The third annual Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER) Club Outdoor Adventures Day, held Saturday April 27, was an overall success, despite the overcast and windy weather. Bob Benincasa, Vice President of the HPER Club, said, “The day went very well. We had twenty-five students, between the ages of nine and ten, show up, and about twenty student volunteers. It was a very good ratio of students to volunteers.”
The day was originally scheduled to include canoeing on Loon Lake, and skill building at the PSC Ropes Course. “Due to unpredictable weather and a lack of interest in the canoeing, we had to cancel the trip to Loon Lake,” Benincasa stated. Instead, the students spent the day at the Ropes Course.
The day began with the students participating in icebreaker activities designed to acclimate the students and introduce everyone. The icebreaker was designed by a PE teaching course titled, Planning for Movement. The student then moved on to cooperative activities on the low elements of the Ropes Course, building trust amongst themselves. The low elements included the Mohawk Walk, a balance and teambuilding exercise, and the Nitro Crossing, where students have to pass a bucket of “radioactive fluid” across an “open pit.” Both elements required the students to work together, and trust one another to accomplish the goals.
The cooperative activities were followed by time spent on the high elements of the Ropes Course. Those elements included the Vertical Play Pen, the G.V. Vine, and Two Ships Crossing. “Every kid attempted to climb [the high elements].” Benincasa said. “It’s great to see nine and ten year olds conquering their own heights. We tried to teach the kids to accept their personal achievements, and we even had some kids come back later in the day to test themselves again.”
Not only did the students test themselves on the high elements, they learned the proper procedures associated with climbing. “All the students were prepped and taken through the proper climbing techniques, and learned proper safety precautions, such as helmet use, harness checks, and proper climbing commands,” Benincasa stated. Volunteers with climbing certifications belayed the students, and some students asked questions about the belaying process.
One unexpected addition to the day included the involvement of some of the parents. According to Benincasa, “Some parents stayed and got involved with the ropes elements. This really created a good bond between the kids and the parents. The parents would encourage the kids as they climbed, and then the kids would return that encouragement as the parents climbed.” Benincasa hopes to see the aspect of parental involvement continue in future years.
In all, the day was very relaxed. There was an open atmosphere with little pressure and little structure. “We wanted the students to go at their own pace, so they could experience new things and have fun along the way. There were no injuries and everyone left the day with an upbeat, positive attitude. I think we left them wanting more for next year,” said Benincasa. The HPER Club plans to continue this community-based day for the following years. Although the planning and preparation for the day is very extensive and involved, Benincasa agrees that once things are routine, there is the possibility of a fall session.