LEARNING THE ROPES

LAKE IS LABORATORY FOR EDUCATION

Jonathan Barrientos, a Rogers High School student with cerebral palsy, rappels down a cliff with outdoor education instructor Jeff Belk Dec. 12 at Lincoln Lake. Rappelling and rock climbing are two of many skills students learn in outdoor education at RHS and other area schools.

Jonathan Barrientos, a Rogers High School student with cerebral palsy, rappels down a cliff with outdoor education instructor Jeff Belk Dec. 12 at Lincoln Lake. Rappelling and rock climbing are two of many skills students learn in outdoor education at RHS and other area schools.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

LINCOLN High fi ves flew all around while, one by one, a dozen giddy high school students rappelled smoothly down a 50-foot sandstone cliff .

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Shawn Flannigan, an instructor, works the ropes on Dec. 12 that help students climb up a rock wall. Jonathan Barrientos, right, watches after rappelling down a cliff.

No palms slapped higher than for Jonathan Barrientos, a Rogers High School senior. Being in a wheelchair didn’t stop the teenager from making the drop.

When Barrientos signed up for the school’s popular outdoor education class, instructors Jeff Belk and Shawn Flannigan knew the rapelling and rock climbing trip was coming up.

They were also confident that Jonathan would rappel with the rest of his classmates.

Barrientos has cerebal palsy which limits him physically, but not his ability to flash a wide grin. His smile was priceless when Jonathan starteddown the cliff face with Belk at his side.

One of Jonathan’s classmates, Jessica Coffey, said a part of outdoor education is trying new, sometimes scary, things.

“You’re facing your fears,” she said.

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Flannigan rolls Jonathan Barrientos to the edge of a cliff Dec. 12 so he can rappel 50 feet to the bottom.

Like Jonathan, Coffey rappelled just fine down the cliff .

Belk and Flannigan had high praise for each student who braved rappelling, then ascended up another sheer sandstone face in a rockclimbing exercise with ropes attached for safety.

All eyes were on Jonathan when it came his turn to rappel.

NO FEAR

Lincoln Lake, in west Washington County, shimmered 50 feet below the cliff. Jonathan sat near the edge. Flannigan grabbed the handles on the back of Jonathan’s wheelchair and rolled him toward the rappelling ropes.

Someone asked, “Nervous, Jonathan?”

“I’ll tough it out,” thesenior said.

Flannigan wheeled Jonathan to the edge and asked him to brake the wheels. “Lock those babies up,” Flannigan said.

With that, the two teachers lifted Jonathan out of his wheelchair, sat him on his rear at the edge of the cliff and roped him to a rappelling harness.

B efore the trip, they obtained a full-body harness for Jonathan to use, instead of the usual type that fits around the hips and waist.

Flannigan and Belk’s game plan for Jonathan unfolded.

“When he signed up for the class, immediately ourwheels started turning. We didn’t want him not to experience this,” Flannigan said.

Belk wrapped his arms around the student and, slowly, they slid over the edge.

Then there it was, that big grin from Jonathan.

His classmates sprinted down a trail to beat him to the bottom. That smile was still there when he reached solid ground.

“I’m ready to go back up now,” Jonathan said when Belk loosened the ropes.

OUTDOORS FOR ALL

Facing your fears on a rockwall is one of the hands-on, feet-on outdoors activities juniors and seniors learn.

Rogers High School was the first in the region to offer the class, which was developed by Belk when he was in college.

Now Rogers Heritage, Bentonville, Pea Ridge, Fayetteville and a middle school in Springdale offer outdoor education.

Some indoor education is part of the course, said Brittany Jackson, a senior.

“We learn a lot about the environment, about global warming and how things are in nature,” she said.

Outdoor educationstudents run the recycling program for the entire high school, Jackson added.

Sure, it helps to be in decent shape to tackle some of the outdoor activities, like rock climbing, that the course dishes out.

Instructor Flannigan noted that most, like stream study, fl y fishing, hiking and archery, are suited to any teenager.

Flannigan and Belk enjoy seeing their students, like Jessica Coffey, face uncertainty and win.

“You see that look of fear on their face. By the time they’re done, it’s turned into a smile,” Flannigan said.

Outdoor, Pages 6 on 12/20/2012