Yesterday our youngest campers took on one of camps BIGgest challenges, the ROPES COURSE!
In the afternoon, this squad of young adventurers headed into the woods with determined little faces, ready to perhaps climb higher than they’ve ever done before. Some of them climbing a tree for the first time.
There was the sound of crunching wood chips as campers one foot hopped around on the spot aiming to get their feet into their harnesses, the clasps fastened were tight, next came the gentle click of the helmet clip and then, a dull thud as the OAS staff would give their helmet a couple of friendly taps.
These small children started up at the big trees with a wide open ‘O’ expression on their faces. Heads backwards some looked a little hesitant at first, some were running around with EXCITEMENT!
One by one they stepped up to conquer the elements. First up was the tire trail, two steel wires support a series of truck tires, twisting and turning across the heart of the jungle. Each boy had to use their heads to figure out how to adjust their body weight to move through the tyres. They found extra encouragement from those watching below helping them get from one end to the next!
As one Commanche beat the tyre course, another was tackling Winston’s Wall. Winston’s Wall is two tryes, a rope that looks like a nose and series of wood planks that make up the smile. This element requires a lot of energy and patience to get to the top as the elements move and force you to think a few steps ahead. We had 5 campers make it all the way to the tyre at the top! What a view of camp that must be!
Next up, the tightrope. We had our first camper of the summer complete the tight rope by making it all the way across, there was no fear, no doubts, this kid ran through the forest like the guy in the movie that everyone quotes way to often.
Was that enough to stop? Not even close, we haven’t even talked about the SWINGSHOT!
The instructor asked who wants to go first and was met with a collection of bobbing heads, each jumping about one inch of the ground, the kids with one hand in the air screamed ‘ME next! Me! I want to go! Let me go first!’
One by one each camper was raised, higher… higher… and HIGHER! Until they were nothing more than a little bokeh blur amongst the trees.
3,
2,
1…
WHOOOSH,
The campers free-fell towards the ground swinging up in a beautiful arc against the sky. The cries of ‘Waaaaahweeee’ echoed around the forest.
At the end of the lesson they group gathered in a circle, all you could hear was ‘Did you see me do the swingshot?! It was so fun!’ ‘Did you see me climb that tree?!’
The sky isn’t the limit for these adventure captains!
