Challenge Course Certification
Levels I & Level II
As the challenge course industry continues to develop and change, the demands placed on facilitators have increased. Todays challenge course facilitator needs to be prepared to handle a variety of situations in a wide range of settings. Facilitators must possess the technical knowledge to facilitate programs using high and low challenge course elements. In addition, they are expected to have the soft skills necessary to understand the needs of the group as well as the individuals that make up that group.
Our challenge Course Facilitator Certification is two part; The Level I certification is designed to provide an entry level facilitator the skills needed to begin facilitating as a part of a challenge course program. To complete Level I certification participants need to have a basic understanding of the skills while being able to demonstrate their ability to apply them in familiar circumstances.
The Level II certification is designed to provide an opportunity for facilitators who have some experience in the industry to further their education and obtain the hard and soft skills needed to be a lead facilitator on a challenge course. To complete the Level II certifying workshop participants must master the skills and be able to apply them in a variety circumstances as well as in complex situations.
The skills covered in both Levels I and II align with the international operations standards put forth by the Association for Challenge Course Technology.
Skills Covered:
Core Competencies
- Design and develop programs that align with programs philosophy ethical standards
- Develop an awareness of personal abilities and shortfalls as they pertain to facilitation
- Understanding of certification model, creating a facilitators portfolio, and continuing education in the field
- Understanding the variations of challenge courses and how this affects facilitation and the group experience.
Technical Competencies
- Set-up and take-down of challenge course elements
- Basic care and maintenance of challenge course elements and equipment
- Daily challenge course assessments
- Rappelling, belaying
- Spotting assessment instruction and use
- Challenge course rescue procedures
- Level I: Basic understanding
- Level II: Implementation
- Basic challenge course policies and procedures, industry standards, local operating procedures
Facilitation Competencies
- Communicate effectively with other staff and groups
- Conduct needs assessment of group
- Design and deliver a program that meets the needs of the group
- Asses individual and group readiness to use elements
- Briefing and frontloading skills
- Debriefing and processing skills
- Respond appropriately to changes in group or individual dynamics
The major difference between the level I and level II workshop is the depth of understanding that is needed for certification. In Level I participants are expected to minimally meet or have a basic understanding of the topics covered. Level II participants must be able to apply the skills learned and adapt to complex situations as well.
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