The sun was hiding behind a blanket of clouds and the wind drove all but a brave few from the open fields. Brothers of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity chose to challenge themselves on the Odyssey High Ropes Course at Challenge Discovery despite the chill. A group of new brothers were looking to bond and enjoy each other’s company. Without fear or trepidation, they arrived with high energy, ready for anything the day of team building might bring.

One of the first challenges of the day was “Maui to Kauai,” which almost proved to be too much for them. After a quick regrouping session and with the buzzards circling, they constructed the bridge to escape. Feeling ready for the climb, the brothers donned their safety gear and prepared to ascend to the upper level of the ropes course. Reaching the top of the course, they surveyed their surroundings and tried to warm their hands, now stiff from the short climb up the net. From the ground below they could hear cheers and jeers from older fraternity brothers, who had come to watch and encourage their new brothers through the course. The combination of open minds and personal courage led them through one element of the course after another, and before they knew it, the end of the course was within reach. Pumped from their successes thus far, they jumped in head first and flew through the final stretch. All that was left standing between the brothers and solid ground was a short zip line ride. With cheers and laughter around them, they each descended, some to meet the ground with their shaky feet, others to go face first and give the grass a warm kiss. Walking away meant leaving that day’s experiences behind, but taking all of the lessons learned, laughs shared and courage shown.

Personal courage means many things to many people. Today for Lambda Chi Alpha, it meant being a member of the team. They set the bar and met every challenge head on. We look forward to your return and hope all your endeavors are as successful as today’s.