A challenge course covers a wide range of activities from games played on the ground to climbing on poles and cables. Also known as a "Ropes Course," a challenge course is a facility that provides activities for the enhancement of intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships: how people relate to themselves and others. The modern challenge course includes a collection of nylon ropes and steel cables strung between trees or utility poles to create a non-competitive version of an obstacle course.

Ryther's Challenge Course has two types of activities, Low and High. On the Low Challenge Course, activities are built at ground level around a layer of wood chips much like you might see at a playground. The group is the "safety net" for these activities. Spotting, a technique for breaking (not catching) the fall of a participant, is used to protect their physical safety. High courses are built above the ground and ropes, helmets, harnesses, coupled with belaying systems (where another person or team controls the rope length by passing it through a friction devise to arrest any accidental falls) are used to protect the physical safety of the participant. Due to its dramatic nature, the high section of the Challenge Course gets more attention from visitors. For many groups, however, the low activities are more beneficial.

The facilitator presents an activity, gives safety parameters, and allows the group to undertake the task.

Metaphors are often used by the facilitator to strengthen the connection between the transferable skill of the experience and real life back in the workplace.

An example activity may sound like this: "Your group has been asked to work on a special task which requires the input of every member. The challenge is to pass the tasks of this project in a specific order from one team member to another, without "dropping the ball," so to speak. This is to be done with the highest efficiency and quality possible. In a moment I will hand the group an actual ball and ask them to set some goals about how quickly they can complete the "task" or pass the ball in a set order without dropping it. These are the guidelines for quality: 1) The ball may not be dropped 2) Each person must touch the ball in the same order established at the beginning 3) You must give a "heads-up" to the person you are passing to before tossing or moving the ball to them. This is done by simply saying their name." For safety, please do not throw overhand tosses. You will have fifteen minutes to achieve the highest possible efficiency and quality. Good luck!

Discussions after an activity like this might address how input was received, how often the task was dropped, the impact and styles of communication in a group and the creative suggestions which were voiced by the group members, or even more importantly, not shared with fellow team members. This conversation would then change to parallels in the activity and the workplace.

Ryther has two high activities on the challenge course. When appropriate, individuals have the choice to participate in high activities while those below encourage, support, and participate in providing for the climber's safety. Because the activities can be up to 40 feet above the ground, physical and emotional safety is of the utmost concern. Activities might include climbing a giant ladder or standing on top of a 30-foot pole.

High quality programs work hard at keeping people physically and emotionally safe. Ryther's Challenge Course was built in 2001, according to the standards set by the Association for Challenge Course Technology. Staff facilitators are highly qualified and have been trained in safe challenge course facilitation. Regular training and inspections help us provide a high quality safe experience for participants in our programs. As in all physical activities, there is risk involved.