Set amongst trees on the banks of the Lephalale River, the course consists of 12 challenges. Each obstacle is different and requires children to employ different strategies in order to complete each task before moving on to the next challenge.
School Director Dr. Anthony Roberts explains further…
“The obstacle course is a set of physical challenges that encourage the children to participate in teamwork activities. The obstacle course is important for children because they learn to interact in a teamwork environment,. Communication is also a key component of it all.”
“Children benefit because it takes them out of their comfort zone and enables them to have a bit of fun in the bush. Whilst doing that, they lose a lot of the inhibitions and fears they might have of being out in a wild environment.”
Whether going it alone, or relying on your team to get you through, the obstacle course is a huge amount of fun for spectators and participants alike. Teams vie for first position – a bit tricky when there is only room for one team at a time, but that all comes down to strategy and how the teams help and communicate with each other.
Some challenges require a combination of individual flair and teamwork in order to be completed. This gives rise to much hilarity and vocal encouragement. School educators are assigned to each group to help their teams, keep score and make sure teams do not ‘cheat’.
“One of the favourite activities is a challenge where the children have to swing across a short distance and land on a tyre. It’s really about getting the whole team onto the tyre together. It encourages teamwork and communication and wonderful interactions come out of that as an activity.”
The combination of physical activity, mental stimulation and group participation all work together to enhance the Lapalala Wilderness School outdoor and learning experience.
