Workshops & Trainings

Intensive Certification Training & Testing

(Practitioner Levels 1 and 2)

September 3 - October 3, 2024

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• Foundations: Practitioner Level 1

An entry level training designed to assist counselors, trainers, educators, and others in developing the skills necessary for safe and effective facilitation of group initiatives, trust processes, and basic high ropes events. Little or no prior experience is required.

The structure of the program provides a brief experiential phase where trainees will participate in challenge course activities. The logistical portion covers the basic requisite skills necessary to implement an adventure-based learning program. Areas of focus include: participant safety, selection/sequence of activities; effective presentation/observation/processing; use of equipment, knots, ground belaying, and more.

• Advanced Skills Certification Training: Practitioner Level 2*

Designed for those with prior facilitator experience, this training intensive focuses on moving toward mastery of essential knowledge and skills necessary for safe and effective use of high challenge course events. The technical skills covered include equipment set-up, use, inspection, and care; emergency challenge course rescues; static and dynamic belays; zipwires, challenge course construction/inspection issues, and general program risk management. Participants should have both the ability and willingness to climb and work at heights of 30-40 feet off the ground. “Soft skills" will focus on elements of program design, emotional/physical participant safety, and processing. Expect lots of "hands-on" practice, feedback, and fun!

* Prerequisites for Level 2 Training:

• Must be a minimum age of 18 years.
• Possess a current Level 1 Practitioners Certificate (or an equivalent of 40 hrs. training.)
• Level II candidates shall submit a portfolio documenting an additional two hundred (200) hours of experience working on a course (Work experience may include direct program delivery and design and activity preparation prior to program delivery.)

• Certification Assessment

A certification/assessment that includes both written and skills testing. This assessment will be based on current certification standards of the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT).

(4 Days. This training offers 40 certification credit hours.)

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2-day Options:

See "2 Day Ground/Lows-Only Level 1 Training" below
See "Practitioner Level I/II Refresher & Recertification" below

2 Day Ground/Lows-Only Level 1 Training

Septemer 30 - Otober 1, 2024

An entry level training designed to assist counselors, trainers, educators, and others in developing the skills necessary for safe and effective facilitation of group initiatives, trust processes, and basic low ropes and portables events. Little or no prior experience is required.

The structure of the program provides a brief experiential phase where trainees will participate in low challenge course and portables activities. The logistical portion covers the basic requisite skills necessary to implement an adventure-based learning program. Areas of focus include: participant safety, selection/sequence of activities; effective presentation/observation/processing; use of props, knots, and more.

Expect lots of "hands-on" practice, feedback, and fun!

• Certification Assessment

A certification test will be administered at the end of day two.

(2 Days. )

Practitioner Level I/II Refresher & Recertification

October 2-3, 2024

This training is for current ACCT Level I or Level II Practitioners seeking recertification and will include an 8-hour refresher training of essential soft skills for facilitation as well as a review of necessary technical skills (belay set-up, belaying, knot tying, safety), followed by the certification test.

Trainees must submit documentation as indicated:

• Recertification Criteria for Level I:

50 hours of challenge course program delivery or 16 hours additional training w/in one year of the certification date for Level I Full Certification.

• Recertification Criteria for Level II:

150 cumulative hours of challenge course work experience and 24 hours of additional relevant training within previous 3 years for Level II Full Certification.

(2 days.)

Challenge Course Manager Training

October 1-3, 2024

The Challenge Course Manager Training is designed to develop and enhance the essential skill set needed for safely and effectively managing a challenge course program. Topics include Risk Management, Staffing, Polices & Procedures, Documentation, Training, Course Inspections, Insurance, and Marketing. Expect to work hard, learn, and have fun in the process!

Requirements:

• Age 21 years or older
• Submit portfolio supporting:
• Possess a Level 2 Practitioner Certification (or equivalent equaling a total of 110 hrs. of training)
• 30 hrs. of management training (of which 16 hrs. was delivered by a qualified person, including this course)
• 500 hrs. (or more) of challenge industry experience (can include direct facilitation, program coordination, administration & supervision)

(3 days. This training offers 25 certification credit hours.)

Reviving Our Best Selves

 

What might happen if you take time to play and listen to your story in a community of women?

Come find out!

A refreshing 24 hour workshop for women filled with challenge, writing, beauty, adventure, poetry, relationship, and remembering. During our short time together we will use a combination of writing exercises led by Minton Sparks and outdoor activities facilitated by Jennifer Halverson to revive the strong, wise inner being within us all. Rediscover the strengths you forgot you had as well as some you didn’t even realize you possessed. Use the power of story to claim wisdom and healing from past suffering. Reconnect with your powerful inner self, as well as new friends you haven’t met. Emerge invigorated and with a greater sense of well-being, peace and confidence.

Portable Challenge Initiatives Training

Portable challenge initiatives are an invaluable component of any adventure program, and are tools that facilitators can use with all client populations—especially those who might not be able to come to a ropes course but are still seeking those powerful “Aha!” learning moments! This training will benefit both new and experienced facilitators, and will include the following components:

• Experiential: participate in portable challenge initiatives to gain a better understanding of the participant’s experience and how to facilitate these activities.
• Soft Skills Training: the role of the facilitator, opening a group and setting the tone for a rich, successful learning experience; group contract/boundaries; how to avoid common facilitator “traps" and other tools.
• Working with Groups: learn about group dynamics including stages of group development; understand the experiential learning cycle; tools for working with various client populations.
• Program Design: principles of good program design; adapting to group dynamics and modifying variables such as tempo and intensity of activities to create an impactful program; trouble-shooting and redesign.
• Processing/Debriefing Skills: questions to ask to facilitate the “Aha!” moment(s); learn different methods of processing during a program.

(2 days.)