Through funding provided by the Foundation for Pottstown Education more than 70 fourth grade students from Rupert Elementary School visited the brand new low ropes course at Althouse Arboretum. The low ropes course is designed to encourage leadership, expand communication skills, promote self-discovery, and increase self-esteem. Each program is tailored to your groups specific needs based on ages and abilities of the group.
The funding for this tour was provided by the Gulati Family Foundation. The foundation was established in 2002 and provides funding to educational institutions at every level from early childhood through graduate school
The students were given a variety of challenges at different obstacles on the course. Each required team work, creative thinking, and collaboration to achieve success. The students were broken up into groups of 8-12 students. Each group had a facilitator who explained the challenge, and assisted the students. The students were required to work together to determine a plan, and then take their plan to action. After each activity the groups debriefed on what was successful, and what areas they felt they could improve upon.
The Rupert fourth grade teachers, Mr. Ferster, Mrs. Leh, and Miss Valenti said,” The ropes course provided our students with an invaluable experience for breaking down barriers, teamwork, and learning to trust each other in academic and non academic settings.”