High 5 Adventure Learning FAQs

I’d like to build a challenge course, where do I begin?

We hear this question frequently and our standard response is; “What are the goals of your program? What are you trying to accomplish with your students, campers, etc.?” We can help you answer these questions and guide you more accurately as to what you need, to develop a successful adventure program. From game bags to initiative props to challenge course elements, the selection becomes easy when it’s based upon your program goals. Spending some time pondering these questions will ultimately save you time and money. And give you the right adventure tools to accomplish the job.

Do I need a lot of money to build a challenge course?

Unfortunately, challenge courses like everything else have increased in cost over the years. We typically build in the range of $5,000 to $50,000. It has become pretty standard for programs that want a good size challenge course to build it in stages over a two to three year period. This helps with the budget and can even support a progression and sequencing of activities that are consistent with curriculum goals and objectives.

Do I need a challenge course to run a successful adventure program?

No! For the past thirty years, many successsful, exciting programs have been running their programs without a challenge course or with a minimal number of elements. There’s some truth to the notion there’s nothing like a high profile ropes course to get people jazzed about adventure learning; but it’s not a pre-requisite to a quality program. Most good programs spend a lot of quality time right on the ground and maximize the games and initiatives that are such a rich part of adventure education.

Is there funding that can help me build a challenge course and develop my program?

Sometimes various grants are available to do this. Currently, the US Department of Education has provided funding called PEP Grants (Physical Education Programs) for schools and organizations throughout the country. Many of these grants have been used to develop adventure education programs. Please call us and we would be glad to help you explore options. Return to Top

How can I promote the idea of an adventure program to students, parents, staff and administration?

One very successful method has been to sponsor an adventure awareness afternoon, evening, or better yet, a whole day. There is no better way to gain an understanding of adventure education than to experience it first hand. No amount of letters, brochures, videos or lectures can compare to actually doing some adventure activities with those you are trying to win over. High 5 has been involved with this type of program many times over the years, so give us a call for some helpful tips.

Do you need special insurance to run a Challenge Course program?

The simple answer is no. Most schools and organizations have existing insurance that will cover your adventure program. Occasionally, camps or private institutions may need to add a rider to an existing policy to provide adequate coverage. On rare occasions, separate insurance has to be purchased. We have many resources regarding this topic and would be glad to share them with you.

How much does it cost to maintain a Challenge Course on a yearly basis?

An annual inspection is recommended by High 5 and required by ACCT (Association for Challenge Course Technology). Costs vary greatly depending upon the size of the course. We see price ranges from $400 to $1,200 for the course inspection itself but remember to add travel expenses as well. Repairs completed at the time of the inspection are extra and generally range from $500 to 1,500. As with anything, courses kept in good repair on a regular basis tend to have lower annual costs because repairs are not allowed to accumulate over the years resulting in a major one-time expense. High 5 regularly schedules annual inspections on a “swing.” By this we mean a geographic swing through an area that has several locations in need of an annual inspection. We do them all at once and split the travel costs amongst all the sites. This can provide significant savings for each location. Return to Top

How much training is required to run a Challenge Course program?

Training is the key component to any successful program. You can build a beautiful challenge course but it will remain just that until you have qualified staff to make good programs happen. We strongly recommend that staff have a minimum of a five-day skills based training workshop before taking on the demands of running a program. And five days is minimal. We regularly have people come to our trainng workshops that have attended multiple skill workshops over several years time. These folks have solid technical and facilitation skills and are very current with trends in the field. While being an adventure practitioner is not, as they say…brain surgery, it does require one to have a solid set of skills to assure safe and competent programming. We highly recommend that you view the training of good staff to be as important as building a beautiful challenge course.

Where can I go for training?

The quick answer is High 5 Adventure Learning Center. We have highly skilled staff with years of experience and we conduct great training workshops. The longer answer: There are many places you can go for training that offer quality workshops. The key here is to be particular. As with anything, make sure the vendor you choose is knowledgeable, up to date with current trends in the field and provides the kind of training that you need. Ask around for recommendations from others. There’s no better source of information than someone who has had experience with the organization that you’re considering. Good quality, professional training is available; make an effort to find the best match for the skills you need. Give us a call, we’ll tell you what we have to offer and if it isn’t what you need, we’ll help you find someone else.

Can I get Graduate Credit for training?

Yes, High 5 has a graduate credit program through Plymouth State College in Plymouth, NH. PSC is part of the University of New Hampshire system. Credit options vary from 2-4 credits for most of our workshops, although some one-credit opportunities exist with our shorter programs. Plymouth State also offers a masters degree program through a special arrangement with the graduate studies divison. This arrangement allows an individual to complete many of the core requirements through the attendance of High 5 training workshops.

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