July 17, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s new Leadership and Experiential Education Program is finally
off the ground – literally and figuratively.
The center, located on an 11-acre wooded area at WKU’s farm, is home to low and high ropes courses that provide challenging endeavors for groups and individuals wanting to develop leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
“I think a lot of people will want to use it,” said Dr. Jack Rudolph, head of WKU’s Agriculture Department. “It has nothing but potential. I have high hopes that its use is really going to explode.”
Dr. Rudolph worked with Dr. Tammie Stenger-Ramsey, assistant professor of recreation administration, and Luke Bartlett, coordinator of the Outdoor Recreation Adventure Center, to clear the site and construct the ropes courses.
“We’ve spent countless hours digging, dozing, moving brush, grinding stumps and laying out the trails,” Bartlett said.
The site provides a chance for personal growth and exploration for the WKU campus and surrounding community, he said.
The low ropes course is made up of about a dozen stations offering various challenges to build teamwork, communication and trust – balance beams and platforms, rope maze and webs, climbing wall, hanging logs, a trust fall and more.
Participants are given a scenario at each challenge and work together to solve it.
“We learn a lot but we have a lot of fun,” Bartlett said.
That was evident recently when 15 Bowling Green and Warren County middle schools students visited the site as part of the Young Male Leadership Camp.
In one challenge, the students had to cross a “lava field” using “turtles” (small blue pads). They had to maintain contact with the “turtles” while crossing and could not touch the “lava” (actually the dirt area). If they lost contact with a “turtle,” it was removed from the course. If they touched the “lava” with a hand or foot, they lost use of that body part.
After one failed attempt, the students had to regroup, develop a better plan of action and try again. Their sense of frustration finally turned to accomplishment when the group and their “turtles” safely made it across the course.
Not only did they learn communication and teamwork, they learned patience and respect.
The low ropes challenges can be adapted to fit the needs and goals for any group without becoming impossible, he said.
“We just ask everyone to have a positive attitude and a willingness to try something new,” Bartlett said.
Even the climbing wall is difficult but doable for everyone, he said. “Regardless of your strength or stamina, the strength comes from the group,” Bartlett said.
The program’s theme is “challenge by choice,” he said.
“We encourage everyone to participate, but if you don’t feel like you want to do a particular challenge that responsibility rests with you,” Bartlett said.
On the high ropes course, the challenges are more individual in nature even though participants still work as a team.
The high course’s 40-foot platforms are reached by climbing a wall or a cargo net. Ropes and cables between the platforms offer numerous challenges.
“Safety is number one out here,” Bartlett said, noting that participants on the high ropes course wear helmets, harnesses and safety clips called lobster claws.
To exit that portion of the high ropes course, participants climb back down the wall or cargo net or they ride a zipline or rappel off the platform.
The high course also includes several 30-foot utility poles used for climbing and other challenges including one called the “flying squirrel.”
The Leadership and Experiential Education Program is available for use by WKU academic programs, campus organizations, non-profit groups and commercial/business groups. More information, including usage fees, is available online at http://www.wku.edu/leec/
Funding for the program has been provided by WKU’s Department of Agriculture, Department of Physical Education and Recreation, Provost's Office, College of Health and Human Services and Intramural/Recreational Sports Department.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Luke Bartlett at (270) 745-6542.
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