Challenge Course Overview

The Office of Experiential Education offers challenge course programs to the campus community, school groups, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and corporate groups. A program can range from two hours to a few days in length, and can focus on a variety of topics including group development, leadership and followership, communication, trust, problem-solving skills, conflict resolution, and individual and cultural differences.

With the Challenge Course as our tool, we address these topics using metaphors. Groups engage in activities that include tasks such as crossing imaginary rivers, climbing over walls, and solving complicated puzzles. Following an activity, discussion draws on the metaphors, participants' experiences, and theoretical models and then applies it back to the group's daily work environment.