challenge Course FAQ’s

 what is a CHALLENGE COURSE?

A Challenge Course is a structured outdoor experiential learning program designed to promote teamwork, communication, leadership, and personal development. Our Challenge Course consists of a series of physical and mental challenges set within several different elements located at Blue Lake Camp. The challenges are on our low and high ropes elements, as well as additional mobile initiatives that require participants to work together to overcome various obstacles and achieve specific goals.

Key features of our challenge course includes:

Team Building: The primary focus is on enhancing teamwork and collaboration among participants. Activities are designed to encourage communication, trust, and cooperation.

Physical and Mental Challenges: Participants engage in a variety of physical and mental challenges that push them outside their comfort zones, fostering personal growth and development.

Low and High Elements: Low elements are close to the ground and may include activities like trust falls, problem-solving initiatives, and group games. High elements involve elements suspended above the ground, adding an element of risk and excitement.

Leadership Development: We incorporate leadership development into all of our programs. Participants may take on different roles, such as team leader, to practice and develop leadership skills.

Problem Solving: Many activities require participants to solve problems collaboratively, encouraging creative thinking and strategic planning.

Risk and Trust: Participants face perceived risks that challenge them to trust their teammates, leading to increased trust and cohesion within the group.

Experiential Learning: Learning occurs through hands-on experiences and reflection. Debriefing sessions follow activities to discuss lessons learned, transferable skills, and strategies for improvement.

Inclusive: Our Challenge Course is suitable for people aged 5 and up! Our elements can challenge people with high athletic abilities as well as people who use mobility aids such as a wheelchairs. Physical abilities do not determine if a person is capable of being on our Challenge Course.

Customizable Programming: Courses can be tailored to meet the specific goals and objectives of any group or organization, making it suitable for a wide range of participants, from corporate teams to youth groups.

Overall, challenge courses are powerful tools for personal and team development, providing an engaging and impactful way to build essential skills in a dynamic and experiential setting.

what do your facilitators do?

Our Ropes Course Facilitators are trained and certified by Adventureworks! One of 36 companies accredited by the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT). They have a minimum of an 80-hour certification (Challenge Course Facilitator Level 2) and create innovative programs, solve problems in ropes course environments, and are prepared for emergency situations. Specifically, our instructors have developed advanced leadership and facilitation skills and can act on the Challenge Course similarly to a lifeguard at a pool. They focus on incident prevention and providing an unforgettable experience for each client.

We operate our Challenge Course using two main philosophies; Challenge by Choice and I-OPt (Inviting Optimal Participation).
Challenge by Choice programs sequence activities to create an atmosphere of support, trust, and encouragement for taking risks. Participants agree to value group members, allow individuals to step back and try again later, focus on effort rather than performance, and respect people's choices and ideas (Scboel, Prouty, & Radcliffe, 1988)

I-OPt programs provide all participants with multiple options and levels of challenge within a single, inclusive activity design. Instructors ensure all group members can contribute to each activity's central task by deliberately balancing participant characteristics with the challenge environment (Haras, 2003).

Our facilitators are trained with tips and tricks on how to make the challenge appropriate for each person. We hope that participants will communicate their comfort zone, and take one more step beyond it.

How does this connect to the BC Curriculum?

The curriculum for Challenge Courses fosters problem-solving skills, communication skills, a greater sense of community, and an appreciation for what you can accomplish. Our Team Building and Challenge Course programs create new, engaging learning experiences with an impact that will last a lifetime.

Teachers, Click to View Grade 1- 12: Team Building & Challenge Course Curriculum Connections

is it safe? You Bet!

We are inspected and certified annually by Adventureworks! Inc. an ACCT-accredited organization, and before each use by our Challenge Course Level 2 Instructor. The Challenge Course governing body ACCT requires a minimum of a Level 2 Instructor on site and an annual inspection for a Challenge Course to operate. (https://www.acctinfo.org/) The safety standards are over 30 years old and updated on a regular basis. These standards set things like the strength of cables, and redundancies of connections, certification levels of instructors, and dictate when the course is inspected. Before you participate in any Challenge Course Program do not hesitate to confirm their annual inspection date and who their ACCT certified staff are. This is the only quality and safety standard in North America. To learn more about safety, watch our Challenge Course Risk Management video below of Kathy Haras Ph.D., Adventureworks! Vice President as well as the builder and trainer for Blue Lake Camp.