These questions and concerns might be holding you and your group back: “What types of activities should I plan for my students this year?” (Educational Trip? Celebratory Trip? Teambuilding?) “Where am I going to get the best “bang-for-the-buck” both financially and educationally?” (taking time out of class)? “We can’t take that time away from school.” “We don’t have money in the budget.” “Our kids have already done a ropes adventure park earlier this year.” When people are calling to ask about Challenge Discovery programs, these ..

This evening around the campfire… We hear the story of Oak Knoll Middle School. Their trials, their victories, their story… Rarely does Challenge Discovery have the opportunity to work with students on multiple occasions in one school year. However, we have developed that relationship with a few schools, and find that the impact on those students increases tremendously. Oak Knoll Middle School is one great example. We get to see their students twice each semester, with their unique STEM class. This class is open to ..

The Challenge Discovery team spends this time of year reviewing technical information, energizing our staff, and challenging ourselves. Generally, we do this by gathering together at the course, for recertification training. Just like we do when working with our participants and students, we choose Experiences that pushes our team outside of our COMFORT ZONE, so that we Learn, Grow, and Change. Just like we want to give our participants the chance to develop, we put the same energy and opportunity into our staff. Here is a ..

It feels like every month or so, I read another news article or watch another news segment about a school shooting.  And after each instance, there is chatter about what to do and how to prevent future ones.  But they are still happening… again and again. After the most recent shooting, I read an article about one teacher’s effort to stop possible school shootings.  This teacher had a desire to create and sustain a classroom that was inclusive for everyone.  With just a simple seating ..

In a collaborative study from The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for Human Resource Management, they worked to identify the most important skills needed for success in the workplace.  Employers all over the country were asked for their opinions in this study.  Those skills cannot only be taught in a classroom.  They need to be learned through experience.  These skills are: Teamwork and collaboration Oral communications Professionalism and work ethic Critical thinking and problem ..

It’s the beginning of the school year.  Some students are excited.  Some are dreading it.  Some are going to a new school.  It can be a nerve-wracking and scary time of year for many.  For most, they are going to be stepping out of their comfort zone in the next few weeks at a new school or grade.  And that’s okay! Many people with whom we work say they spend about 90% of the day in their comfort zone.  They also describe their comfort zone ..

Challenge Discovery has a rich 30-year history. Over time, the organization has grown, changed and evolved. However, our methodologies and traditions have stayed the same. One of those traditions is the Challenge Discovery Pin. Throughout the team building program, our participants experience, learn, grow and change. They are pushed out of their comfort zone and into their learning zone. And at the end of the day, we hope they’ll walk away with more than just a memory. So, when they leave, they are given a ..

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 ..

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, ..

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 ..