September 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 16

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High Dive
A high-ropes course in Germany gives soldiers an outlet for high-energy activity
By Randey Stanaland

t United States Army Garrison (USAG) Grafenwoehr in eastern
Germany, soldiers are getting a new opportunity for adventure. This
month, the all-new $9.8 million Outdoor Recreation (ODR) Complex
at Camp Heritage/Dickhaeuter Lake will open for military servicemembers
and their families, offering numerous onsite options for recreation and fun.
Designed by a local German architectural firm with construction managed by the Corps of Engineers, the
ODR facility is being built in an existing recreation area by Dickhaeuter
Lake and will have a new central equipment checkout building, an indoor
climbing wall for training, outdoor
play areas, pavilions, cabins, campsites
and a boat dock. It is just one of many
Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation
(MWR)-funded projects in the Army.
According to Dan Ahern, chief of
Installation Management Command
(IMCOM), Europe MWR, " Facilities
like this are a key element to the overall
fitness and well-being of soldiers. The
construction of a new outdoor rec facility with a high-ropes course demon-

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strates the Army's commitment to both
the Warrior Adventure Quest (WAQ)
program and the modernization of our
recreational programs and facilities. "
The $375,000 high-ropes course portion of the facility was completed and
turned over for MWR use in July 2012,
which was early in the ODR facility
construction timeline in order to be integrated as quickly as possible into the
Army's WAQ program.
Often referred to as challenge courses,
high-ropes courses are often integrated
into existing landscapes of tall trees or
forest environments. They are different
from other types of challenge courses
as most of the elements are constructed higher in the air rather than close to
the ground. Existing trees can provide

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cover, shade and an added sense of obstacles to overcome, which contributes
to the overall challenge, both physically and mentally. Additionally, the new
Grafenwoehr course was specifically
designed and built to accommodate
multiple participants at the same time
and for group challenges that promote
cooperation and team building rather
than just individual skills.
Returning from extended deployments, many soldiers are used to
high-risk, high-energy situations and
thus seek out sports and other activities that provide the adrenaline rush
that they have grown accustomed to.
The new high-ropes challenge course
is a great addition to the Army's
Warrior Adventure Quest program,
which provides soldiers with many
different high-energy activities in a
fun and safe environment. The highropes course and other WAQ activities enhance the morale of post-deployment soldiers, which helps with
their reintegration and can deter other high-risk or unsafe activities.
For the soldiers who participate in
activities at the high-ropes course, it's
about risk and reward, confidence
and team building, fun and succeeding. And because of recreation
programs like this at USAG Grafenwoehr and other installations around
the world, the U.S. military is stronger, safer and better mentally and
physically prepared for any obstacles
that come their way.
Randey Stanaland is an MWR
Construction/Project Manager for the U.S.
Army in Kaiserslautern, Germany
(randey.b.stanaland.naf@mail.mil).

September 2013 - Parks & Recreation

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