The Complete Ropes Course Manual

The Complete Ropes Course Manual (3rd ed.)

by Karl Rohnke, Jim Wall, Catherine Tait, and Don Rogers

The manual serves as a broad-based guideline for the successful operation of challenge course facilities.  If you work at a ropes course or want to start one, The Complete Ropes Course Manual will make your life a lot easier.

This manual is more complete than any similar books, covering almost everything you need to know to know to start and maintain a ropes (challenge) course, with expert advice on a variety of topics related to safely and effectively operating and facilitating a ropes course program. The text includes checklists of procedures, techniques, and responsibilities for facilitators, sample release forms, evaluations, accident reports, programming samples, and a glossary of terms. There is also a chapter on accessible courses.

Whether your focus is therapeutic, educational, recreational, or organizational development, this manual will be a great addition to your challenge course library.

Table of Contents

• Preface
  Acknowledgements
• 1: Overview
  Introduction to the Ropes Course
  Ropes Course History
  Indoor Ropes Courses
  Karl's Historical Perspective
  Facilitator Competencies
  Operational Guidelines
• 2: Safety and Equipment
  Spotting
  Lifting
  Belaying
  Practice, Practice, Practice!
  Equipment
• 3: Rescues
  Rescue Equipment
  Rescue from Dynamic Belay
  Rescue from Static Belay
• 4: Maintenance and General Inspection
  Part I: Environmental
  Part II: Wood Items and Telephone Poles
  Part III: Metal Items
• 5: Knots
• 6: Taking Participants Through the Course
  Preparation and Staffing
  General Staff Preparation Check List
  High Course Operations Check List
  Low Course Operations Check List
  Opening and Closing
• 7: Facilitation
  Risk
  Processing Levels
  Processing by Way of the Experiential Learning Cycle
  A Model of Ropes Course Group Development
  Facilitator Characteristics
  Commitment Agreement
  Useful Beliefs about People on the Ropes Course
  Processing Issues and Related Questions
  Handling Difficult Situations 8
  Including Participants with Disabilities: Concepts and Planning Strategies
  Philosophy of Inclusion and Universal Design
  People with Disabilities: Attitudes, Terminology, Types
  Assessment
  Activity Analysis and Activity Adaptation/Modification
  Techniques for Inclusion
  Considerations with Diversity: Challenging Comfort Levels
• 9: Including Participants with Disabilities: Technical and Safety Operations
  Accessibility
  Design Criteria for Inclusion
  Specific Design Considerations
  Technical Operations
• 10: Elements
  Karl's Games and Initiatives Reference List
  Index of Low and High Course Elements
  Generic High Ropes Course Considerations
  High Ropes Course Elements
  Low Ropes Course Elements
• Appendix I
  Index of Ropes Course Program Forms
  Contract Course Notes
  Information Letter
  Informed Consent for Challenge Ropes Course
  Assumption of Risk and Informed Consent
  Voluntary Release Form
  Participant Information and Release of Liability (Adventureworks, Inc.)
  Applicant Information and Release Form
  Medical Information Form
  Accident Report
  Ropes Course Equipment
  Ropes Course Evaluation
  Facilitator Hour Log
  Facilitator Workshops and Training Log
• Appendix II
  Ropes Course One-Day Schedule
  Ropes Course Two-Day Schedule
  Ropes Course Pre-Meeting Schedule
• Suggested Reading List
• Glossary
• Index

More Information

• 2003
• 258 pages
• ISBN 0-75754032-5
• Paperback