Outdoor Center

Hours of Operation

Hours will be modified slightly to allow time for campers to get out in an orderly fashion and members to filter in to use the facility.  New hours for families/members:

Mountain Mist Ropes Course Challenge

Difference amongst team members are acknowledged and set aside. Leaders emerge and challenges are met. Communication becomes and essential and valued tool. Individual's resources are pulled together and utilized in a team effort. Everyone strives to achieve the same goal. Sounds of frustration, effort, and tension will the air. The focus is on the positive, and potentials are expanded. Then, yelling, clapping, hugs, high-fives and handshakes. Congratulations are in order. The individuals have become a team.

Helping individuals and groups reach the fullest potential.

What's a rope course?

A ropes course is a collection of activities and structures (called "elements") that are used to provide groups of people with exciting and unique experiences. Typical, groups will use a ropes course to improve interactions between individuals, as well as the overall functioning of a group. The activities on ropes courses have various levels of perceived risk and increase in difficulty as a group grows into an effectively working team. Facilitated be a trained professional staff, the activities promote safe and healthy risk taking, and encourage people to explore their individual personal limits. Wrap up discussions (or "debriefings") take place after each activity to aid in the development of insight into how newly-learned skills are useful in everyday life situations.

The components that will be used in a typical ropes course adventure are:

• "Get-to-know-ya activities"
• "Initiatives and games"
• "Low Elements"
• "Traditional Elements"
• "High Elements"

Get-to-know-ya activities

Get-to-know-ya activities are utilized in newly-forming groups as well as in groups that have been actively working together for some time. With the goal in mind of expanding the group's potential, it is essential that we have an understanding of whom it is we are working with on our "team". These activities have the ability to serve as a first-time introduction to group members or as an opportunity to share and gather new information about group members who we think we might know very well.

Initiatives and Games

Initiatives are the first in a sequence of challenge activities that groups will encounter during a ropes course program. These activities are designed to be low in perceived risk and fairly easy for a group to accomplish. They introduce to the basic skills of problem solving and implementing a plan of action. These skills are then identified with debriefing sessions that follow the activities. This level of activity is also where the transfer of learning begins. Ideas and insights from these initiatives and games are taken to the next level of activities and elements, and are applicable to real life situations.

Low Elements

Low elements can contain any combination or cable, ropes, wood boards and platforms. They range from just a few inches off the ground to about three feet. On a ropes course, the level of challenge with elements and activities increases with the altitude. Low elements require an increase in cohesive teamwork and effective problems solving to be successfully completed. Some minor "spotting" techniques will be taught and are required of the low elements.

Transitional Elements

These elements help a group shift to high elements. They range in height from 4 to 12 feet. The perceived risk is increased greatly, and the group members must be proficient in working with each other to complete this level of challenge. Trust and emotional safety are built and focused upon on the transitional elements.

High Elements

These elements are any element above 12 feet off the ground and require participation from all group members. Perceived risk is as at its highest, so emotional support and encouragement is essential to each participant as they meet the challenges. Climbers wear elements and harnesses, and are on a relay system for safety.

Since its construction in the summer of 1992, the Mountain Mist Ropes Course has given us the opportunity to help a great many participants realize their individual potential. We have also been afforded to help a great many participants realize their individual resources are pooled and applied in a group setting. We are committed to continuing our efforts to reach as many people as possible, and introduce them to what we believe is a most effective method for growth and learning.

Our Mission

To assist groups and individuals in realizing and achieving their fullest potential through experiential adventure-based learning tasks.

To find if your family, group or company can face the challenge of the Mountain Mist Rope Course - call Steve Markoja at 203.235.8906.