Resurrection After Rape Community Group
Discussion, question-and-answer, general social support, and journal processing for progress-oriented rape survivors. No crisis, no damaging or triggering conflicts--this is for individuals who want to contribute to collective, cooperative action toward the goal of making actual PROGRESS through rape trauma. Much of this work is based on the book "Resurrection After...
As always, the feedback I get about the retreat is consistent that participants like the weekend to be rather loosely-structured, since it allows for freer socialization. But I'm also always looking for ways to innovate so that the retreat always feels fresh, and not "more of the same."
Here's one idea I've been kicking around, and I'd like to get feedback. How would you all like to go up the road into Stillwater to try their ropes course?
For those who don't know what a "ropes course" is, take a look: http://campusrec.okstate.edu/outdooradventure/newropescourse and http://campusrec.okstate.edu/outdooradventure/challengecourse
The gist of it is that people challenge themselves to overcome personal limits, in a safe and controlled environment. There's no actual risk, but there is a thrill and a sense of personal victory as you ascend to a tree-high network of ropes, traveling them as tightropes and bridges (all the while harnessed for safety, of course). This would probably be Saturday afternoon.
The considerations are these:
1) I'd need to register those wanting to participate in advance, including pre-payment. I'd be happy to cover this myself.
2) I'd need to figure out how to transport the group of people into town and back.
3) I'd need to figure out what to schedule back at the retreat for those who don't want to do this.
Here's one idea I've been kicking around, and I'd like to get feedback. How would you all like to go up the road into Stillwater to try their ropes course?
For those who don't know what a "ropes course" is, take a look: http://campusrec.okstate.edu/outdooradventure/newropescourse and http://campusrec.okstate.edu/outdooradventure/challengecourse
The gist of it is that people challenge themselves to overcome personal limits, in a safe and controlled environment. There's no actual risk, but there is a thrill and a sense of personal victory as you ascend to a tree-high network of ropes, traveling them as tightropes and bridges (all the while harnessed for safety, of course). This would probably be Saturday afternoon.
The considerations are these:
1) I'd need to register those wanting to participate in advance, including pre-payment. I'd be happy to cover this myself.
2) I'd need to figure out how to transport the group of people into town and back.
3) I'd need to figure out what to schedule back at the retreat for those who don't want to do this.
For me, the chance to not do anything is probably more challenging than being full on active. So, for me the challenge here is saying no rather than yes.
The only question I would ask is, how would it fit in especially if people have sweated in the morning? The sweatlodge is wonderful, but physically a push for some. I know you will have thought very carefully about it, but my hesitation would be in doing something so potentially physically challenging when they may have done the same in the morning.
I'm with Megs. Can we find those restrictions please? Would make me feel better... Those ropes better hold my shit.
Sorry if it got lost in translation and Brit waffle!
I have to say, the retreat feels pretty packed with a friday pm sweatlodge and a saturday morning sweat plus Bill concert in the afternoon/evening. I wonder if the high ropes would work better on Friday morning as a kind of ice breaker? I am still concerned at the level of adrenaline that will be flying around with coming to the retreat, doing a sweatlodge and then a high ropes course too. (If I do all that no one stand behind me and say 'Boo' as you might not live to tell the tale!). I am really, really not against it in principle, just trying to look at it in context.
I'm in two minds over it. I really want to do it if its possible but then a part of me thinks certain elements would make me freeze. It's not so much the height as the platforms on ropes with instability