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Youth Ropes Course and Team Building Programs

Benefits of Youth Team Building | Case Study | Logistics

"We help people get in touch with their inner strengths
and improve their interactions with others"

The results of the Deer Hill Ranch Experiential Learning Programs are powerful and far-reaching. Our programs counteract some of the negative aspects of the rapid pace and competitive nature of our environment by aligning personal growth strategies with resource management to:

• Develop higher levels of trust and respect among team members
• Strengthen communication and creative problem-solving skills
• Improve teamwork and group dynamics

Over 100 Games and Initiatives
The exercises in our programs are carefully sequenced with increasing levels of personal challenge and perceived risk. Deer Hill Ranch uses over 100 different games and initiatives. By participating in a series of initiatives and problem-solving activities, team members break through their own self-limiting boundaries, strangers become friends, and groups become teams. We also use our low ropes course during this segment of our programs.

High Ropes Course
Our "Challenge By Choice" High Ropes Course is a series of challenges derived from the Outward Bound program. Wearing belay harnesses, one or two participants climb up a pole to each event. Participants work through their fears with the help of their teammates on the ground, and achieve a new understanding of the importance of teamwork while completing the course events.

Debriefings Bring Insights and Understanding
Debriefings after each initiative enable participants to examine what happened and how the group functioned as a whole. Our experienced staff skillfully leads the debriefings that help participants gain insight into their responses and determine how their behaviors affect the group. This process lays the foundation for future development of skills that will lead to optimal performance for the group.

Our Work Begins Before You Arrive
We strongly believe that the success of a program must be built on a foundation of understanding client needs. Your program begins even before you arrive with a needs assessment to identify specific objectives for the training based on client goals. We then structure a series of activities that may include field events, problem-solving initiatives, trust experiences, and ropes course events.

Building Trust Means Success
Developing trust is the cornerstone for effective team-building processes and is therefore an essential part of our programs. The facilitators work to create a safe place for participants where they can experience the ways they work together and learn from each other. This empowers them to create new approaches for problem solving, communication, and teamwork. By creating a community of trust where responsible risk-taking is rewarded, individual challenges become group challenges in a nurturing and supportive environment. "Going beyond" becomes the norm and the sense of personal accomplishment is enriched with the acknowledgment and growing support of the team.

At the Ranch or Off-Site
The unique ranch setting with its beautiful natural surroundings creates an environment that helps participants feel the comfort, focus and safety that are important to the success of our programs. Located in Lafayette, we are adjacent to thousands of acres of park wilderness yet only minutes away from downtown Lafayette and freeway access.

If you prefer not to travel, we can bring our many games and activities, along with our expert facilitators, to your site for a program. A large indoor area or flat area outside are all we need to deliver an exciting and impactful program.

Customized Programs
Deer Hill Ranch can provide effective programs within most budgets or time restraints. Half-day, full day, and multi-day programs are available. Minimum group size is 10 participants. High ropes Programs are available to participants that are 10 years of age and up. Please call for current rates.