RRC's Ropes Course Curriculum

Our Ropes Course programs are supplements to the curriculum standards set forth by the state of New Hampshire. The focus of our curriculum is on character education and the development of core personal and group skills.

How often do the middle school students participate in a program?

Each student is given the opportunity to use the ropes course at least six times during their time at CMS. Our school is structured into twelve pods (four for each grade level.) In the fall each pod comes out to the ropes course. We focus on community building using combined feild initiatives and low elements.  Skills such as listening, leadership, problem-solving, communication, cooperation and taking responsibility are stressed. The goals are to introduce and develop those skills, as well as to give each student an opportunity to get to know their peers and their teachers in a context outside of the classroom. A follow-up program is usually designed for the spring where each pod brings their students out for a half day of the high ropes elements. Here skills such as supporting one another, personal risk taking, goal setting, requesting and providing help are emphasized.

In addition, there are several other opportunities for students to participate in a ropes course program. Throughout the year we design specific programs for different groups within the school such as: the Alternative Education classroom, Peer Mediators, Emotionally Handicapped students, Students in Prevention and athletic teams. These can be one-day skill-focused workshops or long-running personal development programs. Furthermore, we often offer programs where the emphasis is on a 'tie-in' or curriculum enhancement. For example, we may take the classes who are reading the Miracle Worker out to do a blindfolded trust activity in order to simulate what it feels like to both be blind and to assist a blind person. Or we bring science classes out to the Teeter Totter to better understand balanced and unbalanced forces.