically help with the harnessing of
campers and ask the specialist what they can do to help.
Again, the counselor should help the campers establish an
order in which they will climb and relay this order to the
specialist as needed. Providing quiet distractions for
campers waiting to climb is also very helpful. Counselors
must be the central support system for the climber and
solicit support from the other campers who are waiting to
climb. The counselors must also maintain order with the
campers who are waiting to climb so they do not distract
the specialist from the camper climbing. Climbing Wall is
not Four Square time. Campers should be discouraged
from going to the pavilion and playing four square during
Climbing Wall, because once one camper goes, many will
follow, and soon no one is climbing and all the kids are
involved in extraneous activities.
