Finlayson Field Centre –Finlayson Field Centre –High Challenge Ropes CoursesHigh Challenge Ropes Courses

A day at the A day at the Challenge Course is Challenge Course is an opportunity for an opportunity for discovery about discovery about yourself and the yourself and the people you come withpeople you come with

It will involve :It will involve :

TEAMMWORKTEAMMWORK COOPERATIONCOOPERATION COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION POWER OF POSITIVEPOWER OF POSITIVE GOAL SETTINGGOAL SETTING

WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE COURSECOURSE

THE CHALLENGE COURSE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR SELF AND OTHERS. IMAGINE AN ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND 25 TO 30 FEET IN THE AIR/10 METRES. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW FAR, FAST OR HIGH THAT YOU CLIMB, JUST THAT YOU TRY YOUR BEST.

THE CHALLENGE COURSE IS MADE OF HYDRO POLES, AIRCRAFT CABLES, WOOD AND ROPE.

THE COURSE IS INSPECTED EACH DAY BEFORE WE CLIMB.

WHAT TO EXPECTWHAT TO EXPECT

YOUR DAY STARTS WITH A QUICK YOUR DAY STARTS WITH A QUICK WELCOME AND INRODUCTION TO WELCOME AND INRODUCTION TO STAFF AND GEARSTAFF AND GEAR

GEAR IS PUT ON AND INSPECTED BY GEAR IS PUT ON AND INSPECTED BY FIELD CENTRE STAFFFIELD CENTRE STAFF

WE THEN HIKE UP TO THE WE THEN HIKE UP TO THE CHALLENGE COURSE, 5 – 10 CHALLENGE COURSE, 5 – 10 MINUTES, WITH ALL YOUR STUFF. MINUTES, WITH ALL YOUR STUFF. THERE IS A PORTOLET AT THE THERE IS A PORTOLET AT THE COURSE AND A PICNIC SHELTER COURSE AND A PICNIC SHELTER WHERE WE EAT LUNCHWHERE WE EAT LUNCH

YOU ARE INTRODUCE TO THE YOU ARE INTRODUCE TO THE CHALLENGE COURSE THEN WE CHALLENGE COURSE THEN WE START TO CLIMBSTART TO CLIMB

WE CLIMB AS MUCH AS WE CAN, EAT WE CLIMB AS MUCH AS WE CAN, EAT LUNCH AT THE COURSE AND LUNCH AT THE COURSE AND CLIMB MORE UNTIL BUS TIMECLIMB MORE UNTIL BUS TIME

DISCOVERY ABOUT SELF DISCOVERY ABOUT SELF AND TEAMAND TEAM

The day will provide The day will provide an opportunity for an opportunity for you and your class you and your class to have to have experiences that experiences that may be different may be different than at schoolthan at school

It is a chance to It is a chance to work with and learn work with and learn about people in about people in your classyour class

THE CHALLENGE COURSE THE CHALLENGE COURSE ITSELFITSELF

The Challenge Course is made up of 10 The Challenge Course is made up of 10 different elements. Each element will different elements. Each element will involve 1 – 4 climbers. We will only be involve 1 – 4 climbers. We will only be climbing on 1 -3 of the elements during climbing on 1 -3 of the elements during a visit , depending on timea visit , depending on time

Climbers are always on a belay system Climbers are always on a belay system when they leave the ground. The belay when they leave the ground. The belay system may include the Field Centre system may include the Field Centre Staff as well as students from your Staff as well as students from your class. The belay system is what keeps class. The belay system is what keeps you safe when climbing. You will not you safe when climbing. You will not fall to the ground if you slip or fall off an fall to the ground if you slip or fall off an elementelement

Field Centre Staff are trained/certified Field Centre Staff are trained/certified to operate the Challenge Courseto operate the Challenge Course

TEAMWORK COOPERATIONTEAMWORK COOPERATION

While at the Challenge While at the Challenge Course you will need to Course you will need to work as a team in order to work as a team in order to successfully accomplish successfully accomplish goalsgoals

This may include spotting This may include spotting individuals, belaying fellow individuals, belaying fellow classmates or teachers and classmates or teachers and encouraging each person to encouraging each person to do their bestdo their best

COMMUNICATION – POWER COMMUNICATION – POWER OF POSITIVEOF POSITIVE

Communication is a key concept of the day

Positive communication is stressed

Stay away from "don't, can't"

Use safety terms such as

On Belay, Spotters Ready Listen, empathize,

support each other

"DON’T LOOK DOWN" AND "I AM GOING TO LET GO OF THE ROPE" ARE NOT FUNNY 30 FT IN THE AIR

TRUSTTRUST

A day at the A day at the Challenge Course Challenge Course involves Trustinvolves Trust

Trust of Field Centre Trust of Field Centre StaffStaff

Developing Trust Developing Trust with fellow students with fellow students you may not know you may not know very wellvery well

Trusting yourself, to Trusting yourself, to climb and climb and participate the best participate the best that you canthat you can

CHALLENGE BY CHOICECHALLENGE BY CHOICE

Challenge By Challenge By Choice ?????Choice ?????

CHALLENGE BY CHOICE CHALLENGE BY CHOICE

Challenge By Choice means Challenge By Choice means that you set your own goalsthat you set your own goals

You are responsible for how You are responsible for how high you climb and what part high you climb and what part of the element you wish to of the element you wish to trytry

Participation is not an option Participation is not an option while on the ground, but once while on the ground, but once in the air the choice is yoursin the air the choice is yours

But….challenge yourself, we But….challenge yourself, we do not want you to think later do not want you to think later "I wish I would have done "I wish I would have done more "more "

BE PREPARED FOR THE BE PREPARED FOR THE DAYDAY

There are a number of things you should do to prepare for a safe and fun day on the Challenge Course•All climbers must wear long pants that cover their ankles•All climbers must wear lace up closed heel/toe shoes. No slip-on shoes.•All climbers must wear a base layer shirt that extends over or can tuck into the waist/hips of their pants•All pockets must be empty, anything that dangles must be taken off. Watches, tight fitting, small items of jewellery are fine•All long hair ( hair that can touch in front of your face) must be pulled back into a low ponytail or braid•No hats with peaks or buttons under your helmet. Toques are allowed.•Only gloves with leather grip palms can be used for climbing/on rope•All climbers must bring a water bottle and ample food for the day. Please try to bring a litterless lunch as all garbage and recycle items will be going home with you.•Electronics are not permitted on the Challenge Course except for cameras• No spikey or oversized belt buckles.

CLIMBING GEARCLIMBING GEAR

Everyone that comes Everyone that comes to the course must to the course must wear a helmet (even wear a helmet (even if not climbing)if not climbing)

All participants All participants climbing must wear climbing must wear a harnessa harness

All equipment will be All equipment will be supplied by the Field supplied by the Field CentresCentres

Field Centre Staff will Field Centre Staff will inspect all inspect all equipmentequipment

ITS YOUR DAYITS YOUR DAY

It is up to you and your fellow It is up to you and your fellow classmates how the day goesclassmates how the day goes

The more effort, focus and positive The more effort, focus and positive energy you put into the day, the more energy you put into the day, the more you will take home from ityou will take home from it

It is not important how fast , far or high It is not important how fast , far or high you go…..just that you did your best. you go…..just that you did your best. Do not compare yourself to anyone elseDo not compare yourself to anyone else

Leave with a sense of joy in yourself, Leave with a sense of joy in yourself, your classmates and your teamyour classmates and your team

CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE SEE YOUCAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE SEE YOU