Husky Challenge Course
The Husky Challenge Course is an experiential team building program that utilizes low and high elements to provide a group with a series of individual and group challenges. We help to develop group communication skills, improve conflict management skills and build trust while having fun! We tailor our activities to meet your goals.
Who uses a Challenge Course?
Corporate groups, adjudicated youth, non-profit groups, high school & middle school groups/classes, sport teams, residence halls, student clubs and civic/service/youth organizations are just a few of the possible groups who can benefit from the activities offered by the challenge course. Fostering change, improving relationships, and promoting growth are all reasons why groups have used our course in the past. Groups who have made a reservation to use the course will be asked to fill out a needs questionnaire so that the staff can customize the event to meet specific needs. Prior to using any of the elements on the course, participants will learn about course safety and proper use of equipment, including (but not limited to) harnesses, belay ropes and helmets.
*Minimum age to participate in the high elements is 12 years old.
*Persons with disabilities can be accommodated in most cases prior to notification.
Course Components
Games and Initiatives
The purpose of games and initiatives is to take the group from a simple warm-up to more complex problems requiring the group to plan and implement strategies to successfully complete a task. This time is necessary for the group to stretch, get to know one another, and to take small risks. Games and initiatives set a team building tone for the day.
Low Elements
The purpose of low elements is to move participants through a series of activities that are anywhere from ground level to three feet off the ground. Each element presents a unique degree of difficulty and must be accomplished as a group.
High Elements
Imagine scaling our 38 foot climbing wall or stepping off the 32 foot high platform and sliding down the zip line at 20mph for 175 feet! These elements involve one or two person events, 5-30 feet above the ground. Each participant is safely harnessed and belayed by a trained professional. These elements develop and enhance trust, accomplishment and feelings of self-worth.
Mobile Programs
Almost all of our group development activities are portable. The challenge course staff can travel to your venue and facilitate a program that meets your specific needs. See the pricing portion of the website to learn more about costs for the travelling programs.
Husky Challenge Course Training
SCSU Outdoor Endeavors is proud to be an organizational member of the Professional Ropes Course Association. Through this relationship, we maintain close contact with industry leaders and are constantly refining our policies and procedure to be the #1 source for challenge course programming in Central Minnesota. We take great pride in the quality of customer service we provide, our ability to build a client centered program and our outstanding attention to participant safety. For more information about the Professional Ropes Course Association, click on the above link.
The student staff of Outdoor Endeavors participate in multiple trainings to develop technical skills, group facilitation skills, safety and risk management skills and challenge course construction techniques throughout the year. Below are some pictures from our recent training.
Becoming a CHallenge Course Facilitator
If you are interested in becoming a challenge course facilitator, we want to talk to you! Our training is rigorous and requires a solid commitment from part-time and contract facilitators. We can build custom training experiences for new facilitators specific to our challenge course. Becoming a challenge course facilitator not only helps our program deliver customer programs, but also provides a great leadership opportunity and chance to develop new skills.
Here is the progression all our student facilitators follow:
1. Attend a 16 hour technical skills training and be able to perform outlined skills safely and consitently.
2. Serve as an Assistant Facilitator for 16 hours of direct programming under the supervision of the Challenge Course Student Manager or Coordinator.
3. Attend and successfully complete 2-4 hours of group facilitation training.
4. Attend and successfully complete 2-4 hours of low ropes & group initiative training.
5. Attend and successfully complete 2-4 hours of safety & risk management training.
6. Maintain current American Red Cross 1st Aid & CPR.
7. Recieve reccomendation from Challenge Course Student Manager or Coordinator for promotion to Lead Facilitator.
Outdoor Endeavors schedules these trainings twice annually. Please contact Ivan Bartha for more information on this unique opportunity at 308-6691 or at challengecourse@stcloudstate.edu
