Tulsa, OK

A little known jewel of Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) is the indoor and outdoor facilities of the HelmZar Challenge and Ropes Course, located at 1006 N. Quaker. The facility was completed last year and offers TPS students a chance to work together as a team and develop important learning skills.This year-round ropes course is also available to corporate groups, churches, sports teams, kids’ groups, and others looking for adventurous activities involving mental, physical and emotional risk, all within a safe environment. Instructors can custom design the activities depending on the needs of the group.

The Course is made up of a specifically designed series of ropes, steel cables and logs that are combined in such a way to simulate challenges that could be encountered in a natural setting. A trained facilitator guides participants through all aspects of the course. Participants in the challenge course can expect to share common reactions, insights, and emotions, such as joy, fear, fatigue, compassion, and laughter as they navigate various obstacles and situations.

“The HelmZar Challenge Course is a hidden gem in Tulsa,” said Barbara Marshall, Tulsa Public Schools Curriculum Specialist, “and provides interactive opportunities for our students to learn and practice real life skills of team work, cooperation, and problem solving. These are the very skills that are necessary to become productive in our classrooms and turn out leaders in our community and model citizens.”

Parents will be glad to know the TPS HelmZar Challenge Course offers a variety of camps throughout the summer, such as Diabetes Native American Camp and the Science and Math Camp, to name just a few.

A school day at the Challenge Course begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 2:00 p.m. During the morning session we address subjects such as diversity, bullying, resilience, community, trust, communication, and leadership. Our goal is to have a pre-discussion with the group leader, setting goals and objectives and focus on these during the day’s events. The classroom teacher’s role is to be a guide and resource to further the learning process.

The Challenge Course is divided into two areas: the low ice-breakers / initiatives and high elements. Low elements highlight teamwork, cooperation, communication, risk taking, trust, problem solving, conflict resoltuion plus many more aspects based on the needs of the group. The high elements are a series of challenges in the air from 17 to 55 feet, similar to the ones on the ground. Participants are actively engaged with one another while guiding others to their own personal level of success.