201212_UTMinuteman_W.. - Keep Trees

guidance and leadership of the NAC ropes
course staff, 27 survivor-family members
attended and participated in three hours of
challenging events. The events consisted
of both high- and low-ropes options.
The group began the morning by
being welcomed to the NAC, being
oriented to the day’s activities, fi lling out
the necessary forms and then introduced
to the course. Harnesses and helmets were
fi tted, put on and the fun began.
Events on the high challenge course
included the Catwalk, Cargo Net/
Swinging Pole, and the Team Traverse.
All survivors were able to engage in these
by either going up on the event as the
participant, helping by being a backup to
the belayer, or just being on the ground
and encouraging and cheering on the
participant. Some even engaged a couple
of the events blindfolded, which gives a
totally different perspective to climbing
poles, climbing nets and walking cables,
while being 20-25 feet in the air.
In a cool down from the high events
the group went to the low side and
participated in the Whale Watch, Wild
Woosey, Grapevine and a trust walk.
These were all excellent team-building,
group-bonding activities in which
communication and working together was
a must.
After the activities, the group sat
down and processed the events of the
morning: goals they had set and were able
to achieve; the communication, help and
support they both received and gave out;
being put in situations where they were
out of their comfort zones; being able
to achieve more than they ever thought
possible; and being able to laugh, smile
and have some fun in an experiential
recreation setting. These were all some of
the items brought up that for the families
had made the experience worthwhile.
The group then sat down to lunch
where they relaxed, interacted and got to
know each other better and how the death
of their loved one has affected their family.
One could feel the strong bond between
these families brought together by the
untimely death of their Servicemember.
Utah Minuteman 43