A School Field Trip: Learning Through Our High Ropes Challenge Course

Our mission is to empower and inspire people to challenge themselves both mentally and physically. With challenge comes greater self-confidence and achievement. To Be Boundless: Have No Limits.

 

What To Expect

3 hours of zipline and adventure park experience plus 30 minute orientation

Picnic tables for group use

Bring your own lunch or delivery from local restaurants

Bus parking available

Climbing Chaperones: free entry (10:1 ratio); Unlimited non-participating chaperones

Capacity: Up to 250

kids on a school field trip

"Broke Down The Usual Middle School Social Order"

Between helping to plan the trip and the countless questions we had, to your staff giving us regular updates on waivers, the experience leading up to it was very helpful. As for the day itself, it couldn’t have gone better. It was so great to see students challenge themselves and try new experiences. The activity broke down the usual “middle school social order” and we saw typically quiet and reserved students excelling, “coaching” and helping their peers. Many of the students came to us after and said it was their favorite day of the week by far. On a personal note, I enjoyed it very much and plan on taking my family at some point this summer.

– Mike B

 

3 girls on a school field trip
Get Your Students Engaged

“My trip to Boundless Adventures prepared me for school because it made me courageous and brought me out of my comfort zone. I’ve been down on myself this past year starting high school. This school year I plan on taking this courage I found at Boundless Adventures and apply it to my life”

Miranda C – Auburn High School – Age 15

 

Get Your Students Curious

“How far away from the ground on the blue level?  How many steps are that ladder? When you’re on a zip line why do you drop close to the ground? How many wood blocks did it take to make that platform?”

Amelia P – PS 15 Yonkers – Age 10

Foster Teamwork

“As the building principal what touched me the most was the encouragement and support I heard from the students and staff as the accomplished all sorts of trials and tribulations in the treetops.”

Trisha N – Hutchinson Elementary School – Principal

Teach Problem Solving

“The mental side is just as strong if not stronger than the physical side. I mean yes you have to be able to physically do all of the obstacles, but if you can figure out a plan and know before you start climbing how you can successfully climb across then you will be able to do it”

Sophia H – Advanced Math & Science Academy – Age 11

PDF planner for teachers and faculty - prep for field trips to Boundless Adventures

Field Trip Planner

Our Field Trip Planner makes planning your trip a breeze. Get details on what to expect and ideas for after trip discussions.

Download Now

Before You Book: Reserving

What grades is this activity appropriate for?

Boundless Adventures is great for grades 4-12 as well as college-aged students. Given the diversity of the courses, our park is appropriate for everyone from young children to even the most athletic adrenaline junkies (not that these two groups are mutually exclusive).

How do I reserve a group?

Simply fill out the inquiry form above. Someone from our sales team will reach out to you shortly! You can also call us as well at 978-592-0017. We are extremely responsive and will be there for you throughout the process.

 

What times are available for group reservations?

During the spring and fall, when we are closed to the public on weekdays, we can open the park for groups of 25 or more participants.

Weekends (Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays) – Due to strong demand on the weekends, we have limited capacity for group reservations. The school group rate is deeply discounted, and not available on weekends. You are always welcome to book at our normal group rate of $49/person.

 

What is the group cancellation policy?

Cancellations made 30-60 days in advance of reservation

For groups consisting of 25 or more participants, you will receive a refund of all amounts paid, less a cancellation fee of $500.

Cancellations/Reschedules/Group Reductions made between 7 to 29 days in advance of reservation

You will incur a cancellation fee equal to 50% of the contracted amount. In the case of group reductions, the fee is 50% of the cost for the cancelled group members.

Cancellations/Reschedules/Group Reductions made less than 7 days in advance of reservation

You will incur a cancellation fee equal to 75% of the contracted amount. In the case of group reductions, the fee is 75% of the cost for cancelled group members. That fee is waived if the cancellation is weather related. In that event, you can always reschedule your visit with no penalty, as long as you provide at least one hour advance notice.

We do not provide any refunds within 30 days of the scheduled visit. All credits are in the form of a store credit. Store credits never expire.

No-Shows

If you fail to show on the day/time of your scheduled reservation you will not be eligible for a refund or credit.

What if I have last minute add-ons?

We know it is challenging to provide an exact count! We wish we could let you tell us at the last minute. However, we have a limited capacity in the park, and the best way to accommodate the capacity constraints is to require payment in full for a firm headcount seven days in advance. Last minute additions are welcome at the same day group rate (subject to harness availability). Keep in mind, last minute additions also lead to additional time spent checking waivers which can cut into your climb time.

Do you require a deposit and when is full payment due?

We request a 50% deposit upon booking, and full payment 7 days in advance of the reservation. We do understand that this doesn’t work for certain schools, and we are happy to work with you.

Before You Come: Waivers

Where can I find the waiver?

When you reserve, you will receive a unique electronic waiver link in your email confirmation.

For Group Leaders: In your email confirmation, you will see a URL that says “Forward this link to all of your guests”. This link is tied to your specific event. That will link your guests’ waivers to your party. Even if your party guest has been here before, we ask that they still click on the link and provide their email address to link their waiver to your party.

You will also receive a link entitled “Group Waiver Management”. This will provide you with a real-time picture as to who has completed the waivers. We ask that you put checkmarks next to the participants, and mark those that are not attending, as “not participating”.

Group Guests: Please contact your group leader, and ask them to share the waiver link with you.

Why is it important for all of my guests to complete the waiver in advance?

We want your event to exceed your expectations. The first step is to ensure a smooth check in process. If the waivers are not completed in advance, it can delay your start time by up to an hour. Often, the end time is set on your invitations. Hence, a delayed start can result in an abbreviated climbing experience.

In your email confirmation, you will see a URL that says “Forward this link to all of your guests”. This link is tied to your specific event. That will link your guests’ waivers to your party. Even if your students have been here before, we ask that they still click on the link and provide their email address to link their waiver to your party.

You will also receive a link entitled “Group Waiver Management”. This will provide you with a real-time picture as to who has completed the waivers. We ask that you put checkmarks next to the participants, and mark those that are not attending, as “not participating”.

We know this seems complicated. That is because often mom completes the waiver, but mom isn’t participating. Other times, someone completes the waiver, but has a conflict and is unable to attend. You are the one who needs to tell us who is part of your group event, and who is not.

If you arrive with all of the waivers completed in advance, and your guests arrive on time, we guarantee that you will not be delayed!

Planning Your Event

What will a day in the trees look like?

When you arrive at Boundless Adventures in Berlin, you will first visit our reception center. Our staff will then escort your group to the park. Once there, your students (and participating chaperones) will get harnesses and receive a safety briefing (30-60 minutes depending on the size of the group) on how to zipline and climb on our high ropes course. They will then have 3 hours of developmental team building activities utilizing the “Challenge by Choice” principle. Participants will be given the opportunity to traverse different trails of varying difficulty with their classmates. During this time, they will work together to overcome challenges, inspire each other to face fears, and leave with a better understanding of themselves and their peers.

How does Boundless Adventures incorporate CASEL Core SEL Competency principals?

Self-Awareness

A. Identifying emotions
1. Guests are encouraged to continuously monitor how they are feeling and how it changes. Some climbers may arrive feeling nervous, confident, excited, anxious, etc. Once they begin climbing and throughout the experience their emotions evolve.
2. We provide a trip planner that should be utilized both before and after the trip to reflect on the range of emotions felt before, during and after the outing.

B. Accurate self-perception
1. Climbers must evaluate which level course they would like to try- Beginner, Moderate, Advanced, or Expert. If they do not portray an accurate self-perception, they may find themselves in over their head and wishing they were on a less challenging course or that they underestimated themselves and they should have chosen a more challenging course.

C. Recognizing strengths
1. Climbers will start to realize which types of obstacles they excel at. Some climbers enjoy the zip lines while others like the challenging obstacles. Perhaps obstacles where balance is highlighted more than physical strength is easier for some and vice versa.
2. Individuals realize that they have more than just physical strengths. Leadership qualities emerge and problem-solving tactics are taking place.

D. Self-confidence
1. Confidence is gained with every obstacle that is successfully completed. As climbers progress through the courses and meet their goals, they start to trust their abilities and judgement. Their sense of doubt in themselves significantly diminishes.

E. Self-efficacy
1. Guests practice the self- efficacy theory of motivation through experience, vicarious experience, social persuasion, and positive physiological feedback.

Self-Management

A. Impulse control
1. Boundless Adventures has rules in place for safety purposes and to preserve the environment. When students are excited, they must control their impulse to run to the starting platform, have more than one person on an element at a time, and to leave the predetermined nature trail to create a shortcut to their destination.

B. Stress management
1. Stress management techniques are practiced on the course including positive attitudes, exercise, social support, deep breathing, mindfulness, and nature stress relief.

C. Self-motivation
1. Guests are welcome to ask for assistance off a course at any time, but the majority of the climbers would rather practice self-motivation to push through a challenging moment. Climbers are often overheard talking themselves up or asking staff to watch them but not help because they want to accomplish it themselves.
2. With the Bornack SSB clips employed for safety, we are able to provide a setting that fosters self-reliance.

D. Goal setting
1. Guests are encouraged to set a goal of which courses they would like to complete. With 4 levels of difficulty, there are many opportunities for goal setting. As the experience progresses, they reflect on how their goals are being met and if they should adjust them.

Social Awareness

A. Empathy
1. Boundless Adventures offers a unique experience which allows guests to have the ability to understand and share what the other climbers are feeling. Everyone has the same feelings of excitement, nervousness, exhaustion, and thrill.
2. Our activity provides a uniquely level playing field, breaking down the social norms that typically exist in groups.

B. Respect for others
1. Boundless Adventures is a positive environment for people to grow. While at the park everyone will be mindful of their words and actions to promote respect for their peers, staff, and the environment.
2. We foster a “challenge by choice” philosophy whereby everyone’s role in the day is respected, and there is no tolerance for intimidation or group pressure.

Relationship Skills

A. Communication
1. Climbers communicate with staff and their peers while they are in the trees. They describe challenges they are facing, ask for advice about specific elements, and alert a staff member if they would like to get down from a course.
2. When teachers participate, we find that not only does peer communication improve, but the teacher student relationship can be strengthened.
3. We can create climbing teams to foster better communication between certain members of the group if this is applicable.
4. **Depending on the group’s requirements, we can offer icebreakers at the beginning of the day. This is particularly useful for groups that either have dysfunctional cliques or involve subgroups coming together.

B. Teamwork
1. Independent climbers are working together to complete the courses. Word of encouragement, advice on how to complete an obstacle, and what to expect ahead are exchanged.
2. Aspects of teamwork practiced on the course include motivation, individual qualities, developing relationships, healthy competition, and problem solving.
3. **Depending on the group’s requirements, we can offer activities on the ground that fosters teamwork. These activities can be active or can have a problem-solving component to it.

Responsible Decision-Making

A. Identifying problems
1. Each element offers a different obstacle to solve.

B. Analyzing Situations
1. Each course and element offer an opportunity to examine the circumstances, identify perceived risks, and identify any relevant information they may need to complete the task.

C. Solving Problems
1. Climbers employ a variety of problem-solving techniques in the park such as brain storming, lateral thinking, means-end analysis, reduction, root-cause analysis, and trial and error.

D. Evaluating
1. Guests assess each course prior to climbing it. Ideas about how many zip lines, challenging obstacles, or moving elements are made. Guests then relate that information to how they are feeling emotionally and physically to see if it is a good fit for their next challenge.

E. Reflection
1. At the end of the experience the group is encouraged to gather for a moment to debrief. This is the most important part of team building because it is when the value of the experience is realized. During this process the group will share ideas, opinions, what worked, what didn’t, what they would have done differently, and how it can be applied in our everyday lives. Each of the CASEL core SEL competencies should be touched on during this time. This is essential for personal and team growth.
2. **We can facilitate a discussion about the day with a debriefing.

** For an additional $10/guest, we can add 1 hour of structured facilitation. The “**” items are typically part of that hour, but we tailor it to the group dynamics and what the group goals are.

Is this activity educational or recreational?

Both! We provide your school with a “Before the Trip” and an “After the Trip” questionnaire to give your students. This is very helpful to get the students to learn about themselves and their classmates, improve on their teamwork skills, and gain self-confidence which will help them take more risks when they need to do public speaking, creative writing, and scientific experimentation. However, all of this learning will take place while they are having an amazing time. Some will even say it was their best day ever!

How many chaperones do I need?

We allow for one free chaperone to climb for every ten paid climbers. Additional climbing chaperones would pay the school group rate. Non-climbing chaperones can come at no cost.

For the younger kids, the more the merrier. There are course restrictions that are age based, and the chaperones can take the students on the more advanced courses. For kids 14+ the free chaperones are a perk as opposed to a requirement.

Is there a place to park the bus?

Yes. Parking is free and conveniently located on site.

What do we do about food?

We have picnic tables throughout the park. We sell snacks and drinks for your convenience. You are welcome to bring your own food, or have food delivered.

What if it rains?

We are open rain or shine. If you prefer to reschedule your group due to inclimate weather, we are happy to do so as well.