6 Tips for Ropes Course First Timers

Corporate give-back activities such as our Helping Hands program, Life Cycles and The Board Meeting are some of the best corporate team building events you could do, but if you’re looking for something very active, look no further than a ropes course.

Something happens to people who are challenged to go beyond their fears to a place of trust. They walk a little taller. Laugh a little easier. They instinctively choose not to sweat the small stuff. Odyssey Teams’ Ropes Courses combine engineered structures specifically designed to challenge participants with training and workshops led by skilled team builders.

Want your team to experience an empowering breakthrough? Call Odyssey Teams to learn more about our best-in-class ropes courses available for large or small groups of teens or adults: (800) 342-1650 or learn@odysseyteams.com

Ropes Course builds stronger teams

If you’ve never been on a corporate team building ropes course, then you are not alone. Thousands of people have never had their feet leave the ground. So, it’s understandable that you might be a little apprehensive and maybe even doubting your teammates, and your own, physical prowess.

6 Tips to Alleviate Those Ropes Course Concerns with a Little Preparation

Most ropes courses are not thrust upon a group of people at the last minute. Usually, there is a little time for you to gear yourself up both mentally and physically. Here are a few tips to help you get started. So, you can be a superhero.

1. Dress the part:

Wear something that is comfortable, but not loose fitting. Avoid dangling strings, or anything that might snag on something. Leave behind any accessories that might hinder movement. Opt for tennis shoes, or comfortable walking shoes

2. Bug Repellent:

Many ropes courses occur in wooded areas while others happen in the desert or urban areas. Outdoor ropes courses mean you are going to want something to keep those pesky flies away. Nothing is more frustrating than having to shoo away insects while climbing thirty feet in the air.

3. Rest the night Before:

Don’t let your worries keep you up. Be sure to relax and enjoy the evening prior to the event.The course is a full body workout that requires a lot of energy.

4. Physical Fitness:

Ropes Course takes trust to finish.

Fortunately, a ropes course isn’t a race. You can enjoy the team building process at your own pace. Some of the lighter exercises you might want to consider are standing on leg to increase your balance. The yogic tree pose is recommended. Some light cardio, walking and jogging, would be good as you will be spending most of the day on your feet moving around. Squats would be a final light exercise. There is climbing involved. Any seasoned climber will tell you that climbing is all in your legs.

5. Mental Readiness:

Preparing your mind for the unknown is a difficult task by any measure. No one is really sure how they will react when confronted with the fear of heights or the fear of letting go. It is precisely this fear, or one’s like them, that the Ropes Course is trying to help someone to conquer by having them step outside of their comfort zone. Overcoming your mind, not your body, is the real challenge of this course.

6. Don’t take the rope course too seriously:

Again, a ropes course is not a race. This is meant to be a challenge that gets people to step outside their comfort zones. More importantly it’s a fun team building exercise. Everyone will be making mistakes, but everyone in the group will also be given the chance to coach each other through fears and pitfalls.

A little preparation can go a long way in getting ready for anything. So, now that you know what to do, gear up for one of the best day’s you’ll ever have in an office meeting.

Get in touch with Odyssey Teams to learn more about our best-in-class ropes courses available for large or small groups of teens or adults: (800) 342-1650 or learn@odysseyteams.com

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My-An Le, Kaiser Permanente Great Los Angeles

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Dan Link, SDCDA

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Kristen Muckleroy, Fiberlink Communications

6 Tips for Ropes Course First Timers

Ropes Course builds stronger teams