1 of 31: Amazonia Aventura is located in Cercedilla, about fifty kilomoters west of Madrid.

2 of 31: There are other activities as well in the Cercedilla area.

3 of 31: The monitors meet us when we arrive at our appointed time. If you are taking a group, it is best to call ahead for a reservation.

4 of 31: Emilio, the monitor, gives us instructions in using the harness, the carabiners, the safety lines and the zipline.

5 of 31: Emilio tests us out on the practice course.

6 of 31: First steps on an elevated wire.

7 of 31: Learning to "chill out" on the zipline.

8 of 31: Learning to recover on the zipline.

9 of 31: Mounting the platform.

10 of 31: Usually, the zipline takes you all the way to the next platform, so learning to land is important also.

11 of 31: Good form on the zipline.

12 of 31: The first obstacles are low and simple.

13 of 31: There are a variety of different means of getting from tree to tree.

14 of 31: Some of them are even reminiscent of Tarzan.

15 of 31: In this case, you crawl through a barrel.

16 of 31: This is a more traditional rope bridge.

17 of 31: Everyone gets into the act, including our chaperones.

18 of 31: Everyone can enjoy the route.

19 of 31: Of course, it helps if you have a gymnastics background.

20 of 31: Our chaperones sometimes led the way and had to wait for the "slowpoke" students!

21 of 31: Then the course leads to the upper levels.

22 of 31: At this point, the climbers have been moving for over an hour.

23 of 31: Even the higher course has different obstacles.

24 of 31: The group photo of Summit Team Fall 2005.

25 of 31: Emilio greets us and is happy to see us back.

26 of31: We learn the same techniques as the last group.

27 of 31: And practice the same skills.

28 of 31: And the safety measures are just as strict: always have two lines attached to the safety line.

29 of 31: It is a great outing, even better when your dad comes along.

30 of 31: And it certainly is exhausting, more for some than others.

31 of 31: It was a very quiet bus ride back to school.

After instruction, each student must "pass a test" by using the equipment properly on a ground level assortment of obstacles, including a low-level zipline.

Each student is connected to a safety line by two lines attached to the harness. Any slip or fall will be no more than a foot or two: a fall from which the student can easily recover and climb back onto the wire.

In the event that the zipline does not take you all the way to the next platform, you must wait until you come to a complete stop before trying to recover. This assures that you will not pinch your fingers.

Once you have stopped, you reverse your direction and simply pull yourself to the next platform.

When you get to the platform, you mount the platform and then clip into the safety wires on the platform. You are always clipped into at least one safety line

Good form on the zipline must be learned. Keep the body straight ahead, wiggle as little as possible, and keep seated comfortably in the harness. Then gravity and the zipline will do their jobs.

Monitors follow the students from the ground to make sure that each student is clipped into the safety wire at all times. Aventura Amazonia boasts an excellent safety record.

As of Fall, 2005, the ASM Summit Team has now become an elective course in the Middle School: Mountaineering. Now students participate to learn about themselves and their abilities.

The End