What is the ROPES Challenge Course & Why Do We Use it In Treatment?

There are always challenges that arise in our life. Whether they be small ones like making it to a meeting on time whilst stuck in traffic or something more serious like recovering from an addiction, challenges can often arrive when we least expect them.

While challenges may seem difficult at the moment, we can often come out stronger. Treatment at the Walker Center provides reinforcement and encouragement for positive change.

That’s where our ROPES course comes in. Meant to challenge each individual this aspect of treatment is used to motivate and support change, help with identify feelings, and enhance self-esteem by learning through doing.  Each person begins to understand how he/she is feeling physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  

ROPES Course Goals

The course itself is more than just swinging through ropes like Tarzan and Jane. We take participants through a planned sequence of games, icebreakers, experience, and more meant to challenge each individual to use what they are learning during treatment.  

This way, you open up and feel more comfortable in a group setting. It’s a fun, and challenging way to get to know one another while building communication skills and confidence and learning to trust your peers.

Not only that, but one of the main areas of focus for the ROPES course is to get you out of your comfort zone. We doubt people are swinging between ropes on a daily basis (unless you’re a circus performer) and it’s easier to be in an environment where everyone is at the same level.

You’ll also be put in positions that may feel new to you. This process helps you identify feelings and enhance self-esteem. Together everyone participates in the development of group goals for the day.  You might have to lead a group or learn to follow others, make an important decision, or decide the outcome of a certain activity. Your participation in the activities helps to build sober support by giving and working collaboratively and practicing giving and receiving recovery support from peers. 

Many of these decisions will come at you quickly and you’ll be forced to think on your toes just like when like comes at you during recovery.

At the end of the day, it’s a fun activity that may give you confidence and a few new friends along the way. 

You can take what you’ve learned and applied it to life as well, including self-awareness, trust-building, communication, & critical thinking skills. In life and recovery, you’ll have to face anxiety and conquer your fears. The ROPES course will help inspire you to realize that you can make it through difficult challenges.

It’s a way to tap into your raw emotions and help you do things you never thought possible. 

This is just one part of the Walker Center’s overall mission to challenge people of various backgrounds and activities. Emotional and physical safety is our top priority (along with having a great time). 

The Fun Part

The ropes course has various elements for those of different skill sets or challenges. We have high-dynamic and low-dynamic elements.

The high-dynamic elements include but are not limited to:

• Cargo net

• Bosun chairs

• Catwalk

• Pirates crossing

• Trapeze

• And more!

The low-dynamic elements include:

• Trust fall

• Team triangle

• Spiders web

• Mohawk walk

• Team wall

• Sharks island

• And more!

In conclusion, there are many methods and tactics to tackle recovery. Our approach is a well-rounded one. We don’t believe that only physical activity, meditation and yoga is the key to recovery. Nor do we believe that only counseling is the answer. However, using a combination of tried and tested techniques through a series of different approaches, we help individuals get the tools they need. This is not only to ensure they have fun in recovery, but are able to apply what they have learned to their lifestyle, opening the doors to a successful recovery journey.

If you need help or have questions about treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

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