Ropes Course Event

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When tasked with the assignment of creating an event that correlates to University and fraternity values, ideas freely flowed in my head. Some were elusive, others were intangible, but hopefully the one I present today is both tangible and practical. As a youth, my parents, upon my request, sent me to a Jewish sleep away camp located in Missouri. This camp is a well-respected camp where young Jews go to grow as adolescents. When determining which activity would be best for Zeta Beta Tau (hereafter ZBT) and correlated to both UT and ZBT values the one activity that stuck in my mind was the ropes course. For those unfamiliar with the ropes course it is “a challenging outdoor personal development and team building activity which usually consists of high and/or low elements” (Wikipedia). The ropes course is a time tested method that builds trusts and respect among members, makes leaders out of the participants, and shows the integrity, responsibility, brotherly love, and intellectual awareness of those participating as well as growing said attributes.

Due to the potential dangers of high ropes, we would stick to the “Low” ropes course if implemented. The activities that take place at such an event are Cooperative Game, Group Initiative, and Trust-building games.

The cooperative game is “a fun activity designed to reduce inhibitions and break down barriers. These activities are often not based on a defined task but on a sequence of events. Users are often placed in positions where they are encouraged to try new things that may place them outside their normal comfort zones” (Wikipedia). Through this, as a group and as individuals we learn how to be responsible and discover things about ourselves and others that previously unknown ...

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...articipates there would be no mandate that people attend outside of the members of the board. Due to financial reasons, we would only implement this if enough people decide to attend. Under the dream scenario of 100% attendance, the group leaders (we would divide into smaller groups due to the size of the fraternity but everybody will be doing the exact same program) will be the members of the executive board. Outside of the executive board the groups will be diverse in regards to grade level. It will be mandated that each and every group have at least one member from every grade level.

To recap the ropes course is a time tested method that builds trusts and respect among members, makes leaders out of the participants, and shows the integrity, responsibility, brotherly love, and intellectual awareness of those participating as well as growing said attributes.

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