NCPC Invests in Adventure Programming

Recently, Officer Clarke and Renee attended the 18th Annual International Challenge Course Symposium and Conference in Portland, Oregon hosted by the Association for Challenge Course Technology, Inc. (ACCT).

ACCT is the standards-setting organization that ensures the quality of programming and instruction in the Adventure field. The week long event offered many seminars relevant to Adventure programming in a beautiful setting near Mount Hood.

Officer Clarke commented on how inspired he was by the many workshops he attended at the conference. He looks forward to incorporating what he learned into the programs offered to groups and organizations, including new initiatives, games, ice-breakers and other methods of engaging groups in experiential learning.

We have used Adventure programming as a key strategy to reach and inspire middle and high school youth as well as community groups, government units and private organizations. The certification track and investment in adhering to ACCT standards is an important step towards increasing our capacity to deliver high quality programs to you. Certification ensures that participants in the Adventure programs we facilitate receive quality training that is consistent with the standards set by the ACCT. It also provides the know-how required to properly maintain the facilities we use for Adventure programming, including Challenge Courses and their elements.

In 2006, ACCT established quality standards in an effort to improve the consistency of programs delivered by Adventure practitioners. Last November, Officer Clarke and Renee began the certification process by attending a practical skills assessment in Brattelboro, Vermont. They were among the first to become certified in accordance with these standards by the High 5 Adventure Learning Center, a Professional Vendor Member of ACCT.

As a result of their successful completion, both Officer Clarke and Renee received their Level 2 Challenge Course Practitioner certification. Level 2 Certification is considered an intermediate level. Practitioners are required to have a solid foundation of documented experience in delivering Adventure programs prior to taking the course. This translates to at least a few hundred hours of facilitation experience on a Challenge Course, which Officer Clarke well exceeded.

If your team has attended an Adventure seminar with us and is ready to take things to the next level, please get in touch with Officer Clarke to discuss the new ideas and offerings that are available and how they may be of benefit to your group.