The Challenge Course
SSM has both high and low Challenge Courses.
Programs are available for:
- Corporate Groups
- Executive Teams
- Team Building Programs
- Leadership Programs
- Youth and School-Age Groups
Program topics may include:
- Planning within a group context
- Understanding differences between individual and team approaches
- Selecting of leaders
- Identifying of roles
- Supporting each other
- Demonstrating the need for a common vision
- Setting goals and benchmarks
- Learning from one’s mistakes
- Interdependency
- Trusting others
- Risk taking
- Challenging self-limits
- Letting go of control
- Facing challenges and fears together
Programs of varying length are available to meet the objectives and requests of your group. Facilitators cater specific challenges and activities to address your organization’s needs.
The SSM Challenge Course offers a facilitated team-building experience. Programming is designed by the facilitators based on the group's goals, the size of the group, and other group characteristics.
Low ropes programming can be offered for any length of time. The activities, initiatives, and/or elements chosen will be determined based on the time frame and the group's goals.
While the course boasts eight different high ropes experiences (elements), each individual element takes a minimum of 5-7 minutes per participant to complete. Any event shorter than four hours will not include high ropes unless the group has prior experience on the course and/or a specific purpose that facilitators feel can be appropriately addressed in the time allotted.
A four-hour event will likely include only one high ropes element for each participant. The facilitators of a four-hour event will prioritize team-belayed events, like the Giant Ladder, Power Pole, or Giant Swing.
The zip line takes at least 7 minutes per participant. If the group would like to include zip lining in their event, the group will need to ensure they have scheduled enough time to complete it, based on the number of participants in their group.
For more information about ropes courses programs, please contact Amy Cox at amy.cox@s-sm.org.
If you are looking for a simple 'pay to play experience', then the robust initiative programming that is the base of SSM's Challenge Course experiential foundation is not the course for you. For groups who are only looking to climb around without programming, we recommend Kerfoot in Henderson or the Mall of America. In those systems, course staff simply clip you in at the bottom and you move around independently.
Challenge Course FAQ
- What elements does the course have?
- How much does it cost?
- How many facilitators do we need?
- Where should we park and where do we meet?
- What should I wear?
- What should I bring?
- What if I’m afraid of heights? Do I still have to do the high ropes?
What elements does the course have?
How much does it cost?
How many facilitators do we need?
Where should we park and where do we meet?
What should I wear?
What should I bring?
What if I’m afraid of heights? Do I still have to do the high ropes?
