Ropes/Challenge Course Program

The Whatcom County Ropes/Challenge Course was built to strengthen the life skills that have been identified as crucial to building healthy youth, families and communities. The Bellingham 4-H Challenge program is a collaborative effort operating with a memorandum of agreement between Bellingham School District and WSU Cooperative Extension since 1990. Offerings were soon expanded to include not only the ropes course but also portable offerings tailored to fit the needs and spaces of groups and organizations.

The Challenge Program consists of a variety of course, seminar, and workshop options. The general format of our program includes non-competitive games woven into a series of individual and group Challenge initiatives. Facilitators plan a sequence of activities, which begins with ice-breaking, trust-building, and safety instructions and leads into problem-solving challenges.

Communication, choice and decision-making leadership, teamwork and collaboration are key elements of discussion as groups work toward achieving their group and individual goals for the day. Insights and learning from the course are shared, discussed, and applied to the school, home, and work environments.

Challenge by choice

We believe that learning and growth are best achieved through the willing participation of the learner. Although we so ask participants to challenge themselves in our programs, all of the activities presented to participants are “challenge by choice.”

Program offerings:

• Low Ropes Courses
• Portable Challenge
• Family Night Out
• Facilitator Training
• Team and group empowerment

Programs tailored to:

• Youth and Adults
• Parents, Families
• Teachers, Counselors
• Community Groups
• Non-profit Organizations
  

Programs

For scheduling information:

Student Services
Bellingham School District
PO Box 878
Bellingham, WA 98227
360/676-2787
FAX: 360/647-6898

Portable Challenge

This workshop is excellent for families and work groups, such as teachers, government employees, or other groups, which spend a fair amount of time together and are looking for a non-threatening, enjoyable group learning experience. It is designed for participants to get to know each other better by providing an opportunity to partake in group problem solving initiatives and non-competitive games. Activities are presented in a sequence that leads a group step-by-step toward their goal.

A Challenge Workshop can be planned for an evening, a ½ day, or a full day depending on the group's goals and time constraints. It can be tailored to any group and does not require athletic abilities, though a willingness for some physical activity is necessary to participate. It requires an open indoor or outdoor space, such as a gym, cafeteria, community hall, or game field.

Challenge Ropes Course

This course can be designed as a ½ or full day and takes place at the Ropes Challenge Course. It is similar in structure and content as the Portable Challenge described above, but takes place in a natural forest setting and includes some elements and activities that are off the ground and often involve ropes and/or cables. The emphasis of this course focuses on team building, communication, group problem solving, support and trust building.

Family Night Out!

Family Night Out! is an effective and fun way to work with families. The Family Night Out! model utilizes 4-H Portable Challenge or experiential/adventure based learning with families. Family Night Out! has helped to build more resilient families and communities by bringing area families together to meet and play, often for the first time.

Playday