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Activities at PBC

PBC programs are designed in close collaboration with our clients to meet your objectives.  This list is prepared to provide a “menu” of programming options for you to review and discuss with your PBC Coordinator to ensure your goals will be met. 

The PBC Adventure Course:

• Outdoor (and some indoor) activities, including both physical and mental problem-solving tasks, designed to promote teamwork and develop leadership, group cooperation and communication skills.
• PBC has over 20 permanent elements in its Adventure Course and many more portable activities that can be delivered in virtually any location like a park, playground or gymnasium.
• Activities focus on recognition of the groups’ strengths and challenges.  To make significant strides in the group’s teamwork skills, we recommend a full day be allotted to the adventure course.  A minimum of 4 hours of teambuilding on our adventure course is required before a group can advance to the high elements.

High Adventure Activities:

High adventure activities provide safe opportunities for youth to engage in responsible, calculated risk taking.  Typical outcomes are improved self concept, respect for self and peers, and greater ability to assess risk and make responsible decisions.  As with all our programming, safety (emotional and physical) of all participants is our priority.  Groups must demonstrate a basic proficiency in team working skills and safety to participate in high elements. With safety systems in check, participants can prove to themselves they are capable of achieving beyond their perceived limitations.

 

• Dam Rappel: This mountaineering technique for cliff descent is adapted for the Center’s 30 foot dam on Bass Lake.
• Climbing Wall: This 25 foot high challenge to body, mind and spirit awaits both novice and advanced climbers.
• Lakes Ropes: A high ropes course with 5 distinct elements that are often run in a circuit, all 5 elements being attempted by each participant. This challenging course is reserved for groups who have experienced high adventure previously.
• Oaks Ropes: 10 distinct high elements, each run separately, challenge participants coming with a range of experience and abilities.  Some activities at Oaks Ropes are team-oriented, incorporating the entire group in the activity, while others are tackled in pairs.
• Rock climbing: Off-site climbing opportunities exist in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area for groups who have demonstrated experience in high adventure activities.***
• Hiking: Participants have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of our natural surroundings. Hikes can be planned along the trails on our property or along the many miles of the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area, just minutes away from PBC. ***
• Canoeing: Supervised by a certified lifeguard, participants learn safe boating techniques on beautiful Bass Lake, located at the Center.  Extended canoeing trips are also available  along the Delaware River.***

*** Please note it is the responsibility of the group to provide transportation to the rock site, trail-head or boat launching and landing sites.

Wilderness Expeditions (backpacking, canoeing, bicycling): 

An expedition is a multi-day journey with a set of well-defined objectives.  Typical outcomes for youth include skills in group cooperation and decision-making, development of stamina and perseverance, and expanded world view from exposure to different environments.

Wilderness expeditions take place in the immediate vicinity of Blairstown on the Delaware River or in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, or in a variety of locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic states.

Expedition Methodology

• Small Group Process- Groups are responsible for the expedition outcome.  Through experience and discussion the group develops team-work, decision making and problem solving skills.  PBC staff set expectations that youth will exhibit positive values like compassion and respect for others and the natural environment.
• Processing the Expedition - Experiences are discussed and processed along the way to maximize impact.  Emphasis is placed on relating the experience to the students’ lives back home.
• Graduated Challenges- Expeditions consists of a series of graduated, achievable challenges designed to establish a pattern of success.
• Use of Natural Consequences- Natural consequences of actions or inactions are used in a safe and reasonable manner.  E.g., if tents are not secured before going to sleep, participants may get wet during the night.  The environment dispenses immediate, impartial consequences to be utilized as learning experiences.
• Experiential Learning- Learning by doing is emphasized in skill instruction.  Students are active participants and have responsibility to learn the skills necessary for successful completion of the expedition.

 

Additional Activities:

Swimming:  From mid-May to late September participants can enjoy swimming in Bass Lake. All participants must pass a swim check before being allowed to swim, and all swimming is supervised by a certified lifeguard.

Orienteering: Instructors teach map and compass skills, design group initiatives and compass course/scavenger hunts that develop critical thinking, group communication and cooperation.

Multicultural Exploration: PBC instructors have training, and expertise in cross-cultural communication and understanding. We facilitate activities and discussions on diversity, understanding and tolerance. These discussions are best designed in collaboration with staff of our partner agencies.

Environmental Education: PBC has several natural history and ecology lessons available upon request. The rich natural resources of Center property present an ideal classroom for environmental education.

Conflict Resolution Workshop: We believe the groups we work with can and should be able to work, live, and play together in a peaceable way. Our staff is ready to develop this topic in depth with interactive activities that encourage participants to examine how they are interacting with others, and explore more effective ways to interact.

Urban exploration involves travel to one’s own or nearby cities to explore the urban environment.  Activities include biking on urban trails, service learning projects, attending plays and community festivals, visiting museums and various other cultural events.  Typical outcomes for youth include gaining appreciation for one’s own or other cultures and discovering new educational or recreational opportunities within one’s own community.

Service Learning/Service projects: Giving of one’s labor and time can be a powerful learning experience for people of all ages and backgrounds. Projects can take place on site at PBC - rebuilding a trail or bridge, planting trees, patching canoes - in the surrounding Blairstown community, or back home in the communities where our participants live.

Campfire (inside or outside): Weather permitting, there’s nothing like a nighttime campfire under the stars with s’mores. In case of inclement weather indoor fireplaces are available.

Night hike: Instructors lead participants through a series of activities designed to create an understanding and appreciation of the nocturnal world.

 

Finally:

TV and VCR available for appropriate and educational videos for the group.

Space is also available for groups to run their own evening workshops and activities