Ropes course

The Challenge Course is centered around two of the main themes that we aim to incorporate into all our activities: The “Full Value Contract” and “Challenge by Choice.” The “Full Value Contract” helps students to establish norms for behavior, such as how we agree to treat ourselves and each other. “Challenge by Choice” recognizes that we all have different comfort levels when it comes to risk and that nobody will ever be forced to do something that really scares them. At Spaulding, we encourage students to find the level of challenge that’s right for them.

Our campus includes three different Challenge Courses: the Canopy Course, the Gym Course and the Pole Course. The Canopy Course features a zip-line and elements designed to mirror the challenges on the high ropes course, so students can get comfortable practicing skills near the ground before attempting them at height. The course in the gym has three different climbing elements and a huge crowd-pleaser known as the “Flying Squirrel,” where the entire group launches the participant in the air via a rope and a pulley. This is our most accessible element, as it requires very little from the participant, who is empowered to choose how high and fast they want to go.

The centerpiece of our Challenge Course is the Pole Course. Built on five 50-foot phone poles, this Challenge Course has ten different high elements, including a 30-foot rock climbing wall. It is also the home to the famous “Swing Shot” where the participant is hauled to height by the belay team, before pulling a cord and activating an enormous swing over the field. Elements on the pole course range from 15 feet to 40 feet in height, offering a wide range of challenges for all. Special harnesses, training, and techniques also make our challenge accessible for students with mobility issues and other impairments.