Campers scale to new heights of cooperation

By Mary Alice Garrett

This story originally appeared July 29, 1999 in the News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware.

NEWARK — No one was more surprised than Steve Harrington when he stepped off a ladder onto the four-story-high rock-climbing tower.

On his first try Steve had gotten cold feet.

"I’m scared. I just don’t want to do it," he’d said then.

He wasn’t the only one, but like most of the others who tried it he eventually conquered his fear of heights at a special camp led by Harry Walker and Brandon Bell, both seniors in the University of Delaware’s School of Health and Physical Education.

The camp stressed problem-solving, group dynamics, communication, cooperation, trust "and the most important things — fun and safety," said Walker.

Walker and Bell previously used the same techniques they used in this camp when they worked with at-risk and special education students. This was the first time they had offered it as a weeklong summer camp.

It began with campers spending two days getting acquainted, playing games and doing group cooperative activities.

All the campers then wrote and signed a "Full Value Contract" which they carried with them.

lncluded in the contract were promises to "listen and learn, treat others as you would like to be treated, try your hardest and no negative comments."

On the third day of the camp, they tackled the rock-climbing tower in White Clay Creek State Park.

All wore safety helmets and were double-buckled to a safety lifeline. "It’s completely safe," said Walker.

Nevertheless, Walker said "the problem is sometimes mental" as the climber reaches the top of the ladder and realizes his next step is a rock foothold.

"It’s about overcoming a fear of heights and relying on someone else," added Walker.

"The hardest part is getting from the ladder onto the wall,” said Chris Harper, 12, of Newark. On his second try, Chris went all the way to the top.

It was a lot easier that second time around, he said.

Megan Vitale, 11, of Christiansen in Newark, said the same thing about making it from the ladder to the wall.

"I couldn’t lift myself up with my arms, and my legs kept slipping," she said.

Still, Megan made it halfway up the tower.

Later, Megan held the lifeline for Alison McKenica, 13, of Rising Sun, Md.

“With Megan down there, I’ll be fine," Alison said on her first attempt. It took her two more tries and lots of encouragement from Walker, however, before she was comfortable with the rock footholds.

"My friends can go on roller coasters, but I bet they can’t do this," Alison said once she was on the ground. "It’s fun. I like coming back down."

Stephen Reid, 12, had an audience of three urging him on: brothers, Tommy, 10, and Timothy, 17, and mom, Shari, had come from the Hunt at Louviers.

Stephen made it on his third try.

Impressed by his brother’s success, Tommy said he is "definitely" signing up for the camp next summer.

Jarred Frane and Greg Onizuk, both 12, were successful their first time out.

Jarred, who lives in Stanton, had scaled Vertigo Extreme in Pennsylvania. And Greg, who lives in Middletown, went straight to the top of the tower.

Mike Cooper, 12, went partway up the second time.

"I don’t like heights," he said, adding that he thought they would scale a climbing wall and not a tower.

After the tower, campers were slated to climb a 25-foot pole and jump onto a trapeze, wearing a full-body harness.

“That works on personal goals," said Walker. “We will talk about setting goals, choices in life."

The last day of camp, those who attended drew a picture of their favorite activity.

They also talked about those who had helped others and how they had encouraged others.

Both help and encouragement, Walker and Bell said, are important elements of the camp, and talking about those two subjects helps fix those concepts in the children's minds.