“High Elements” vs “Low Elements”?

Guess which group of challenges won the day  on January 14, when the Class of 2014 went on retreat to Day Spring Retreat Center in Parish.

After a 45-minute bus ride, juniors were ready for small ice breakers, splitting into groups of ten. Each group decided on which challenge groups they wished to try.

“Low elements” were those that required the groups to act and communicate with each other to complete a challenge.  These basic group building exercises included the spiderweb challenge, in which the girls had to get through a rope web without touching the rope while using each hole once.

Another challenge consisted of the girls using planks to get their teams across a small field by setting them up on four stumps. Other challenges included getting their group on one side of a clearing using a swing and having their group balance on a low tightrope.

On the other hand, “high elements” were challenges that required the girls to wear a harness and hook themselves to a rope.  The other end of this rope had the rest of the girls in the group act as a belay team and keep the rope in check.  The climber would then go on a course about twenty feet high, and were assured they would be safe if they fell. There were seven different courses each girl could try out including a rock wall and tire climb.

Whether it was during the activities, the delicious lunch, or the long bus ride back, the juniors of Academy definitely learned the importance of communication and trust and how to achieve each of these as a team. This team-building day turned out to be the perfect transition to their next event of the week: the Junior Ring Ceremony.