Thanks to a grant from the Mid Coast Parkview Health-LincolnHealth, Community Health Improvement Fund, students at Boothbay Region High School will have a new activity to access when they return to school next September.

A Challenge Course (ropes course) from  High 5 Adventure Learning Center in Brattleboro, Vermont is scheduled to be erected next to Perkins Field (the school’s field hockey field) in early August.

The project came about when BRHS Principal Dr. Tricia Campbell told BRHS physical education teacher Dennis Dacus about the grant opportunity.

“Having experience with a challenge course for 16 years while teaching at Cony High School, I thought it would be ideal for this school,” said Dacus.

After getting a quote from High 5 on the elements he would like to include for the course and filling out and sending in the grant application, Dacus was pleasantly surprised when Fund officials notified him that they would fund the entire plan. The original grant opportunity was for up to $25,000 but the Fund officials gave BRHS another $11,000 toward the project.

Recently, representatives from High 5 met with Dacus, Campbell, school trustee Troy Lewis and Director of Safety and Transportation Kyle Canada to discuss the project and to walk the area where the course is going to be.

“It will cover an area approximately the size of the high school gym, maybe a little smaller,” said Dacus, who will travel to Vermont this summer to receive training on running the course. He has received training previously at High 5 but is getting additional training on the new elements to be installed.

There will be some high and some low elements on the course. Dacus said some of the elements have catchy names: Wild Woosey, Mohawk Walk, Pirates Crossing, Vertical Playpen and Holy Cow Swing.

“Holy Cow Swing allows a participant to be lifted about 40 feet in the air by fellow students holding ropes and then he or she is released to swing back and forth,” said Dacus.

Dacus said there will be opportunities to add elements to the course.

“We would like to perhaps add a Zip Line to the course and there are many more elements available at High 5,” said Dacus.

BRHS secretary Christina Lorrain will be in charge of providing information about submitting donations to purchase elements for the course.

“People can call the BRHS main office at 633-2421 and ask to speak with me or email me — clorrain@aos98schools.org — or stop in BRHS' main office to drop off a donation. Checks payable to BRHS. Check memo — Ropes Course,” wrote Lorrain in an email.

Campbell had this to say about the project.

"I am thrilled that BRHS is adding a ropes course to its facilities! The benefits to our physical education program are going to be phenomenal. The activities that are introduced are fantistics opportunities for students to improve their balance, coordination and overall endurance skills. They will get to work on their team building skills while getting outside and having fun!

"We are incredibly grateful to have Dennis Dacus on staff who is fully certified to lead our students and staff in these activities and we will train additional staff as well as part of the grant. The grant has provided our school the opportunity to expand our program and provide more students ongoing connections to the outdoors. The physical, mental health and social benefits are exciting. Beyond physical strength, these types of activities help to build connections, confidence, trust and self esteem. We can not wait to get started!

"Many larger high schools in the state have a ropes course as part of their facilities and physical education programs. We are proud to be able to offer such similar opportunities to our students. We may be small but we are mighty and our students deserve the best! This grant has provided us the opportunity to provide that."