Session Five - Halfway!

Well, here we are at Session
Five of CTC. Halfway done already, we're not quite sure where the time has gone! Girls and mentors are getting comfortable with each other and spent time this session talking about comfort, stretch, and panic zones. How do you know you're being stretched or in panic, and what can you do?

Everyone's getting comfortable climbing and belaying, too!

This week, we rope climbed and did some media analysis in Girls' Group. Each mentor/mentee pair looked through a magazine and found one picture to present to the group and talk about what it said about how girls and women are supposed to be. These girls had a lot to say about the media!

Everyone agreed that the ads in magazines portray a very narrow idea of what girls are really like, and don't showcase the amazing talents that girls have - mostly they showcase bodies that are someone else's idea of beauty and perfection.

We wrapped up the night by talking about ways to resist the messages that don't feel true - by writing emails, choosing what to buy, talking about it, and using humor to make light of media images that don't ring true. We're all excited for these amazing conversations to continue!

Check out the pictures below from Session Five, and the surprise birthday celebration!

Last Monday, the amazing girls and women of CTC headed out to the Asheville School Ropes Course. We started off with some games and introductions and then jumped right in.

First, Adventure Ed showed us how to use the ropes course safety systems. Being familiar with climbing equipment and gear use, everyone picked it up really fast.

There were five cards hidden in different spots on the ropes course - some on the highest level, and some on the lower level (which is still about thirty feet off the ground!). The group decided which pair would get each card. There was a lot of courage shown as girls and mentors spoke up about their fears and excitements.

And then off we went into the ropes course itself! Everyone climbed up the initial cargo net tunnel, and then departed to different sections of the course. Some highlights included a rope bridge with a missing step that took some problem solving to cross, the giant swing, the leap of faith to the trapeze bar and bell, and climbing up the cargo netting.

Back in the Lodge over a tasty dinner courtesy of Rosetta's, the girls opened up their cards to find some food for thought about the real meaning of confidence and courage. We took time to reflect on our own acts of confidence, and to appreciate what we had seen in others during the day.

Special thanks to Ed and the Asheville School staff, and to Becca and Sharlene for helping support this amazing day.

Below are some pictures, if you want to see more, 'like' us on Facebook for access to a more in depth album!

On the platform, getting ready to climb into the upper levels.

Just hanging out, waiting to head over to the swing.

Check it out - no hands!

What an amazing team!

Success and big smiles!