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Tree climbing

Tree climbing
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Tree climbing always promises for a distinctive event for the kids. This event combines an intensive experience with nature, an exciting adventure as well as the special feeling of togetherness. Despite careful safeguarding to ensure that nothing can happen, the small groups of kids have to stick together to reach the top of the trees.

Tree climbing depends a lot on physical strength. Therefore, it is advice able to put climbing teams in small groups of the same age together. There are already several climbing parks around which offer experimental learning experiences for several stages of age. This makes it possible to for bigger climbing teams to attend as well. You can divide the participants on site and at night, around the campfire, they can share their individual experiences. Even this possibility doesn’t reach the desired effect; you still can use it to strengthen the social behaviour of the participants. Talking to a larger group and even more so, listening to someone talking is not an exercise, which comes all too easily to young people.

Climbing - the highlight of the trip

The tree climbing experience should be well prepared and care should be taken, that the participants know each other and have developed already some team spirit. For example, beforehand you could organize a scavenger hunt for the young people to familiarize themselves with the forest. The teams of the scavenger hunt then can stay together for the tree climbing adventure. This is particularly advisable where the participants don’t know each other beforehand. For example, this situation arises with school classes, where tree climbing is part of a school holiday program .

Tree climbing
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Preparing to overcome fears

There are three objectives when it comes to tree climbing: push your own limits, overcome your fears and conduct yourself as a team member. After all it is not commonplace for many participants, to sway, secured only by ropes, several meters above the ground. Therefore, the participants will need a briefing on how to work the ropes so they really can ascend safely. The technique used for professional abseiling from the trees is also taught on the ground. Only when all the participants have mastered all the safety procedures they can eventually make their way up to the tree tops.

Tree climbing
©: www.youthwork-practice.com

The commonly used technique is called “climbing tree care.” This simple technique is ideal for inexperienced climbers, which makes it easier for them to push beyond their limits. Because the climb is slow and controlled, the teams can have breaks in between and encourage each other for the next section.

Once the participants have reached the goal, the tree crown, they are usually proud to have had this shared adventure. Some climbers even overcame their fears of height.

Why is the team spirit strengthened?

During this climbing adventure, the young people have the opportunity to get to know each other out of their usual environment in a very different way. Also, they grow together in a new way with the team they were assigned to. They help each other by applying the equipment, secure the way and support and encourage each other during the climb. When they think they have reached their limit or fear of heights threatens to get the better of them others will step in and help.

Overcoming fear of heights creates self-confidence in itself. Cooperation and communication within the team are additional meaningful emotional experiences. For this to happen in nature makes this event even more beautiful.

Tree climbing

Climbing - the highlight of the trip

Preparing to overcome fears

Why is the team spirit strengthened?

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