Interested in a Challenge Course program? Fill out our Interest form or contact the Kentucky Outdoor Institute at KentuckyOutdoorInstitute@asbury.edu to find out more information.
The Asbury University Challenge Course is an experientially-based outdoor program focused on developing greater leadership, communication, trust, and initiative in teams. Since its inception in 1992, the program has served over 45,000 participants of all ages and ability levels. We’ve had guests from middle school soccer players to corporate executives. The Course is located in a beautiful hardwood forest on a 300-acre farm above the Kentucky River Palisades, and is the largest and most versatile ropes course in central Kentucky.
The Asbury University Challenge Course has an excellent reputation as a premiere location for outside-the-box professional development opportunities. Our high quality facilitators are focused on providing you with a safe experience that is simultaneously educational and recreational. There is simply no better or more affordable way to strengthen your workplace than a day at the Asbury University Challenge Course.
The Asbury University Challenge Course is designed to support leadership, personal skills development, and self-confidence in an alternative setting. Sometimes referred to as “Experience-Based Training and Development,” a well-designed program can be an appropriate vehicle for addressing process issues that can frequently get in the way of group effectiveness and goal accomplishment. Some of the group and personal skills that may be addressed are:
There is flexibility in program design and offerings. While the typical program is a full day in length, partial- or multi-day programming is available. Each program will consist of low-course elements in partial or in full; a high course in partial or in full may be added on.
Ropes Course Activity Descriptions:
Low Course Activities: A series of ground level problem-solving initiatives are designed to be addressed through teamwork and support. The tasks are concrete, and the group is normally quite aware of their progress. While the problems themselves are non-consequential, the process and outcome of the group’s work provides material for debriefing, or reflecting on “the way we do things.” Issues of how your group communicates, identifies and solves problems, makes decisions, and manages conflict can be addressed in a setting that provides excellent opportunities for application to your workplace, church, school or agency.
High Course Activities: The high course is a series of linear challenges set in hardwood trees, from 20 to 35 feet above ground level. While the challenges inherent on the high course appear to be more individually oriented as participants take the opportunities to challenge themselves on a variety of different activities, the significance of group support, encouragement, and assistance cannot be discounted. Lessons on taking risk, building confidence, and finding personal satisfaction can be addressed in a safe environment of challenge and support. Our high course currently includes 6 linear challenges and 2 lateral elements, as well as a zip line and giant swing.
We are excited to now be offering a wider variety of programming options! Interested in an adventure experience for your team that could include a canoe trip, caving, hiking and backpacking, or even rock climbing and rappelling? Building on the leadership development and team-building strategies we practice on the challenge course, we apply the same experientially-based learning principles to these other adventure activities. Contact us for more information.
Interested in an adventure program for your small group or family? We can design a program just for you, either at the challenge course or in one of our other adventure settings. Give us a call to discuss what we can offer you!
We offer a wide variety of team building and leadership development programs to meet the specific needs of our corporate clients. Let us partner with you for your next conference, meeting, or training. All of these programs can be done in any workplace, meeting room, or outdoor space across the country:
Medical Form & Waiver
Preparing for a visit to Asbury University’s Challenge Course or just want as much information as possible? Check out our FAQs below.
This one’s easy! Simply contact our Assistant Director, Kiki Yee, at (859) 858-5891 to talk through the dynamics of your group and when you would like to come. Whether you plan a half day or a whole day is up to you – we can accommodate your needs and your group’s goals.
Once we have a date set on the calendar, we will send you a confirmation email outlining all the details for the program. We will then continue to check-in with you leading up to the program, and help you in any way we can.
The length of your visit to the Asbury University Challenge Course will depend upon the goals of your group and the type of activities you request. Most groups schedule either a half-day or a full-day; however, we have designed multi-day programs for some groups. It is our philosophy that unless a group has prior experience, the low course must be included with any high course program. Most full-day visits include 3 hours of low course activities in the morning, followed by a lunch, and then 3 hours of high course activities. Half day visits can be done either in the morning or afternoon, whichever best fits your schedule.
We also offer off-site programs that can be designed for a full-day, half-day, or even hourly event or program.
The best thing to do is contact our Assistant Director, Kiki Yee, at (859) 858-5891, so that we can design a visit that works best with the specifics of your group.
Water in 5 gallon coolers and cups are provided for all groups at the Challenge Course.
We offer visit packages that include food: catered sandwich trays, pizza lunch, or a light breakfast and snack bars. The cookout style lunch is the most popular option, and we take care of all the details – your only job is to eat and enjoy! We can also provide a vegetarian option for all meals upon request.
We have a sheltered pavilion and picnic tables where we do all of our meals. If you do not wish for us to provide lunch, you are more than welcome to bring your own. You can also bring your own snacks or drinks to have throughout the day.
This can all be arranged by contacting Kiki Yee at (859) 858-5891
Program Staff at the Asbury University Challenge Course are classified on two levels: Facilitators and Assistant Facilitators. Most Facilitators are university graduates who participate in annual trainings and have worked with a significant number of teams. One of these facilitators will be your main contact throughout the day. Assistant Facilitators have completed technical skill training and act in roles such as safety technicians and logistical support staff. All Challenge Course staff members are competent to guide teams in a professional manner in order to ensure safety and to provide transferrable learning for your workplace, school, community and personal lives.
For low course activities, there will be a 1:12 participant ratio. For high course activities, there will be a 2:10 participant ratio.
In case of medical emergency, there will be at least one staff member on cite who is certified in First Aid/CPR.
The Asbury University Challenge Course is constructed of treated wood, cable and ropes, and is inspected for integrity by our staff on a quarterly basis. Each spring a Professional Vendor Member of the Association for Challenge Course Technology assesses the course, the environment, the equipment, and all Challenge Course practices.
The Asbury University Challenge Course holds memberships to the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) and the Association for Experiential Education (AEE). The ACCT is the national body that sets construction and safety standards for ropes course operations. The AEE is the international body which encompasses the varieties of settings and types of outdoor education programs, publishes the Journal of Experiential Education, and supports program integrity with peer review and accreditation. Our construction and program practices are well within the guidelines established by these organizations.
Our client list ranges from middle school students to corporate adults. It is of utmost importance to us that our Challenge Course is accessible to as many people as possible. You’ll find you don’t need a great deal of upper body strength, tremendous balance, or the aerobic fitness of a mountain climber in order to have a fun and successful day with us. People from ages 6 to 82 have challenged themselves at our course, and many have surprised themselves, their co-workers, colleagues, family members and friends.
Our program curriculum is designed to promote teamwork and shared leadership with any group of people. Due to the focus of the program, we do not normally work with individuals younger than 5th grade, or offer programs to groups who do not have a transferable team purpose, such as birthday parties. In most instances, groups must have at least eight members to participate. Specifically, the low ropes course can have 8-250 participants at one time, while the high ropes course is more limited. In a 7 hour period, we can get approximately 100 people through the high ropes course (50 on highs/50 on lows for half a day, then switch).
For our off-site programs, we can handle larger groups. We have done programs at conferences of up to 1,000 people. Just give us a call for more details.
Activities will be tailored to your specific group. You can find out more by contacting our Assistant Director, Kiki Yee, at (859) 858-5891.
There are a few options if the weather is inclement, so please contact us if it looks questionable. In cases of light rain or mildly cool temperatures, it may be best to simply go as planned, assuming the group is properly dressed and willing. However, in some instances, it may be best to look into rescheduling.
If it looks like there is a small chance of rain on the day of your program, we always recommend bringing a rain jacket just in case. Our best advice is to dress for the weather.
In the event of severe weather, Asbury University reserves the right to close the Course with pro-rated reimbursements.
Dress to be active and comfortable according to predicted weather conditions. If it is warm enough, shorts are fine, otherwise, casual pants are good. Boots are not necessary, tennis shoes work well, but sandals are not acceptable. In cooler weather, it is best to dress in layers so you can be comfortable as the day may grow warmer. It is always good to have a rain coat handy.
Other than dressing for the weather, cameras are a good thing to have to capture lots of fun memories, although our facilitators often have a camera with them. In warm weather, you might also appreciate having a hat, sunglasses, and insect repellant.
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