Every once in a while we hear back from people that have participated in our programs and share a bit about the impact our programs make. Our last post was trying to explain the DIFFERENCE between the work Challenge Discovery does and the kind of experience you might have at an adventure park, zip line park or other adventure program that focuses on recreation. Our work at Challenge Discovery is intentional and our facilitators work hard to ensure that the following core goals are met during every program:

Building, enhancing and deepening relationships.

Creating an environment of mutual support and respect for one another.

Enhancing a person’s self-image by offering them choices that allow them to grow.

Here is a note that we received the other day about a family that has been to Challenge Discovery several times. It makes us proud to know that after 33 years, we have not lost our purpose, we have not chased the wrong…short term opportunity or fad, and we continue to attract only the BEST people to join our team of facilitators.  Please read on.

I understand when families want to come to Challenge Discovery. As I have found with my family and friends doing the various programs…it really does give some great lasting memories and…change. My family still talks and laughs about the experience we all had at the old facility in Doswell, near Kings Dominion. Everyone had come into town (including our new brothers-in-law and sisters from Japan) for my brother’s wedding. Unfortunately, a few weeks prior to the wedding my brother had tried to commit suicide so the wedding was put on hold. Here we all gathered…with this “white elephant” in the room. So I took everyone to Challenge Discovery. It gave us time to talk about what happened (my brother was with us) in our “debrief circles,” we learned about each other “as adults”..not as “little brothers and sisters.” We laughed, (during Alaskan Football, Uncle Vao didn’t understand his role, so he chased the pig EVERY time someone threw it. Must have been his island upbringing!), we watched “Uncle” Demir overcome both his fear of heights…and spiders, with an idle threat from my dad on the ground yelling, “Demir, if you don’t do it, no more bread for you!” To which Demir responded,”No Daddy, (in his Turkish accent), I love your bread. I can’t NOT have bread!” Our group ranged in age from 70 to 10 years old. Still one of our favorite days as a family. That weekend had been set up, because of my brother’s actions, to challenge the “trust” our family had in each other….but our experience at Challenge Discovery turned that weekend into one of our best.

-(Contributor’s name withheld upon request)

With thousands of people attending our programs each year, we are sure we are having an impact on our community although we may not know what it for years to come. Thank you for your letter. It is gratifying to know our work had an impact on your family.