Program News 2003
Goldman Sachs Volunteers Team Up With Barbara Blum Residents
On June 11th, young men from our Barbara Blum residence participated in an Outward Bound trip sponsored by Goldman Sachs & Company as part of its community TeamWorks volunteer initiative. Eleven young men from the residence, 3 staff members and approximately 10 volunteers from Goldman Sachs experienced an exciting day of trust building and physical challenges as they conquered the Alpine Tower Adventure Course, a 55 foot high structure built of logs, rope and assorted materials located at Gateway National Recreation Area in Brooklyn.
One week prior to the adventure, Goldman Sachs hosted an orientation to the program, which included a slide show of the Alpine Tower, itinerary review and team-building exercises. The young men from Barbara Blum met with the Goldman Sachs volunteers.
The morning of the trip, the participants were divided into three teams, and the day began with icebreaker activities, goal setting exercises and safety instructions. Each team then began to ascend the Alpine Tower, choosing one of the numerous ways to climb the tower which vary in levels of difficulty. The structure of the towers allows 4 climbs to take place simultaneously. While one person is climbing there are 3 others who serve as safety spotters with the ropes-hence team members were compelled to trust one another, as each climber relied on his/her team members to secure the rope in the event that he or she fell. The activity proved to be a great self-esteem builder for the young men at Barbara Blum-they developed trusting relationships with the volunteers while experiencing a sense of personal achievement. Good Shepherd is truly appreciative that Goldman Sachs & Company was able to provide this fun and enriching experience to the young men in our residence.
June 18, 2003
