The Ropes Course at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary offers a High Elements and Low Elements Ropes Course located within our beautiful deciduous forest.
Our trained facilitators tailor each program based upon your group’s specific goals. Using both low and high elements to highlight meaningful subject matter, we create a learning environment that encourages personal growth. Heard Ropes is dedicated to providing exceptional learning experiences in a fun and engaging way to our community. All ropes course programs are available only by reservation.
Make new memories with family, friends, coworkers or cohorts! Experience the DFW like you never have before!
During our Zip Line Days, you’ll climb our new dual zip platform and then soar down a 487-foot zip line through our beautiful deciduous forest. Purchase one ticket for each time you would like to travel down the zip line.
Each participant must have a completed Liability Release and Health Statement prior to participating at the Heard Ropes Course. For your convenience, please print a copy, fill it out and bring it with you to the event you are participating in.
75-250 lbs.
Ages 10+
Nestled in a beautiful bottomland hardwood forest, the Heard Ropes Course offers unique opportunities to enjoy this beautiful, natural environment. High Ropes Elements require harnesses, helmets and safety ropes, all of which the Heard provides. High Ropes Elements combine the perception of risk, personal and group challenge-planning-teamwork, and the thrill of great accomplishments. High Ropes Elements typically take place about 24 feet in the air. For these elements, one can generally plan for about 12 persons to participate per hour per element.
This is a partner activity in which participants climb to a platform on a 24-foot pole. We use a “team belay” system to involve all group members and build teamwork. Once on top of the pole, the participant jumps off and out, reaching for a suspended trapeze. Then, the participant is lowered carefully back to the ground. This activity brings out the height of emotional, mental and physical challenge.
These three elements are connected in a series, 24 feet off the ground. Participants climb up (using a team or individual belay), and walk on a cable while holding on to a series of four hanging rope “vines.” The participant then transfers to a static traveling belay, traversing on a cable and two crossed cables for a genuine challenge. After the final transfer, participants cross on a cable with another waist-high cable. This is an exciting challenge for all who want a traditional ropes course experience.
This exhilarating ride through a beautiful hardwood forest is tremendously popular. The Dual Zip Line consists of a single cable zip line between two poles, approximately 500 feet long, and 24 feet high. Participants begin by walking up our spiral staircase platform, and transferring to the zip tow and pulley, then walking off from a standing position. The element ends at the warehouse ladder for a calm return to earth.
The task of the Team Wall is to get a whole group up and over the 12 foot wall safely. This activity is a great way to culminate the group development that was achieved through the other group initiatives. A platform near the top on the opposite side allows climbers offer assistance to each other. Genuine support, spotting, planning and communication are crucial to completing this activity successfully. Participants will develop a sense of potential for self-actualization and overcome the fear inherent with the perceived risks.
At 40 feet, our climbing wall (without a bell on the top) is our tallest high element. Participants get to choose one of two sides to try.
Experience what it’s like to view the Heard from new heights! Big Bessie is an over 150-year-old Burr Oak tree where climbers, attached to a belay system, will attempt to climb to the top of this element. If completed, climbers ring the bell and get a true bird’s eye view at 50 feet in the air.
Low Ropes Elements and Ground Activities emphasize leadership and communication skills in order to facilitate group success and personal growth. These activities are designed to challenge group members to work together to accomplish a task. Groups must work together to succeed.
Heard Ropes Course programs usually begin with team building “ground” activities. These activities act as fun ice-breakers, designed to establish rapport and build team skills, trust and communication. Facilitators are trained to adapt the rules and content of each game to the age group and needs of the group. The Heard works to constantly offer new ground activities. These activities consist of three parts: set-up, challenge activity, and debriefing. Each activity generally lasts about 20 minutes.
This task sounds simple: get the ring on the 10-foot-tall finger. However, can your team do it without touching the finger? The group members must help each other to raise the ring over 10 feet in the air and then slowly lower it over the finger without any tools.
A whale watch is like a large teeter totter for the whole group. The group must work together to balance the platform so neither side touches the ground. This element will take communication and patience to complete.
The group will be divided into 2 teams. Each team must have 4 members on each set at a time and use the skis to collect items. Meanwhile, they must avoid the land mines. Participants must then return the collected items to their original places. Communication and teamwork will be used to complete this element.
During the Pole Shuffle, the group will be placed single file onto a curved pole. The group will then have to rearrange themselves according to the facilitator’s instructions. This must all be done without anyone touching the ground. Teamwork and coordination are necessary to complete this task.
The Island Adventure requires the team to be set on 3 small “island” platforms with only one plank to get around. The team must work together to transport all participants from the first island to the final islands. If anyone falls during the event, they will be sent back to their original island and the team must return to get them. The game isn’t over until everyone is across. Teamwork and planning will be a high priority to get the whole team to the finish line.
The Spider Web requires the group to get from one side of a giant, bungee cord spider web to the other without waking up the spider. There are consequences for waking the spider! The group must communicate, plan and work together and be ready to adapt as situations require
All Aboard requires the group to climb on a small platform and stay there for a set time. This activity requires a great deal of planning and communication.
The Swinging Log consists of a pole suspended approximately 6 inches from the ground by cables. Group members are taught to spot, use commands, and assist each other as the participant attempts to balance and walk from one end of the log to the other.
The Island Adventure requires the team to be set on 3 small “island” platforms with only one plank to get around. The team must work together to transport all participants from the first island to the final islands. If anyone falls during the event, they will be sent back to their original island and the team must return to get them. The game isn’t over until everyone is across. Teamwork
and planning will be a high priority to get the whole team to the finish line.
With a group of ten or more, let us help you plan an experience that will have a lasting impact on your group.
Based on your input and group dynamics we will design a custom program that will best fit your team and help you achieve your goals in a fun and exciting way.
If you are looking for a more simplified outing for your team, we also offer group reservations of our Zip Line for groups of 25 or more.
Examples of groups that have participated in the Heard Ropes Course:
Each participant must have a completed Liability Release and Health Statement prior to participating at the Heard Ropes Course. For your convenience, please print a copy, fill it out and bring it with you to the event you are participating in.
75-250 lbs.
Ages 10+
Make your next birthday party one for the books!
The Heard Museum’s Ropes Course offers two types of birthday party experiences. Both options are for 15 participants and include the use of our party room.
Zip Line Party Package
Challenge Course Party
Zip Line Party
Members: $275
Non-Members: $325
Challenge Course Party
Members: $360
Non-Members: $410
Required Forms
Each participant must have a completed Liability Release and Health Statement prior to participating at the Heard Ropes Course. For your convenience, please print a copy, fill it out and bring it with you to the event you are participating in.
75-250 lbs.
Ages 10+
Please email us or call us at 972-832-0670 to place an inquiry. Heard staff will get in touch with you to discuss your group, share ideas and design a program that best fits your goals and group. We will then reserve a specific date and time to begin your program. Our ropes course programs are by reservation only.
Our program lengths depend entirely upon your organization’s time constraints. A full program day is 8 hours long. Multi-day or half day programs are also available options. During our prescheduled Zip Line Days, participants reserve a slot per hour. Adventure Days are 3 hours long.
Program pricing varies according to the following factors.
Our minimum and maximum sizes are based on whether or not the participant can fit into our harnesses. The minimum requirements are 10 years old and 75 pounds. There is no maximum age but maximum weight is 250 pounds. All participants must fit in a harness properly.
All children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Please note that all ropes course programs are available only by reservation. Please make sure to reserve your program or spot in one of our pre-scheduled programs before visiting the ropes course. If you have signed up for a program already, directions to the ropes course from the main museum building can be found here. The address is 997 Sharon Road, Fairview, TX 75069.
We reserve the right to cancel due to weather or insufficient participant numbers. If the Heard cancels an event, we will attempt to reschedule. If rescheduling is not possible, a full refund will be provided. If the participant chooses to cancel his or her own reservation, no refunds will be given 7 days or less before a scheduled event.
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