HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 29, 2011 – A new ropes course and retreat center at High Point University are adding a new dimension to the many experiential learning opportunities that the university offers to its students.
The HPU Ropes Course and retreat center, located just a few miles from campus, opened this fall with these things in mind – to give HPU students a place to develop professionally and academically outside of their usual surroundings.
Both of the new ventures are located on 22 acres of lush, wooded property that was donated to the university by Molly Millis-Hedgecock. The retreat center, an estate home on the property, offers a serene environment where student groups can hold special activities and meetings, while the newly constructed ropes course will provide a challenging experience that reinforces the ideals of teamwork and builds confidence and leadership skills.
The HPU Ropes Course includes a high ropes course, a low ropes course, a 250-foot zip line, a climbing pole and a practice area where students learn how to use the equipment necessary for the course before they begin. The courses were built to be utilized by classes and student groups who are studying leadership and team building strategies.
It takes approximately two hours to complete the high ropes course and four hours to experience all of the attractions. Because the course has so many offerings, it’s possible for 24-36 people to be active at once. The course is manned with certified staff at all times, and each student wears a harness connected to two ropes with carabineers that attach to cables above.
“The ropes course is a wonderful addition to our experiential learning program,” says Dr. Dennis Carroll, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. “Our students will benefit measurably from this challenging experience.”
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.℠ HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with over 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students from 51 countries and 46 states at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report at No. 3 among Regional Colleges in the South. Forbes.com ranks HPU in the top 7 percent among “America’s Best Colleges.” Parade Magazine lists HPU in the top 25 private schools in the nation. HPU was selected in the 2010-2011 list of “Colleges of Distinction,” as well as one of the top green schools in the country by the Sierra Club. The university offers 50 undergraduate majors, 43 undergraduate minors and 10 graduate degree programs. It is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at highpoint.edu.
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Pam Haynes
Communication Specialist
336-841-9055
[email protected]