Since 1990, when alumni reminisce about the good ol’ days at Trinity-Pawling, their conversations invariably turn to their meaningful experience on the “Ropes Course” — two days and a night spent in the woods in the spring of their junior year.
An experiential-learning vehicle, the ropes course aims to provide rising seniors with the tools to be effective leaders by teaching teamwork, camaraderie and trust. Until a few years ago, new seniors and post-graduates missed the opportunity to participate in what most believe is the cornerstone of Trinity-Pawling’s Leadership curriculum, and what so many graduates have come to cherish. Now, each fall, new students enjoy a ropes course experience distinctly their own, and benefit from the opportunities it provides for growth.
Headmaster Bill Taylor, an original proponent of the program, attended the ropes course earlier this fall with the newest members of the class of 2016. Regarding the challenges he said, “These are great opportunities to put yourself into a situation where you’re out of your comfort zone.” He highlighted Trinity-Pawling’s atmosphere as one that addresses an overall ‘ethos of effort’ – “Where you are pushing yourself; where you are digging in to find that area within yourself that’s going to allow you to go to even higher levels of achievement and success…”
Hear more of what he had to say here.