Alpine Tower Project

On Monday the Alpine Tower began its journey to its new home on the site of the new Watauga High School. The tower will be a great teaching tool for students of Watauga County and represents an additional opportunity made possible by the new Watauga High School. The first step was to dismantle the climbing structure with help from Phoenix Experiential Designs. In this picture two climbers are cutting the bolts and freeing up individual pieces of the structure to then be lowered to the ground by the crane and fork lift.

The Tower Experience provides three distinct program opportunities. Group problem solving initiatives can be accomplished in the Tower base which focus specifically on leadership objectives.

The Tower can be used for individuals and presents the same challenges as rock climbing and high ropes course elements. This programming option addresses the same objectives as the group initiatives (due to the climber/belayer relationship) as well as enhancing self esteem.

Finnaly the Tower provides an intense partnering experience which dramatically highlights objectives of teamwork, cooperation, trust, communication, adventure, and probably most important of all - compassion. It is sometimes difficult to design educational activities that foster the values of compassion and respect. The pairings concept on the Alpine Tower is an extension of the popular successful event of rock climbing. Not only does it include the climber/belayer relationship, but the added variable of partners, physically connected and naturally needing to work together to ascend the Tower with all its obstacles. The true potential of the Alpine Tower experience is reached when partners develop compassion, care, respect, and understanding of each other due to the fact that their safety depends on working together toward a common goal.

The rain and mud made the task a little more challenging but it was nothing Robbie, Tom, Allan, Katie and Carleton couldn't handle. Below the 60 foot swing by choice pole is removed from the ground. This element connects to the Alpine Tower and lets individuals swing off the tower after being raised by the group.



Around noon on Tuesday the truck arrived at the site of the new school.



The poles were then unloaded from the truck and will be prepared for rebuilding and construction hopefully to be complete by spring of 2010.