By Teresa Herriman, The Courier-Herald
The silence of the hidden forest suddenly gives way to wild cheers as various groups celebrate their team's success at the Washington State University 4-H Bonney Lake Demonstration Forest.
Participants come from all over Puget Sound to the 150-acre woods in the middle of Bonney Lake to learn to become better teams through cooperation and communication.
The Demonstration Forest was donated to Washington State University in 1942 by the Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. with the stipulation it be used as a living classroom for education programs.
It is managed by the WSU Cooperative Extension program as part of the university's land-grant and research mission. The site has four areas of use, including the Challenge Program, a training ground for experiential education facilitators and an interactive, life-skills-building activity that is open to the public.
The 20-acre challenge course offers a combination of indoor and outdoor activities used to teach team concepts such as effective conflict resolution and cooperation. Soccer teams have learned to work as a team better, with the goal of playing better. Schools use the program to help eighth-graders celebrate their graduation to high school. Youth learn skills for summer jobs. Business and organizations are frequent program participants, finding the course is beneficial in helping employees and volunteers develop leadership skills.
The Demonstration Forest will offer a series of events geared to all ages.
For information about these events, call 253-862-9569.
The Couples Day
Low Course
Couples are provided the opportunity to strengthen relationship, improve communication, resolve conflicts and develop leadership. Partner groups explore behaviors that lead to success and identify behaviors that could be modified. It is all challenge by choice. This is not therapy, but a chance to come and play together while looking at how you communicate with your partner and then try some different strategies to improve that communication. According to organizers, "You're not broke and we are not going to fix you."
Dates: April 17 (register by April 5) or May 15 (register by May 3)
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Costs: Minimum $60 per couple. Lunch is included.
The Couples Day
High Course
The Washington State University 4-H Challenge Program uses a series of activities designed to teach life skills through the participating in fun outdoor games and activities. Participants in the Couples Day, High Course, are provided the opportunity to push themselves and strengthen their relationships with partners under the stress of being up in the trees in a harness. They will be challenged to deal with fears of heights while strengthening relationship skills. This program is only open to couples who have completed a Couples Day, Low Course.
Dates: June 26 (register by June 7)
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Costs: Minimum $60 per couple. Lunch included.
Youth Leadership Camp
The Youth Leadership Camp is designed to be an active camp, using the low and high challenge courses and rock climbing to develop leadership skills. The program focuses on young people exploring their current strengths and learning new skills for leadership in their schools, organizations and community. The group will practice leadership skills by doing a service-learning project at the site. At the end of the camp, each participant will have a journal with plans outlining how to use their leadership skills in the future. They also will identify a need in the community, then plan a service project to address the need. They will be challenged, after the camp, to recruit others for their service project, giving them an opportunity to share their new leadership skills. This camp will be fun and challenging for young people who want to take leadership roles in their communities.
Dates: July 19-23
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Costs: $200 per person. Scholarships available.
Mom and Me Program and Dad and Me
The focal point of family programs is learning to communicate, trust and play together. The Families Day programs use rope elements that are low to the ground and are focused around trust, fun and communication. Following each activity, participants will be asked a series of discussion questions to help them discover successful behaviors and potential areas for change. To help ensure the most educational experience possible, families will also make an "Agreement" that clarifies what they value in their relationship and what steps are needed to maintain its importance. The program activities are all optional "challenge by choice." Activities may also include art, songs and skits.
Dates: "Mom and Me," May 8
"Dad and Me," June 19
Time: Both programs run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $60
High Course Fund-raiser Days
There are both a 35- and a 65-foot high course. The height doesn't matter much, because both courses produce a perceived risk reaction. Participants think they are going to fall but can't when harnessed up. This false fear can stop people from moving. Figuring out ways to get past the fear is the purpose of the high course. After learning to move when in fear, the next step is to learn to move when dealing with other fears, such as the fear of going to college, learning a job or taking on new family roles. For Ages 8 and older. Bring a lunch, water and snacks.
Dates: April 10, June 12, July 17 or Sept. 18
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Teachers & Youth Workers Orientation to The Challenge Courses & Experiential Education
This experiential education day is designed to give participants a chance to experience the challenge course as a participant for three-quarters of the day. After experiencing the course, there will be activities that teach about the theory of a challenge experience. The focus is to learn how to work with youth more effectively. Registration is due two weeks prior to the activity date. Clock hours available for $10.
Date: May 22 or Sept. 18
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $50
Challenge Course Facilitator Training
All can become a facilitator and lead groups on the challenge course. This training is a great skill builder and will expand one's ability to work with youth. Gain skills in working with groups and doing portable activities. Clock hours available for $10. Contact the course for more information.
Summer Low Challenge Training Dates: July 6,7,9,13,14 and 16
