EnEd 4410
Ropes Course Management
3 credits
T 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Spring, 2007
Ropes Course Management
EnEd 4410
Instructor:
Ken Gilbertson
Office: 107 SpHC (Hours by app't)
726-6258
kgilbert@d.umn.edu
SpHC 212 &
Woodland Hills - Amity Creek Ropes Course
4321 Allendale Ave.
Duluth, MN 55803
Course Syllabus
Goal: To learn the skills required for the management of a ropes course as a part of an outdoor education facility. Includes ropes course elements, instructional techniques, group debriefing skills, site inspection, safety, rescue and equipment maintenance. This course will follow industry standards of Project Adventure and The Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT).
Objectives: You will be able to:
1) Describe the use of a ropes course as an outdoor educational tool.
2) Explain the operation of both a high and low ropes course.
3) Identify and describe at least 20 different elements of a ropes course.
4) Identify and describe necessary safety equipment and their use for a ropes
course including inspection of a ropes course.
5) Perform primary rescue using a dynamic belay system.
6) Demonstrate essential knots used in ropes courses.
7) Demonstrate techniques used to present a ropes course to various audiences.
8) Demonstrate effective facilitation skills used when debriefing a ropes course
experience with the appropriate audience.
9) Complete a daily log book when using the ropes course.
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| Jan. 16 | 1: Ch. 1, 2, ; 3: Ch. 1 | Intro. & expectations; History; Types; Elements |
| 23 | 1: Ch 6, 8; 2: Ch 1 - 4; | Low Elements; Philosophy; Operational guidelines & standards |
| 30 | 1: Appendix II; 3: Ch 2-4 | Low Elements; Instructional techniques w/ various audiences |
| Feb. 6 | 1: Ch 7; 3: Ch 6 | Low elements; Facilitation & Debriefing: How to ask questions. |
| 13 | 1: Ch 4,5; Handouts | Equipment & Knots |
| 20 | Course set-up & Inspection | |
| 27 | Midterm Exam; Inspection | |
| March 6 |
High Course: Overview, Equipment; Belaying |
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| 20 | High Course | |
| 27 | High Course | |
| April 3 | Rescues - Dynamic | |
| 10 | High Course; |
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| 17 | Skills Exam | |
| 24 | Course Delivery/Instructor Training | |
| May 1 | Meet in SpHC 212 | Administrative Tasks |
| May 8 |
Final written exam |
Texts:
Required:
1. Rohnke, K.; Tait, C.; & Wall, J. (1994). The complete ropes course manual. Kendall Hunt. Dubuque. IA. pp 182.
2. Webster, S. (1989). Ropes course safety manual: An instructor's guide to initiatives, and low and high elements. Project Adventure. Kendall Hunt. Dubuque, IA. pp 118.
3. Cain, J.& Jolliff, B. (1998). Teamwork & teamplay. Kendall Hunt. Dubuque, IA. pp 419.
Assignments & Skills:
1. Teach 2 low ropes courses to actual audience (Assignment #1 = entire class w/ a group /element) (Tentative)
2. Teach 2 high ropes courses to actual audience.(Tentative)
3. You must be proficient with the following knots: Fig. 8 on a double bight; Fig. 8 follow-through; Double fisherman's; Water knot; Prussik; Girth hitch; Killick hitch.
5. Midterm exam (written)
6. Skills Test: This is a check-off procedure that must be accomplished before actual instruction is allowed.
7. Final Exam (written)
Grading:
| Participation: Attendance is required | A = 92% |
| Course Instruction: 120 pts. (30 pts./course) | B = 82% |
| Single topic: 30 pts. | C = 72% |
| Midterm: 50 pts (approx.) | D = 62% |
| Final: 100 pts. (approx.) | |
| Skills Test: 50 pts (approx.) | |
| Total: 350 pts. |