Preparing for Your Course

What to Bring/Wear

Water

Always bring a full water bottle for each participant (clearly and individually identified) and resupply. No refill water will be available at the course.

Shoes

You must wear closed toe shoes – tennis shoes are good. Mulch, branches, elements, boards, wires can be potentially injurious to participants.

Jewelry

Please leave your valuables and jewelry at home, due to possible loss and injury.

Clothing

In warm weather, a typical outfit would include comfortable clothing and shorts or long pants, a t-shirt, and a hat with a brim to protect. On cool mornings, wear a sweatshirt or light jacket that you can take off as the day warms up.

In colder weather, dress in layers you can easily take off and put on, preferably not cotton. In very cold weather it is advisable to bring a ski hat and gloves. Make sure to wear warm socks (made of either wool or fleece or a synthetic blend).

Bring rain gear, as we run the course rain or shine and cannot provide rain gear.

Insect repellent

Bring the insect repellent that works best for you and your group. Please follow our directions and stay out of the forested area or non-mulched areas . Yellow jackets, ticks, and snakes tend to nest in non-mulched areas.

Modern technology devices

Use of cell phones, radios, and music devices do not lend themselves to our group development philosophy and program; they are not permitted.

Two exceptions: We do recognize that in emergency situations cell phones are the best method for acquiring advanced medical care and are permitted. Additionally, there are specific times that outside communications are integral to an individual’s well-being; we request that the individual step away from sight of the group.

Medical form and conditions

A signed and completed medical form is required by each person accessing the course, whether observing, supervising, or participating. It is our intent that each participant with medical issues is aware of the potential risks inherent in the participation, which can be physically and psychology challenging. Groups and their leaders are responsible for all of their participants’ medical conditions. Inhalers and EPI pins are required for participants who have either of these potentially life-threatening conditions, including asthma or allergic reactions to insect stings, bites, or food allergies.

Liability and Hold Harmless Release

A signed and completed liability and hold harmless release is required by each person accessing the course, whether observing, supervising or participating.

Adventure Course Details

Minimum/maximum number of participants to schedule a challenge course

Eight. The maximum is negotiable (we have facilitated 330 participants in half a day with advanced planning).

Behavior

We expect that all participants will maintain an appropriate level of maturity and participate fully. If an inappropriate behavioral issue arises, we will expect your group leader(s), not our staff facilitators, to address it. If necessary, remove the participant.

Experiential education

Experiential education is an educational philosophy where hands-on experience is the basis of learning. Our facilitation staff does not lecture on topics of leadership or teamwork; rather they set up challenges, initiatives, and activities for the individual participant and group and then facilitate them in discussion before or after the activity. Participants learn by sharing their reactions, identifying successful behaviors, and using their collective insight to improve their individual and group performance.

Coaching vs. facilitation

Recently, some individual participants and groups are asking about the difference between our facilitation staff and coaching individual participants through an activity. Our facilitation staff will always facilitate. However, if specifically asked they can coach an individual participant; coaching typically takes place while on a high course element.

The Adventure Course

An Adventure Course is a classroom, a laboratory of teamwork and leadership. The common perception of an Adventure Course is a series of physical activities, elements and props, climbing an initiative wall, zip-line, and other daring challenges high off the ground or low to the ground. Adventure Courses may also include field games and activities that can be performed indoors or in a traditional classroom. While most activities have a physical component, most are far more mentally challenging then they are physically.

Risk and danger

The adventure course can be dangerous; however, the most dangerous activity on the Adventure Course (based on actual injury reports) is an activity you may have heard of called “Tag.”

Participant ages

Participants range from 6 to 76.

Physical demands of the Adventure Course

The physical challenge is based on the physical aptitude of your group. High school and college athletic teams usually prefer activities that are on the higher end of physical challenge. The rest of us prefer things a little easier. If your group has any physical limitations (weight, pre-existing injury, heart conditions, wheelchair needs, etc.) please notify us in advance so we can plan a day that will be enjoyable for everyone.

Our Adventure Course philosophy

We ask all participants to Be Here, Be Safe, and Be Honest. If we are going to have an enjoyable and positive day, we need to respect ourselves, each other, and the group as a whole. This philosophy, Challenge by Choice, acknowledges that we all have different levels of comfort with different challenges. Some folks may have no problem with being blindfolded, while others may be terrified by the idea of being up 12 inches off the ground. All we ask is that you step out of your “comfort zone” and give activities a try. If you feel very uncomfortable, however, you are invited to step back and look for alternative ways to participate. By being supportive and respecting each other’s limitations, we have a much better chance of fulfilling the three key components of our course: safe, educational, and fun.

Different Adventure Courses

The Outdoor Leadership Program is not a “one size fits all” team-building ropes course. Rather, we have developed a variety of leadership workshops to suit the specific needs of an organization through experiential education. These programs go beyond just teaching leadership skills; they strive to find, foster, enhance, and develop the skills you already have.

Perfect for all kinds of groups

The Outdoor Leadership Program serves a wide variety of groups because we draw so much from the University of Lynchburg community. College and schools, churches, youth organizations, local non-profit, corporations, and organizations commonly use our services throughout the year.

We provide challenges in the following areas:

University of Lynchburg Outdoor Leadership Program is also able to provide corporate training. We provide the means for identifying and addressing problems and issues common to organizational development and growth, and we are uniquely qualified to deliver employee training opportunities.

Topics covered include: