By: Addison Wilson

Working with Apex Adventures and Challenge Works to operate the Happy Valley ropes course has been an exciting and very different aspect of the internship. Although Happy Valley owns the course, Challenge Works maintains the structures and Apex Adventures facilitates the operations of the ropes course. As a team, all three members help make sure the ropes course is as safe as possible, while providing the best experience we can for participants.

In training, we partnered with representatives from Apex and Challenge Works to learn how to operate in and how to facilitate a belay team. As a group, we learned multiple knots and coils, and safety features of the belay device, which is called a gri-gri. After each of us had mastered the operation aspect of the team, we moved into what our regular responsibilities would be as Apex facilitators. We started by practicing teaching others how to use and operate the gear. Then practiced being the leader a team during a stressful situation, such as when we are in charge of belay teams multiple times a day.

Being a member of a belay team creates a more attentive atmosphere and builds deeper connections between peers as they quite literally place each other’s lives in the hands of the belay team. With previous rock-climbing experience, one might think it is easy to lead a climbing activity, but being the lead of a team as an Apex facilitator creates a whole new dynamic. Belaying in rock climbing is a single person activity, usually with safety mats covering the ground so you don’t have to worry about your belay team tripping over natural features like tree roots. When leading Apex’s three-person belay teams, the facilitator must be aware of these environmental hazards and making sure the belay team is operating correctly.  So, in order the activity to run as smoothly as possible, you must practice great communication with all members of your team.

I enjoyed getting to strengthen my communication and leadership skills as well as learning new techniques and operations in the climbing world. I am now more confident in my leadership and facilitating abilities, as well as my belaying abilities. I love finding the similarities and differences between belaying as a rock climber and belaying on the ropes course. They both excite me and complement each other, as I can find something I love doing in the workplace.