The Trust Sequence
Trust sequences include:
- Activities in which participants encounter very small physical risks while remaining in contact with the ground, such as leaning out and allowing other team members to catch and restore them to the upright position.
- Overcoming trepidation over perceived risks through proper spotting commands and techniques as well as communication.
An important early experience within a progression is the trust sequence
- Trust sequence often functions as a first opportunity for participants to trust one another with their own physical safety.
- Ability to trust early on relates directly to participant’s willingness to trust on an emotional level.
The role of risk in adventure education
- During OWLS activities, the risk is overwhelmingly perceived risk: when our mind sees something as dangerous even though most of the true danger has been removed.
- Perceived risk is valued in adventure education because it allows for significant personal challenge without significant potential for physical harm.
- How one negotiates a trust sequence lays a foundation for functioning at higher levels of personal risk in future experiences.
- Those who fear the increased risk and challenge later in the program are able to begin addressing these issues during trust sequences.