of young people last week completed the gruelling demands of Bermuda's Outward Bound course on Paget Island.

This time, it was the turn of the Police cadets to do battle with the Ropes Course, generally considered to be (in more ways than one) the high point of the week-long exercise in adventure.

One by one, they climbed up massive poles, some 50-feet high, and proceeded to swing from wires or to "cat-walk'' along a log suspended some 30 feet above the ground -- usually to the accompaniment of some good-natured teasing, or for those who needed it, words of reassurance and encouragement.

There was an air of hushed expectancy as one cadet after another hauled his and her way up the terrifying-looking "pamper pole.'' True, they wore safety harnesses, but the object of this particular event was to climb up a 30-foot pole, balance both feet on top and then leap into mid-air and (hopefully) grab the trapeze just another few feet away. A couple of the instructors performed this feat blind-folded.

Not, apparently, a place for the faint-hearted. But there was plenty of laughter and this group seemed to do justice to Outward Bound's motto, which is "To serve, to strive and not to yield''.

Inaugurated 22 years ago and run ever since by the Bermuda Police, the Outward Bound programme is a spectacular success story. More than 2,000 young people from every walk of life have completed the course which is headquartered at Paget Island in St. George's Harbour. For many, this local appetiser of adventure leads to the full course in the UK.

The Bermuda version of the programme has been in existence since 1974 when it was realised that the hugely popular overseas programme could only cater to limited numbers. Even so, a total of $75,000 was raised last year alone from individuals and the business community in order to send 33 students to the North Wales Outward Bound Centre.

Coordinator Pc Mark Norman, part of whose job is to raise funds for Outward Bound throughout the community, emphasises that no-one on Paget Island is forced to participate in a particular exercise. "But one of the great things about Outward Bound is watching people overcome fear and realise their potential. Our job is to encourage them, to teach them to work as a team and to look out for each other. Quite often, the ones who are initially the most fearful turn out to be the most successful. And I'm pleased to say that the girls often out-perform the boys!'' he said.

Senior instructor P.c. Steven Palmer agrees. "It gives everyone a chance to attempt things they would never dream of doing otherwise. Some of them are pushed into it by their parents so they're a bit unwilling to begin with, but by the end of the week, the majority say they have enjoyed it and have a great feeling of accomplishment.'' For local participants, the location of the course on Paget Island, in St.

George's Harbour, lends an air of "another world'' that is only accessible by boat.

Once there, each participant is swept up in a swirl of activities that range from rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking, canoeing and sailing, first aid and life saving, to orienteering treks where map and compass come into play.

Students take their substantial meals alongside the instructors and sleep in dormitories.

Nina Webb, 19-years-old, who joined the Police as a cadet after attending Berkeley Institute and the Bermuda College, was enthusiastic about the course as she caught her breath after a successful encounter with the pamper pole.

She said: "It teaches you confidence and the instructors show us how we can be adventurous but still be safe if we take proper precautions.'' Brian Webb, also 19 and also a Police cadet is an ex-student of Saltus Grammar School, said he enjoyed the canoeing best.

"Outward Bound teaches you a lot of discipline and teaches you to do things you never thought you could do. It's a fantastic experience.'' Although the emphasis is on team work, where many young people have their first taste of learning to live and get along with strangers from totally different backgrounds and learning to `give and take', each student is also expected to `go solo'. This entails spending time alone in a safe area, where personal resources come into play.

But as P.c. Norman emphasises, Outward Bound is not all physical. "Exciting pursuits are only part of the story. Comradeship, compassion, truthfulness and unselfishness are an integral part of an adventure course.'' Community Service is an important aspect and over the years, students have worked at the Island's hospitals and joined in clean-up projects for the Department of Parks.

For the Police who run the courses with the help of a government grant and donations from the community, it's a job that demands long hours with no overtime. An average day begins at 6.30 a.m. and goes on, relentlessly, until about 10.30 each night, from Monday through Friday, throughout the summer.

But, says P.c. Palmer, "It's very rewarding. There's another benefit as well.

Police and local youth live in close quarters for a week. I think it helps young people to realise that Policemen are human!'' Coordinator P.c. Mark Norman sums up the sense of satisfaction that comes from his involvement in Outward Bound when he recalls that he first met P.c. Garic Swainson, for instance, as a 12-year old participant in the course. Now, he is on loan from regular duties at Traffic Division to help out with this year's summer session. "We got out the old photos of that course, and there he was, one of the kids,'' laughs P.c. Norman.

Although courses are held throughout the year, P.c. Norman hopes the programme will be expanded this winter, to include special courses for handicapped people.

"We would also like to target some of the secondary schools that haven't been so well represented in the summer programmes to date. We're especially anxious to bring in as many 14 to 15-year olds as we can, because, unfortunately, this is often the age when some of them start getting into trouble.'' He is convinced that programmes such as Outward Bound can help turn potential trouble-makers into positive people with positive goals.

He is also hoping to involve the business community and encourage employers to send their staff on the courses. "Outward Bound is very popular with companies in the UK and elsewhere. It's a recognised method of teaching the concepts of both teamwork and leadership.'' READY, GET SET -- FLY! -- Pc Garic Swainson gets his balance on top of the 30-foot pamper pole before swinging off on a trapeze. It makes a change from his duties as temporary chef for Outward Bound, but on the High Element Ropes Course, everyone gets involved.

MOMENT OF SUSPENSE -- Outward Bound senior instructor P.c. Steven Palmer demonstrates how to survive on the high wire during a ropes-climbing session on Paget Island.