Playing Wild
The familiar scent of salt and cedar from our Comox Valley home seemed to follow us down-island, a comforting reminder of the community we were so proud to be a part of. This sense of belonging had only deepened for me over the past four months at ROAM, our little shop tucked away on Comox Avenue. The easy camaraderie and shared smiles already made it feel like more than just a job, but the promise of a staff day at Wildplay in Nanaimo had cemented it. This was a team I wanted to be a part of.
The car ride took us down island. In the back, my co-worker and close friend, Parker, and I were a bundle of pure excitement. Being the youngest of the ROAM crew, we saw the day as a chance to prove our youthfulness, eagerly signing up for the legendary “Primal Swing.”
Before we could test our courage in the trees, a more immediate challenge arose: finding a pub for lunch that would welcome our underage component. After three failed attempts, we stumbled upon a true hole-in-the-wall gem – quaint, spacious, and, most importantly, willing to serve a couple of “kids.” Around a large wooden table, the conversation flowed as easily as it did in the shop. We found ourselves sharing stories of silly fender benders, both old and unfortunately, for one of our crew, very recent. The laughter that erupted, echoing through the cozy pub, was the first of many moments that day where the lines between boss, and employees blurred into a comfortable, easy friendship.
Arriving at Wildplay, the sheer scale of the rope course sent a fresh wave of jitters through our group. High above, tiny figures navigated wobbly bridges and cargo nets. After a thorough safety briefing, we were let loose on the forest canopy. The initial awkwardness of our harnesses and helmets quickly gave way to hoots of encouragement. The ziplines proved to be our collective comedic downfall. One by one, we’d fly through the air with whoops of delight, only to land with all the grace of a sack of potatoes, some of us hitting the landing mat with ease, others not so much. Each clumsy landing became a shared joke, a moment of vulnerability that brought us closer.
Then, it was Parker’s and my turn for the Primal Swing. Standing on the edge of the bridge, 150 feet above the Nanaimo River, the initial excitement curdled into a healthy dose of fear. We were strapped
in, side-by-side, our legs dangling over the vast green expanse. The countdown from the guide was a blur, and then, we were falling. A stomach-lurching freefall gave way to an exhilarating arc, the wind screaming past our ears as we swung out over the canyon. For a few breathtaking moments, we were flying, a shared surge of adrenaline searing the experience into our memories.
The course wasn’t intimidating anymore, and neither were our job titles. We were just a crew cheering each other on. As the day came to a close, the car ride home was just as full of nostalgic stories and finding out more about each other. It was clear the mini-community we’d built at ROAM had just gotten a whole lot bigger.
