Swinging Log – Low Ropes Course

1. Have individuals stand on one end of the log and walk

   to the other side. Not as easy at it sounds – the log rocks back and

   forth and side to side!

2. Have one individual stand on top of the end of each log. They can

   hold on to the cable to start. On “Go” each person must balance

   without holding on to anything, and try to rock the log to shake the

   other person off. (We call this activity “Jousting”)

3. Have individuals try to step up onto the middle of the log and balance

   for 5 seconds on the first try. Create a line in the dirt in front of

   the log and have people step onto the log from behind the line. Move

   the line back to making increasingly more difficult.

4. Have the group sit on the log and lift their legs off the group simultaneously

   for a count of ten.

5. Have the group stand on the log at the same time for a count of ten.

   Very difficult!

Some facilitiation tips:

• The group initiatives are very difficult to spot. Many ropes course

  companies now recommend only doing individual activities on the log.

  When performing group initiatives on the log, be sure to have participants

  hold the log until the last person is up. Staff spotters should secure

  the log when the group jumps off to prevent it from swinging.

• Be sure that your ropes course contractor has installed safey cables

  that limit the swing of the log.

• Do not let participants go between the log and the trees it connected

  to. They could be struck while between the log and tree, which would

  be very dangerous.

• Be sure that only properly trained staff supervise all ropes course

  activities!