Upper-Level

Tee-Up: Check in on how everyone is feeling. Introduce “team breath” to center the group when people are scared. Primary challenge, getting across as a physically connected team, ideally without holding lobster claws.  

Safety Concerns:   

• Hands off the metal!  

• Keep claws short.  

• The cables may wobble and they can be slick.  

• The hanging 4x4s are heavy and they may swing. 

Variations:   

• As they pass the 4th or 5th 4x4s, they are no longer able to use the 4x4s.  

• Stop and have every person connect to the group without using their ropes for a few seconds.   

• Allow the group to have a set number of contact points with their lobster claws.  

• Have group form a shape (circle, triangle, etc.).   

• Don’t climb onto the goalpost until everyone is past the halfway point.  Have folks at back of group get on goalpost first. 

Debrief: 

• How did the team support you? How did you support others? 

• What do you need in terms of support from the team for the next element?  Voice this to each other as facilitator is crossing to center platform. 

Tee-Up: Main objective is to get everyone across, while staying physically connected to each other and holding the octopus ropes.  

Safety Concerns:  

• Hold onto the octopus ropes below the knots.  

• Do not wrap the octopus rope around hands.  

• People are most likely to fall when they are close to platform and the cables are further apart.  

• If they let go of one end of the rope the people holding other end may lose balance. 

Variations:  

• No one can hold multiple ropes.  

• Blindfold a few people.  

• Everyone must have at least one hand on a rope.  

• Everyone must stay connected as an entire team.   

• Switch their feet – if standing on 1 cable, adjust to stand on 2 and vice versa. 

Debrief Questions: 

• How are you affected by the other people in your group? 

• How do you feel the support of your group? 

• How do you build trust among group members? 

Tee-Up: Primary challenge is to get the whole team across without using the lobster claws and leaving no empty boxes in between each other.   

Safety Concerns: 

• No uncontrolled leaping (help each other across).  

• Blindfolds are NOT an option for this element.  

• Do NOT make them stay physically connected as it makes things too dangerous on this element.  The wooden flower boxes move.  

• Let the group know that they may step on cables to get to the 1st box and onto the goalpost at the other end.  

Variations: 

• Only use 2, 3 or 4 flower boxes at a time.  

• Have the entire group stop and stand on one flower box.  

• Have the entire group stop and let go of outer ropes.  

• Don’t leave empty flower boxes between group members.   

• Have the group transport a cup of water or an object across the element with them. 

Debrief Questions:

Tee-Up: Main objective is to get everyone to the other side of the element.  Typically, everyone must be off the goal post before anyone crosses over the X and everyone must have crossed the X before anyone gets on the platform.  Ideally no use of claws. 

Safety Concerns: 

• Strong potential for people to get flung off the element if someone on the other side pushes on the element ropes.  

• They cannot cross under the ropes (try to let them figure it out).   

• Throughout the crossing, participants may need to lengthen or shorten their lobster claws.   

• They must start and finish on this inside of the X.  

• Pay attention for signs of extreme exhaustion/fear.  

• Do not leave blindfolds around necks 

Variations:   Blindfold group members.  Everyone has to lean out on the ropes. 

Debrief Questions: 

• What was the most fun or challenging element? 

• How was your group successful on the high course? 

• What was the experience of being blindfolded like?  

• Did their reality change or perception of their experience change with being blindfolded? 

• How did your group progress? 

• What changed in their group process from start to finish? 

• Which element was hardest/most fun?   

Introduction: Explain zip line process to participants when they arrive on the platform.  

**Note: Be as Concise and Efficient as possible 

Procedure:  

• Check participant gear (ideally do this first

  • • • Harness & helmet secure

• Pull in retrieval rope and secure zip trolley to leash in tower. (Attach retrieval rope carabiner to guy wire and yell “rope” before pushing it off the tower.)  

• Reset zip cable drape  

• Adjust lobster claws so that one is very short and the other is one fist from the metal claw.  

• Attach shortest claw to western side of zip trolley, safety check & have participant sit underneath their cable.  

• Unclip the zip trolley leash.  

• Ask zip catcher “clear to zip?” and wait for response, “zip is clear.”  

• Attach second lobster claw to zip carabiner, safety check and shorten.  

• Coach participant as you are clipping them in:

  • • Hold rope w/ both hands just above the red knots, they may let go once off the platform. 

    • Butt cheeks on the edge of platform, scoot forward & lean forward to leave the platform – like you are sliding into a pool.

    • Stay upright the whole time. Land on your feet. 

• Yell, "Zipping" - Wait for response, "Zip Away"