Camp Bighorn training provides a rush

PLAINS – From kayaking, to rock climbing, and a high element ropes course, Camp Bighorn has it all. With the adrenaline churning activities available, training becomes an important part of the process, ensuring everyone’s safety.

The camp spent the last week of June training its staff in adventure activities, gearing them up for the first set of campers who came in on July 1.

For many of the staff members, it is their first summer at Camp Bighorn, a Christian camp located on Highway 135.

With over 30 staffers joining for the summer, Technical Adventure Coordinators took the task of training many of the newbies in adrenaline filled activities.

On Wednesday, the day started off with lunch and then the campers broke up into groups to focus on kayaking, the low and high element rope course and a hike called “Broken Body.”

As the group of kids were blindfolded and lead around the camp to hopefully cause some disorientation, their adventure of “Broken Body” began. As they took dizzying paths, a loud army truck came speeding out of nowhere, slamming on its brakes and blaring the horn. Each participant was helped into the back of the truck as they remained blindfolded and they were transported to a forest service road with no idea of what to expect.

The participants were clueless as to their final location and the rules of the game were explained. The group had been kidnapped by hostile enemy forces and boarded onto a plane, which crashed. Each of them suffered a disability. Some lost body parts; others were blinded or lost their hearing. One participant had a 30 second memory span and another became a compulsive liar. As the blindfolds were removed and their disabilities were made known, the group began a hike, which would take several hours to complete.

While they followed a flag course, teamwork was of the essence, each member of the group helping one another to get back safely.

“Broken Body was set up on purpose so you have to learn to rely on other people or you’re going to have to learn that other people are relying on you,” said program director Reuben Stratford. “The goal is to really help people understand that it’s not just the things we set up here but in life you can’t make it on your own.”

Stratford said the activities are set up to get the campers to ask questions.

“When they’re asking that question of well, what am I supposed to do, then that’s when we provide the answer of what you need is a relationship with God and the people he’s put in your life,” said Stratford.

As Broken Body was in full swing, others were high in the air on the high element ropes course, maneuvering their way through a variety of obstacles that required both balance and courage.

The trainees shimmied up a tube of rope before they had to cross a suspended rope bridge. From there they had two options, either take the Indiana Jones Bridge or another obstacle, which involved rope that hung down. As one would try to maneuver across, they would grab the rope pieces for extra balance. Other obstacles included an ‘X’ of rope, requiring the climber to switch their hand positions from a high area to a low one, all while balancing on a thin piece of wire. Once the trainees felt comfortable on the ropes course, they jumped off a high plank and zip-lined to the bottom of the mountain.

While the adventure was occurring high in the trees, a group of other trainees was making their way through the low element course, tackling challenges that required cooperation from all of the participants.

One activity included a web of ropes. Each participant had to make it through a hole in the ropes without touching the rope or the surrounding trees. If any contact was made with either, the entire team had to start over. The variety of holes was plentiful – some high, some low, some small, some big.

The group had to come together, helping each other lift group members through certain holes to get everyone in the group over to the other side.

Another adventure training took place on the river. Two groups of kayakers set out to learn the ropes of kayaking – an activity full of adrenaline. As the rushing water swept the kayakers down river, they maneuvered themselves into the best areas to handle the rapids. The Cascade Rapids offered huge waves for the kayakers to test themselves on.

The bumpy ride proved challenging to some as one kayaker was flipped out of his kayak and carried down river.

All of these activities, although fun, served a greater purpose.

“We really will use these adventures of all different shapes and sizes and what it all kind of boils down to is to help people get to a point where they realize they can’t do it on their own,” said Stratford.

The first set of campers arrived at Camp Bighorn on July 1st to begin their adventures.