What can be learned from Low Ropes?

The Gravatt Low Ropes Course is a busy place! Each camper spends time on the low ropes course, and groups bring teams, clubs, and councils year-round for some time under the pines.  So what can be learned on the Low Ropes Course? The Low Ropes course is a place where real world skills can be developed in challenging and controlled activities. The goal is to create a stronger community.  Various elements focus on developing different skills and competencies.

Take a look at a few of our elements!

The Tee-Pee Shuffle aka The Birthday Log

Skills Developed: Non-verbal communication, problem-solving

The rules are simple.  Without stepping off the log the team must get in order according to their birthday.  The twist: no verbal communication. No talking, or whispering, or mouthing words, or whistling.  This twist changes everything. It now becomes more difficult to communicate the month and date of your birth, while also making a plan to get into the correct order without stepping off the log!

Best part of this element: watching everyone do “jazz hands” when they think they’re in the right order!

The Wall

Skills Developed: Trust, teamwork, flexibility

Such an intimidating name for a seemingly intimidating element.  

With this element the group must get everyone over The Wall.  Whoever helps lift people also has to go over, and only one person is allowed to use the rope to climb over.  Everyone has a job the whole time: lifter, spotter, and top of the wall help. It’s also important that you don’t have the same job the whole time.  This element is about teamwork and trust. The person going over the wall has to trust the lifters to lift, the spotters to catch them if they fall, and the people at the top to grab her wrist and help get the armpits and first leg over.  

While this element is heavily led by a trained ropes facilitator, the group has to put the work in.  

Best part of this element: the sense of accomplishment when a person has both of his feet on the top platform.

The Pyramids

Skills Developed: problem solving, patience, planning, communication

This is a facilitator favorite! The group is told the end objective, but not the rules. They know they need to recreate the pyramid from zone 1 in zone 3, but they also know that if they break a rule, they have to reset to the beginning.  They have to figure out the rules by trial and error. The team must work together to figure out the rules, make a plan, and recreate the pyramid without getting discouraged!

Best part of this element:  The light bulb look when the team figures out the correct plan!

The Raging River

Skills Developed: teamwork, patience, planning, creative thinking

This element is brand new to Camp Gravatt!

The group must use the given boards to get across the “raging river” (this has to be said like an arena announcer).  People and boards cannot touch the “water” or they’ll be swept away and will have to reset to the beginning. The balancing on the thin edge of the boards can be tricky, but that's what spotters are for!  The team has to make a plan to get everyone across the river without losing anyone. But maybe they’ll figure out a helpful loop-hole along the way!

Best part of this element:  The wobbly feeling of balancing on the boards!