One of the most important things on a team, whether it’s a sports team, a student government organization, or a church youth group, is leadership. Leaders can be quiet or they can be loud. They can have years of experience, or they can be new to the group. They can be labeled with a title, or they can be natural. But no matter what they are like, leaders are important.

Leadership always comes up at the ropes course. We see leadership show up in a variety of ways. Leaders step in front of the group on the course to lend a helping hand to those behind him. Leaders stay in the back of the group to ensure that everyone can get across. Leaders are in the middle of the group, encouraging those around them. Without these people, our challenges can seem impossible.

Leadership reveals itself differently on the course than it might at school. The quiet boy in the classroom might be a ropes course guru and step up, giving advice, encouragement and setting an example. The brand new member of the sports team might have an opportunity to speak up in a way that he might not have had back on the court.

One of the many groups that we work with is the Ruck Leadership Academy of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Over 140 gentlemen from chapters of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity come to Richmond every year for a week of leadership training. The hope is that when they go back to their chapter, they will shine as a leader. Part of this training is doing the ropes course at the University of Richmond.

About two weeks ago, we had the pleasure of working with these students. The boys were engaging, fun, and eager for a challenge. They were respectful, poignant, and determined. We were surrounded by student leaders.

One of the students, Matt Rowe, an incoming senior at Virginia Tech and the president of his chapter, spoke about his experience with leadership in his organization, the benefits of the Ruck Leadership Institute, and the outcomes of doing Challenge Discovery:

“In my chapter, leadership is people stepping up to accomplish a goal, or challenging the process of our normal routine. Leadership is also in the hands of an active follower. Even if you do not hold a position in the chapter, we need active and passionate ‘general members’ (followers) to help the chapter running. This paralleled on the ropes course because we all relied on each other for support, while actively listening and participating to get to the other side, or reach a goal. My biggest take away from the Challenge Discovery program was that you must lean into your team. While you think you can accomplish a goal by yourself, you must be humble enough to ask for help and lean into your brothers. After attending Ruck and the Challenge, I feel more confident than ever to lean into my team and ask for help.”

Leadership is a great thing, no matter how it looks. As a leader, being able to support your team and humble yourself around them is a beautiful thing. That day at the course was a fantastic day and I’m confident that the boys won’t forget their experience with Challenge Discovery. Contact us today to learn more about the leadership-building experiences we offer!

Want your group to get to know one another better? You’re not alone—this is one of the most common requests we get when people schedule teambuilding programs. At Challenge Discovery, we work with just as many well-established groups as we do those that have just formed. But it really doesn’t matter what group you’re in, who you are or how long the group has been around—building and strengthening relationships is always important.

In our mission statement, you’ll find that we promote the building of deep, meaningful relationships based on vulnerability and trust. We believe that the foundation for great teamwork and client service is strong relationships. Our team strives to enhance relationships with one another by communicating effectively, listening to understand, and building trust with each other—and we also do this with participants.

Over the past few months we’ve written about each of our core values. First, we discussed creating a mutually supportive environment. Next, we talked about enhancing self-esteem. Here, we’re examining our final core value, building relationships.  

How can I get to know my peers?

There are lots of things you can do to get to know someone better. You can go out to dinner with your group. You can go bowling. You can take a hike. But at Challenge Discovery, we don’t want to just be an experience shared among a group. It can be so much more. Not only do we want you to learn everyone’s name and an interesting fact about them. We want you to get to know their comfort zone. How they creatively solve problems. How they support their team. It’s more than an event—it’s a meaningful experience that promotes relationship development.

Find out how Challenge Discovery builds relationships!

A few months ago, we did a TeamMobile program for students from an Episcopal church and students from an Islamic Center. These students did not know each other, but their leaders had a vision to create a collaboration between the two religious organizations. Although these students are around the same age and some of them even go to school together, they arrived as two separate groups.

Throughout our program, the facilitators worked to break down those barriers and really allow opportunities for the students to get to know one another. By the end of the day, the two groups formed into one and they were working together. This is what we’re after—helping groups get to know one another, bond, and come out as a unified group.

Do you remember when you came to the course and what that was like? Maybe there were people in your group that you had never met, or maybe you had known them for a long time. But at the end of the day, did you feel like you learned more about who they are, how they behave, and how they work in a group?

Whether it’s in your classroom, or on the Odyssey Ropes Course in Richmond, VA, Challenge Discovery exists to establish, build and strengthen relationships—while showing you a really good time! To learn more about our teambuilding programs, contact us today at (804) 409-0788.

Last month, we introduced our three core values on the blog. We wrote about the importance of coming together as a team and how it all starts with our facilitator team at Challenge Discovery. This time, we’re highlighting our second core value, enhancing self-esteem.

When our groups come out to the ropes course, they come for a variety of reasons. Some groups want to focus on leadership. Some groups want to collaborate more. Some groups simply want to build relationships. But I think all of our clients would agree that building self-esteem is crucial and worthwhile, especially for students. That is why we made our second core value enhancing self-esteem.

Studies have found that on the day of a ropes course event, students will be inspired and will have stronger self-esteem. This article also emphasizes how teachers should continue to build on their experience at the course to help further the learner and extend the feeling of positive self-worth. At Challenge Discovery, we get to witness self-esteem grow during every program.

For example, last fall we were lucky enough to work with a group of students from a local high school. These students came from a variety of backgrounds, but few of them have had the opportunity to do something like a ropes course. They have had challenging upbringings, which has resulted in a low sense of self-worth, little desire to collaborate as a team, and a need to work as an individual.

It was a beautiful day and when that bus pulled up, our facilitators greeted the students on the field. The facilitators were ready to challenge the students, inspire them to work together, and eager to see a change.

The students had to solve problems and think in different ways than they ever had to before. They built relationships with new people. For some of those students, they created friendships that they never would have imagined just 24 hours before. The facilitator said that she saw growth in that group that they’ll never forget. She saw enemies become friends. She saw quiet leaders become more confident.

And at the end of the day, they had worked as group, grown as a team, and really challenged themselves. When those students finished the day by riding our zip line to the ground, you could see the new sense of empowerment beaming across their faces. They had accomplished something they may never have thought possible. And when they left our program that day, they went back to school with a stronger self-esteem, as they should.

Challenge Discovery is proud to encourage self-esteem and character development. Our programs promote personal growth and self-worth, while delivering a completely unique adventure. Contact us today at (804) 655-0173 to learn more about the unique experiences we offer!

One of the important things we do at Challenge Discovery is incorporate our three core values in each of our programs:

•        Building relationships
•        Enhancing self-esteem
•        Creating a mutually supportive environment

These are the very foundation of what we do, and it’s critical that all our participants are seeing and experiencing each of these core values when they do our programs. Our hope is that participants will gain takeaways from their participation in the Challenge Discovery program that they’ll carry with them off the course into their own lives including:

•        the people they met
•        the empowerment they felt
•        the team they were a part of

Not only do we support these core values with our participants, but in our work culture, too. To be successful in building and supporting the teams with whom we work, it all should start with us. We are always working to create an equally supportive and enriching environment for our team. With that said, we are looking for more passionate, driven, and inspiring people to join Challenge Discovery!

Come Work With Us!

One of our staff members, Vicki, started working for us about a year ago. At the time, she wasn’t necessarily looking for work, but stumbled upon an old friend who was working as a facilitator. Vicki was a participant at the Doswell course years ago, and upon seeing that old friend, she was immediately reminded of her experience. Intrigued and inspired, she decided to apply for a job with Challenge Discovery.

After having been a part of our team for one full season, Vicki loves it and has been reminded of why we’re the premier team-building organization in the area. We all continually feel like we are making a difference in how someone views others, themselves, and their capabilities as an individual and team member. We see people overcome their fears with the help of their peers.  

Vicki quickly realized that the work we do starts with our team at home. Challenge Discovery strives to welcome and include everyone, from facilitators that have been around for 12 years, to those who just went through training. Vicki remarked:

“Not only do I love working with student groups, but the other facilitators are amazing. I am constantly learning from them and love spending time with them. The work environment is both uplifting and positive. If you are thinking about it, but not sure, come out and shadow a program. I did that prior to committing to training and was glad that I did! It just solidified my decision to proceed with the training and become a facilitator. Join me, you will love it too!”

Contact us today at (804) 876-9733 for more information on our dynamic programs as well as to learn about opportunities to work with us!

Good character is what will get you farther in your future career, often more so than your academics. Therefore, teachers and schools should model and teach good character to their students. It is crucial that students are learning the value of character and why being honest and caring for your classmates is just as important as how to solve complex math problems or the difference between their, they’re and there.

Having good character is all about….

• Trustworthiness
• Compassion
• Selflessness
• Respect
• Integrity

Learn how Challenge Discovery is much more than a ropes course!

At Challenge Discovery, we witness students valuing good character every day. We continually see students put others before themselves when climbing through the course. One particular time sticks out…

There were 90 young boys and girls out at the course and it was time for Joe’s group to climb up into the course. Joe was the school athlete, the jock, the popular student, and at school, he was the confident one that commanded the presence of everyone when he walked into a room. But Joe was terrified to go up into the course. In fact, he didn’t think he was going to do it. Max was another boy in his class, but not someone Joe knew well or interacted with much at school. Max, a smaller and quieter boy that was not well known on campus, was pumped to climb. It came time for the two of them to ascend the net and Max went right behind Joe. Joe was trembling, as his fear of heights crept up over him. Meanwhile, Max, much more confident in this moment, cheered for Joe the entire way, assuring him that he was right below if he needed anything. Shortly after making it to the platform, Joe and Max stepped out onto the cables, with their hands on each other’s shoulders. Despite their differences, they got each other across the course. It was an unlikely pair, two students that don’t interact at all at school and that have completely different interests and personalities. But Max’s character proved to be strong, selfless, and compassionate. Joe’s character proved to be courageous, trusting, and strong. In that moment, they were on the same playing field. Back at school, the jock was suddenly being supported, mentally and physically, by the less confident and quiet student. It is moments like this where we are reminded of why we do what we do. Joe and Max will never forget that day, and had they not come out to Challenge Discovery, they would have never had the opportunity to make such a powerful impact on one another.

Like us on Facebook to see how everyday challenges build character.

Experiences like this one can take place on and off the ropes course. Take this story and think about how your character has played a role in team efforts. We bet you’ll think of a time or two…

When faced with a challenge, has someone’s reaction ever really surprised you?

Was there ever a time your character helped a classmate get over their fears to achieve a goal?

Have you ever been skeptical about your abilities, but inspired by another student to take a chance?

Teaching values + building character—on and off the ropes course

Whether you possess all or some of these values, think about ways you can use influential traits to support a classmate who may not have the same level of confidence. When confronted with a challenge or task, your encouragement can be so powerful. You’ll likely end up surprised at what you can achieve together.

Character goes a long way even off the ropes course. In the classroom, character values impact academics resulting in an instilled sense of diligence and responsibility. Being exposed to the value of character in the classroom also prompts better interactions with your teachers, peers and members of your community making you a stronger, more well-rounded individual. With this comes skills you can use in the real world.

What experiences have you had that cultivated values and made a lasting impact?

On the course, or in the classroom, Challenge Discovery’s goal is emphasizing the value of character to bond your team and promote individual growth while taking you on an adventure you’ll never forget. We encourage you to contact us today at (804) 876-9733 to learn more about the unique experiences we offer!

The Dangers of “Pay for Play”: Challenge Discovery vs. Go Ape and other adventure parks

In August 2016, a woman tragically fell 35 feet to her death from a zip line platform at the Go Ape Tree Top Adventure Park in Delaware. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/08/25/woman-plunges-to-her-death-off-zip-line-in-delaware.html

The popularity of adventure parks in this country continues to soar, fueled by adrenaline junkies who seek to check things off their bucket list. This new adventure recreation industry was born out of what began as adventure education. It’s not only creating potentially unsafe situations, but also less meaningful experiences.

Challenge Discovery has been a pioneer in adventure education since 1980. From the start, Challenge Discovery focused on helping individuals achieve more than they thought they were capable of doing, develop the trust and support that builds meaningful relationships, and learn important teamwork skills like collaboration, critical thinking, communication and decision making. This is the work we set out to do every day. We achieve this through professional and effective facilitation and the use of hands-on learning tools, including our high ropes course and on-the-ground initiatives.

Go Ape and other adventure parks do none of this, and that’s one of the reasons they are unsafe. Here is the problem with most adventure parks:

1. Supervision is in the form of course “monitors” rather than hands-on facilitators.
2. The ratio of monitors to participants can be as high as 1:100.
3. Participants are given a 30-minute (or less) “training session” and are then left virtually unsupervised during the experience.
4. They rely on signage to remind people to be safe.
5. It’s considered an individual activity, so there is no group or team support involved.
6. The experience is not designed around any specific learning outcomes, and as a result participants have little sense of accountability or responsibility.
7. Most participants (even though they sign a waiver) have an expectation of safety because of past experiences with amusement parks or other activities that can be considered more controlled and predictable.

So should all adventure parks be shut down? No, but they should not be considered team-building programs. Let’s call them what they are: amusements. They should never be considered as options for school field trips, especially if they are framed as learning experiences.

Why? They are not always inclusive. They can create an enormous degree of peer pressure to perform, especially when young people have a phobia about heights and feel coerced to participate against their will. They have no specific learning outcomes, even though they may advertise that they do. And they do not hire, train or maintain a staff of highly skilled facilitators who work directly with the participants.

So, how is Challenge Discovery different than Go Ape?

1. All of our staff members complete a 40-hour intensive certification program and participate in monthly staff development workshops.
2. Our staff to participant ratio is 1:15, and each facilitator works with the same group throughout the day.
3. Facilitators are constantly reinforcing the importance of safety, responsibility and accountability.
4. Participants are learning and using real-world skills throughout the program, resulting in improved team performance.
5. Every activity on the ground or in the ropes course is a team effort, requiring the group to work together effectively and learn from their experiences.
6. Challenge Discovery is built on three fundamental principles that guide our work:
   • We help participants build meaningful relationships
   • We help people realize the value of teamwork
   • We help people feel a sense of accomplishment
7. We engage the participants in fun, challenging activities that have a purpose. We are not pay for play.

Of course there is a place for both types of companies to exist in this ever-expanding industry. We just want to ensure that you, the decision maker, have the information you need to make a safe and informed choice.

At the Challenge Discovery, we never forget how important it is to give back to the community that supports us. Here are just a few of the ways we put good corporate citizenship into action every day.

•  Offering “open enrollment” programs to the community for FREE. Each month we offer an experiential learning program with a specific theme for anyone (certain restrictions may apply) that would like to learn more about themselves and others through a challenging, hands-on experience.  Themes include: resolutions and commitments, fitness, family relationships, perseverance and “thank you” to our veterans an families.
• Giving families a break. Because we never want anyone to miss out on our programs due to an inability to pay, we use 5% of our revenue to finance the Challenge Discovery’s Greater Good Campaign to provide scholarships and discounts to those in need.
• Caring for the earth. They say green is the new black, but we’ve been green for nearly 35 years. Our facilities are designed to work “with” the land, we use “green” construction techniques, earth-friendly products and recycle as many cans and plastic bottles as possible during programs.
• Keeping quality high and fees low. Our first priority is safety and the quality of our programs.  Doing it right and leaving nothing to chance is expensive.  As costs continue to rise, we do everything we can to keep our fees as low as possible.
• Supporting local charities. Every year, we donate more than $10,000 of “in-kind” donations to local organizations that use them for fund-raising auctions.

2014 will bring new and exciting programs to Challenge Discovery.  Although we don’t “officially” re-open our outdoor facility at the University of Richmond until the middle of March, we are working hard putting the finishing touches on some new programming options.  Here is a sneak peek as some of the programs and their content.

Our Transformational Learning program will now have three (3) options:

1. We will continue to offer the program that more than 80% of our clients enjoyed this year which uses the Odyssey Course to promote teamwork skills like communication, collaboration, support for others, trust and personal empowerment.  This is by far our most popular program and will continue to be based on feedback from 2013.  This program utilized one full level of the Odyssey Course (either the upper or lower level).

2.  One of the new programs we will offer is one in which we will only use 1/2 of one level of the Odyssey Course and spend more time on the ground doing “Low Initiatives” or ground-based problem solving exercises.  This program will be perfect for groups that feel like they may have participants that are not interested in spending as much time in the Odyssey Course and want to ensure that the experience is completely inclusive for all participants.

3.  Our third program in the Transformational Learning series is going to consist of entirely “Low Initiatives” or ground-based problem solving exercises. We have created this program primarily for Henrico County Public Schools although anyone can choose this program.

Henrico County Public Schools is the ONLY school system in the area that will not allow it’s students to participate in any kind of “high ropes course” activities.  We have written to the Henrico County Board of Supervisors and met with various school officials to see if this policy could be changed but they have made the decision to continue with the existing policy.  The good news however is that Henrico County Public Schools will allow it’s students to participate in our other programs that are all on the ground like our TeamMobile program that actually goes directly to the schools and works with students and faculty onsite.  We are hopeful that the policy will be changed someday in the future so all students in the Richmond community can benefit from the programs we deliver.  If you would like to support our effort in getting this policy changed, please contact the Division of Risk Management using the information below and reference CHALLENGE DISCOVERY.

Contact Information

Phone: (804) 501-5661
Fax: (804) 501-5663
[email protected]

Office Location:
1590 E. Parham Road
Henrico, VA 23228
(North Run Office Park)

Mailing Address:
Division of Risk Management
County of Henrico
P. O. Box 90775
Henrico, VA 23273

In addition to the adaptations to our Transformational Learning programs, we are also adding a “fitness/wellness” component to our Recreational programs.  Recreational programs generally focus on climbing, we will also discuss and do exercises related to balance, core strength, and understanding how the mind and body work together.  Adding these components will allow participants to “control” involuntary responses to being at height, be better able to manage stress and have a more successful experience in the Odyssey Course.

Finally, we are working to add an optional academic focus to our programs that work to augment the SOLS that many schools are required to meet.  We hope that by adding instructional components related to physics, mathematics, engineering, etc., we will be able to offer new options for school field trips that are relevant, cost effective and local.

As you can see, we have been working hard this winter to make Challenge Discovery even better in 2014.  We hope you will come out and experience our new programs.

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.

There was a recent news report that the Richmond Metro Zoo is building an adventure park that will provide new and different ways to view the animals.  I’m sure they are excited to complete this project and I’m sure the public is anxiously awaiting the opening of this new attraction.  If you are interested in learning more, here is a link that gives a little information: http://m.nbc12.com/autojuice?targetUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nbc12.com%2fGlobal%2fstory.asp%3fS%3d23422778

We are excited for them too! At the same time, we have a few concerns about confusion and perception.  When we started in this business in 1980, ropes courses were used exclusively by outdoor adventure companies like Challenge Discovery, Outward Bound, NOLS and a few others for education, personal growth and development, and team building.  Today however, ropes courses are used in wider variety of venues and for a lot of different purposes.  I have seen metal “ropes course” structures that are part of miniature golf course complexes, I have seen ropes courses used as amusements in which they are set up for big festivals and then removed the next day, and I’m sure we have all heard about the various “zip line” companies that allow you to “fly” through tree canopies with ease.  All of these activities started with the traditional “ropes course,” who’s inherent design was to create a perception of risk that would allow people to grow beyond their comfort zone and create a sense of teamwork while working through this with other people in a group setting.

Today, these adventure parks, zip line companies and other courses are often referred to as “pay for play” activities in which you pay a fee to participate in a specific activity for a period of time.  It is no wonder that these kinds of companies are popping up all over the place…people love to feel the rush of adrenaline through their veins.  We get calls all the time asking if we do “zip lining” and although we have zip lines, we have to explain that we are not that kind of a company.

Challenge Discovery is not a “pay for play” program.  You can’t sign up as an individual for our programs (with the exception of Fearless Fridays).  You can’t buy a ride on the zip line, you can’t buy “lows or highs,” and you can’t expect to get out of the hard work.  Our programs are intentional team building experiences in which you MUST work together and you MUST do the hard work with yourself and with your team, and you MUST make the commitment to attend…oh, and it takes more than an hour!

Some people might say, “You have to change with the times,” or, “Go where the money is,” but I say we aren’t holding on to something that is old fashioned or something from the past.  I say (and our loyal clients would agree), this community needs Challenge Discovery more than ever.  Relationships need developing and nurturing.  People need to learn skills that help them work together more effectively and everyone can benefit from feeling good about themselves.  So as these new companies and activities continue to pop up around us, we will continue to work hard to make sure people know the difference between our team building programs and other “pay for play” activities.  There is a place for both.  Just make sure you know what you are looking for.

As we say…Adventure is Our Classroom.