Mount St. Mary's University Teaches Students Trust Through Zip Lining
By: Dawn White
Updated: September 19, 2012
EMMITSBURG, MD - Mount Saint Mary's University hopes to teach students about trust and overcoming their fears by zip lining!
It's not everyday you see a man dressed in yellow tights climbing up a ladder.
"It was a great experience to come out here and swing around on the ropes close to the sky, right next to my buddy the sun up there," said 'Solar Man,' who went zip lining for the first time.
The person clad in yellow from head to toe is better known as 'Solar Man' to recognize the solar farm on the Mount.
"You're not sure how fast you're going to go, or when you jump off you're not sure how the string's going to hold you up there," Solar Man said. "Just the initial takeoff is just like, 'Whoa!'"
The new zip line is part of the Mount's Outdoor Adventure Program, which is designed to teach students life lessons, such as overcoming their fear of heights.
"Back there in the woods we have a challenge course that consists of low elements that gets groups of people to work together as a team, form bonds, and practice teamwork," said Chris Duffy, director of the Mount's Outdoor Adventure.
"The view from the zip line was great. I think we have the perfect campus to be able to have a zip line because you can look over and see more of the campus," said Kelly Conroy, a Mount student.
I got to see a little more of the campus with my own zip lining adventure.
Those at the Mount say the zip line teaches students about trust and courage. That's something students say they learned while zip lining more than 120 meters.
"Climbing up the pole was really scary in the beginning. It was a longer way up than it looks," Conroy said. "When I was getting ready to step off the platform, I hoped that my ropes were really tight."
The Mount is looking at ways to include school and business groups in the program.
In the meantime, don't be surprised to see Solar Man getting a little closer to the sun and learning to overcome his fears at the same time.
The Mount also includes white water rafting and rock climbing in its Challenge Program.
