Would you like to help your team build limitless trust, confidence, communication, self-respect, creativity, excitement, focus, drive and connection while participating in a fun and exciting activity? At Lifeline, we offer a variety of exceptional programs tailored to your groupís specific needs. With proper guidance from our expert facilitators, your group will learn, grow, and bond in ways that are not possible in everyday situations. Instructors guide your group through events, custom tailoring your experience based on the needs of your group and the needs of each individual participant.

Participants will get to know each other through a variety of activities. This will help your team learn to work together to achieve common goals under challenging circumstances. After each element, the group will be challenged to evaluate all aspects of the experience including the technical - how and what they were doing and how they could have done better, to the ways in which they were communicating, and the ways the experience made each person feel, and why. This is the core of experiential team building. Sharing an intense positive experience with others produces an emotional bond and increases levels of trust and respect.

High Ropes Course: Indoor challenge

Using harnesses, helmets, cables, ropes and wooden beams strung in the rafters of our gymnasium, teams explore risk-taking, trust and coaching. Each moment is rich with discoveries, whether youíre climbing, encouraging or on belay.

Some of our High Ropes challenges include:

Burma Bridge - This element contains a foot cable and two hand lines used to traverse from one side of the bridge to the other.

Divergent Beams - Pairs of participants work together to traverse two wooden beams that become further apart.

Cargo Net - This seemingly easy element becomes challenging as participant climb a net made of thick ropes spliced together in squares.

Single Beam Earthquake - A series of swings suspended in mid air. Participants swing from one swing to another.

Low Ropes Course: outdoor challenge

Using cables, ropes and wooden beams strung among trees, teams explore risk taking, leadership and communication. The low ropes course adventure also highlights problem-solving, coaching and collaboration. Participants gradually expand their comfort zones (sometimes dramatically) and recognize fears that may block personal and professional achievement. Each challenge draws upon team members to actively support each other.

The discussion following each challenge differs in length and depth depending on the groupís goals for the day. Some find a high-five and a quick acknowledgment of successes sufficient before moving on. Other teams take the time to connect the group skills and team dynamics back to their daily environment.

Some of our Low Ropes challenges include:

Wild Woozy - This challenge allows two partners to hold hands as they face each other and traverse across ropes.

Whale Watch - This challenge uses a large platform placed on a log to act as a see-saw. The challenge is to perform tasks without the edges of the platform touching the ground.

Spider Web - This element is made of ropes which are tied together to resemble a spider web. The challenge is to pass each team member through the web without touching the ropes.

Triangle Tension Traverse - The challenge is to traverse three ropes that have formed a triangle while holding onto a third rope for balance.

For more information, contact Bud Hamilton at 1-800-509-6884, or email bhamilton@lifelineyouth.org.

Ropes Course Objectives

Communication - the ability to talk among your group as you progress through your challenges. What were your most effective ways of communication? What were your difficulties?

Teamwork - learning to work together through communication and cooperation.

Trust building - the dynamic of not only entrusting your safety to another team member but how you support each other through the difficult challenge.

Goal setting - the ability to see the challenge and to set a vision on how to complete the task.

Challenge/stress - each initiative will require both mental and physical challenges. The issue is how to handle the difficult areas without giving up. It is also a way to see how communication, teamwork, and trust change in a challenging and stressful situation.

Problem solving - each challenge will allow the team members to construct and plan a mode of operation. How this is done will determine your overall success.

Fun - in the midst of mental, physical, and sometimes emotional challenges, you need to enjoy your experience.

Peak experience - the ropes courses allow you to push yourself beyond your comfort zones and to enjoy the exhilaration of completing difficult tasks.