Rocks & Ropes – Update

07/05/2012

Early Tuesday morning you could hear the Rocks and Ropes kids chanting as they packed out to go climb, “Rocks and ropes and rocks and ropes and rocks and ropes…” Roger, the climbing guide pulled me aside and said, “these kids are great.”

The Rocks and Ropes trip has been at Mohonk Preserve for the last three days. The will return this evening with full stomachs and pizza sauce on their cheeks.

Each day the campers climbed they gained skills and technique. They also opened up and began to share bits of themselves with each other. Though the trip only runs for a week, the group is small enough that they really start to bond. By last night this was apparent when the whole group had to work together and pack up dinner quickly. A storm was moving in and it is much easier to cook and eat when you’re not getting rained on. The group meshed and took up responsibility like they had been doing it for years.

Climbing does that with kids. When a kid is on the wall and needs help knowing where to put his feet, the group sounds out and screams suggestions to him. It’s only a simple task from there to reapply those lessons and bring unity to a team.

This group did that.

See you all tomorrow! You’re kids are amazing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zach eigenbrodt

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Zach couldn't keep himself out of the woods when growing up. He started working at a Northern Wisconsin YMCA Camp as a wilderness trip leader while in college and fell in love with getting kids into nature. The smiles on kids faces after returning from a once in a life time wilderness experience is why he is here today. Zach brought his talents to Frost Valley YMCA, in 2014, when he started as the Trips Coordinator and soon was promoted to Adventure Director. Zach loves all forms of Wilderness exploration, though some would say his heart lies most with canoeing.