The Challenge Course is designed to help build self-esteem, and increase and improve communication, teamwork, and creative problem solving. Part of Harmony Hill School's Adventure-Based Therapy Program, the course is also available for outside groups and agencies to utilize.

In the recent past, the Challenge Course has been used with great results by corporate organizations, college and high school sports teams, mental health agencies, local fire departments, schools, the Rhode Island Children's Crusade, and the Providence Police Youth Program. Integrating activities and challenges, it is a combination of different elements that includes ropes, cables, trees and wooden structures, as well as non-competitive games (new games), and creative problems solving activities that do not require any "props."

While the High Ropes typically draws the major interest, the challenge involves much more than climbing around on ropes and walking across balance logs. The group spends the majority of time "on the ground" sequencing thorough initiatives, new games, spotting and trust techniques, and then low ropes. Low Ropes are ground elements, 6 inches to a several feet off the ground. Once the group demonstrates the ability to cooperate, manage frustration, cope with stress and maintain safety across the board, it is allowed to move to the high ropes session of the program. The participants must work together, which helps to improve self-esteem and teamwork. Developing and using creative problem solving throughout the program has lasting effects.

Although elements of the course may seem dangerous, they are safer than driving, in general. This is due to the high safety standards utilized. The course at Harmony Hill was built using the current standards in safety and construction. The entire course, including all the climbing equipment, is professionally inspected annually by an outside agency. The manager of the course helped to build the course and constantly monitors it for safety. While there is an atmosphere of fun, safety is the overriding concern -- "if it's not safe, it's not done". All participants must wear a helmet when they are climbing on the high course for the branches and cables above them. They also wear a harness that is attached to a climbing rope that is connected to a belayer; this person holds the rope in case they slip and to lower them down when they are done climbing.

For more information or to arrange to reserve the Challenge Course for your group, please contact Donald Morse, MA, the Challenge Course Manager, at 401-949-0690 or e-mail dmorse@hhs.org.