Famed football coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” The motivational quote undoubtedly has made its way to the walls of many athletes since as a reminder to put in the work and maintain the competitive drive to succeed in their sports. But as pressures mount on young athletes to win, win, win, important conversations about burnout and the psychology of youth sports competition are taking place. And that discourse finds that, sometimes, the will to win overshadows the positive benefits of sports: improved physical health, habit building, and social connection.
When considering sports and recreational activities for student groups, remove the element of competition and instead, put a greater emphasis on forms of movement that foster critical thinking skills, teamwork, and community. To pair movement with low-pressure fun, consider the activities to be found at adventure courses, rock climbing facilities, and even our national parks.
Adventure parks—packed with ropes courses, zip-lining, and team-building challenges—are some of the best adrenaline-packed student outings that put the focus on sport, without the pressure of first place, building confidence and staying active without a scoreboard. Rock climbing, whether traditional or bouldering, is often akin to solving a puzzle and requires a dose of mental fortitude, and also can improve body awareness, balance, and conditioning. And national parks also are excellent ground for pairing physical activity with low-pressure learning, all in the setting of some of our greatest national treasures.
MIDWEST
In the Midwest, Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures in Wisconsin offers 100 acres of outdoor learning space in the region affectionately known by locals as the “Hamptons of Chicago,” roughly 82 miles northwest of the Windy City. Nine zip lines, a high-ropes course comprising 17 traversing elements, and a 35-foot-high climbing tower and vertical obstacle course offer plentiful activities for movement and problem solving. Programs catered specifically to youth groups are designed to emphasize collaboration and problem solving and can be tailored to the group’s needs. Half- and full-day options are available, and enhancements like scavenger hunts can be added to the itinerary. Indoor and outdoor meeting spaces provide a place for education or meals.
Minnesota has a burgeoning climbing scene, and students can get a taste for the sport at Vertical Endeavors, with five locations in the state (four in the Twin Cities and one in Duluth), and the company also operates one of the largest climbing facilities in the country in Glendale Heights, Illinois. Top rope climbs, auto belays, sport lead climbing, and bouldering areas are offered at the various facilities (see specific locations for details), and field trips also are welcomed. In Bloomington, Minnesota, for example, 230 routes, 27 auto belays, walls up to 60 feet, and two bouldering areas are available. When student groups book the facility, free harness rentals and staff facilitations of the entire event are included.
NORTHEAST
Take to the treetops at Upstate New York’s Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course, which has thrilling aerial adventure courses featuring suspended bridges, rope swings, and zip lines. Student groups of 10 to 300 can be accommodated, with access to complimentary picnic areas and bus parking April-November. Planners can coordinate with the Adirondack Extreme team to integrate academic subjects spanning from science to physical education, while fostering a sense of stewardship for the outdoors.
The same operator also runs the FLG X New Jersey in Ledgewood, located roughly 45 minutes from New York City. The 30-plus zip lines and variety of adventure courses—with options also available for younger kids, teens, and adults—is a thrilling recreational opportunity for students in the Northeast.
Credit: Movement Gyms
SOUTHEAST
The grasslands, mangroves, and preserves within Florida’s Everglades National Park offer engaging recreational opportunities that are entirely unique. Students can take to airboats or swamp buggies with Wooten’s Airboat Tours, an operator that can customize its tours for K-12 field trips based on age and interest. Through the park itself, planners also can work with the Everglades Education Team for ranger-guided experiences.
National climbing gym chain Movement has a location in Arlington, Virginia—and various locations also in California, Colorado, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia, and Texas. The Arlington location, within the Crystal City neighborhood, offers 35,000 square feet of climbing walls, featuring 217 climbing routes and 138 bouldering problems. Groups of all ages are welcome to book climbing parties that feature a private area and expert instruction, so that climbers of all levels can feel comfortable scaling the walls. Programs also can be organized around team building and problem solving to add an extra layer of education to the fun.
WEST
In Northern Arizona, where the desert landscape shifts to one of mountains and ponderosa pines, Arizona’s largest suspended adventure experience, Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course, includes five treetop courses that feature more than 80 obstacles, zip lines, and aerial challenges, with options for both young children (aged 7-11 years), teens (aged 12-15), and adults. Add-ons also can include ground-based team-building activities that focus on trust issues, hostility among the group, or getting-to-know-each-other games; meals; and more custom options.
There are many gyms across the U.S. that welcome student groups, regardless of skill level. In Sacramento, California, The Boulder Field offers 10,000 square feet of bouldering terrain with dedicated youth areas. Their field trip programs are perfect for beginners as qualified instructors introduce the students to the sport, supervise climbing, and introduce climbing games that encourage team bonding, balance, strength, endurance, problem solving, and fun.
In southwestern South Dakota, the landscapes of Badlands National Park tell fascinating stories: Within its borders, 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires reside along with the largest protected mixed-grass prairie in the United States and one of the world’s richest fossil beds, offering student groups a chance to explore unique geology, ecosystems, and mammals that walked the Earth many years ago. National park rangers are available to lead guided hikes and can work with planners to tailor curricula.
Farther to the west in Glacier National Park, majesty is all around, with snow-capped mountains, varied wildlife, and glistening lakes spread across 1 million acres, 734 trails, and 25 glaciers. Students will marvel at the enormity of the park and can explore it by foot, bike, or water. Glacier Guides offers a variety of guided recreation in the park, including whitewater rafting for half-day, full-day, or overnight tours for groups of 20 to 30 students in summertime. Guided hikes in the warmer months are available as well, ideal for groups of 15 to 18. Tap Glacier Park Boat Co. for picturesque boat tours along some of the park’s lakes, like Lake McDonald or St. Mary Lake. Open to student groups, public and private tours are available for bookings.
Whichever kind of activity you choose, students will appreciate the opportunity to break out of the classroom walls and learn new recreational skills in a low-pressure environment that deemphasizes the battle for first place or the highest score and, instead, brings the fun back into sports.
By Danielle Fields
Main Image: Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course, Bolton Landing, New York; Credit: Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course
