Learning Centers   Chewelah Peak   Cispus     Facilities     Cispus Virtual Tour     Challenge Course     Programs     Curriculum Guide     Planning & Packing     Fees     Driving Directions     Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)     Contact Us     Cispus AmeriCorps Team

      Print this page
      Email to a friend

Home Learning CentersCispus Challenge Course

What is a Challenge Course?

A Challenge Course consists of a series of obstacles requiring the social, mental and physical dexterity of a group or individual to overcome.   This experience, however, is supported by reflection, critical analysis, and synthesis to help move people to explore the symbolic, metaphorical and long-term meanings intrinsic in challenge activities.   Success, failure, adventure, risk-taking and uncertainty may all be part of the experience since the outcomes are not entirely predictable.

Most groups and individuals experience a combination of the following benefits:

• Team-building
• Personal growth
• Increased communication skills
• Enhanced self-esteem and confidence
• Increased trust between group members
• FUN!

The Cispus Philosophy

Our philosophy begins with our name, Cispus Challenge Course.  Rather than refer to ourselves as a Ropes Course, we prefer to emphasize the challenge aspect of the experience.  As we often say, challenges are sneaky and only a small part of the day is about physical challenge, even on the High Course when one can be found climbing trees and ropes. The challenges are often emotional and social: learning how to be a person.

When you schedule a trip to the Challenge Course, we begin by asking you what you hope to accomplish.   Rather than scheduling you for a pre-planned day on the Low or High Course, we seek to understand how the tools of the Challenge Course can be molded to fit the needs of your group.  We trust you to know yourself and your group needs, and we ask you to trust that we will use our tools to the best of our ability to create a fun, safe and worthwhile day on the Course.

Your facilitator will not be able to tell you what the group will be doing an hour from now, because those decisions are made based on what the group is doing and has done throughout the day.  It is all part of the group owning the process and the consequences of their choices.  Because we emphasize the group's need to problem-solve and make decisions as a group,we encourage teachers, parents, coaches, etc. to not participate in groups with their students, children or athletes.   Often, we arrange for adult chaperones to experience their own day on the Course related to their particular reason for being a group.