Due to COVID-19, the ropes course was shut down because there was no need to certify it when classes were held online. There was no talk of reopening the course until an email was sent to Mrs. Fernandez by 6th grader Brooklyn Nelson, who expressed interest in reopening it.
Brooklyn Nelson, a sixth-grade student, sent the email to Mrs. Fernandez, which sparked the initial conversation about looking into reopening the course. Nelson explained why she decided to send the email: “My PAW teacher made me think about sending the email because he wanted to know why it was closed down and everything, and I was doing it just to find out some things.”
Nelson shares, “The response I mainly got was they’ll look into it, have someone come out and test it to see if it’s safe for use.” She also expressed her excitement to see if reopening the course is possible, which was the reason behind her email.
The ropes course faces significant challenges when it comes to reopening. Mrs. Fernandez explained the situation: “We had it inspected and it did not pass any of the tests. We are working on getting a quote for what the repairs would cost, and then we’ll go from there.”
She also mentioned, “After repairs, we would need to have staff certified or pay for an outside service to run it. It also requires the cost of equipment.” Reopening the ropes course would be costly, including expenses for repairs, training or hiring staff, and purchasing new equipment.
The process of reopening the ropes course is complex, especially with the associated costs and necessary training. It is uncertain when the course might be in use again, as there is a lot to be done to ensure the safety of students—this was the original purpose of the course, to help students adventure and face their fears.