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Concord High instructors say Ropes course builds teamwork, confidence; program marks roughly 50 years of operation
Summary
Teachers Frank Harrison and Bill Previs told the committee Ropes is a credit-bearing Concord High class with monthly weekend trips that emphasize character development, teamwork and practical outdoor skills. The class draws about 50 sign-ups per year, runs eight weekend trips per semester and maintains a strong safety record, presenters said.
“Rope is a regular class at Concord High. It’s not a club, and it’s been going on for 50 years,” teacher Frank Harrison told the Instructional Committee as he introduced the program’s slide materials and a short video.
Harrison and Bill Previs described Ropes as a semester elective and a sequence of weekend trips that prepare students for increasingly demanding outdoor experiences. The course is designed to develop leadership, teamwork and resilience: instructors said classroom time is spent practicing skills necessary for each trip, and the trips provide hands-on opportunities for students to apply those skills.
Structure and scope: Presenters said the program typically receives about 50 sign-ups each year and runs two semester sections (roughly 25 students per semester). Ropes instructors plan eight weekend trips per semester (monthly trips), and every class meeting and project is framed to prepare students for the next outing. Harrison credited founder Tom Herbert (course origin 1974) with the program’s vision.
Student outcomes: Bill Previs, a newer co‑instructor, described how students who participate in Ropes demonstrate added confidence and transferable skills. He said students who practiced Ropes activities used that experience in public‑speaking demonstrations and other schoolwork; he noted that students often report greater self‑confidence in later assignments and described social bonds that form across different student groups.
Safety and access: Presenters said the program emphasizes safety and that instructors maintain wilderness first-aid training and other certifications. Over roughly a decade of trips Harrison estimated while on staff (about 100 trips), presenters recalled two notable injuries: one broken ankle during practice at an indoor gym and one head injury on a bike that resulted in a concussion. Instructors said the program uses fundraising and donations to supply equipment (stoves, sleeping bags, climbing gear), and they work to make the course economically accessible; families are asked for a donation but instructors said they will help secure equipment for students who need it (including using local thrift-store donations and fundraising work such as raking leaves).
Equity and recruitment: Presenters said Ropes aims for diverse enrollment across gender, skills and socioeconomic backgrounds and that class rosters are deliberately balanced (mix of grades, genders and skill levels). Instructors described outreach and selection practices to preserve diversity and said weekend trips are mandatory for course credit, which can limit participation for students with scheduling conflicts.
Why it matters: Committee members praised the program’s contribution to social-emotional learning and community-building. Several committee members and a parent attendee described observing clear character development and leadership among participants.
What’s next: Instructors asked the committee to continue supporting the program’s fundraising and administrative flexibility, and they invited committee members to observe a trip or visit a class.
