Follow a shady path in the West Virginia University Forest and youll see the expected sights at firststurdy Appalachian hardwood trees, leafy ferns on the ground, and even the occasional wary doe. Go a bit further and some unusual features start to emerge.
The first is an imposing, multi-level log tower draped with ladders, rope nets and climbing lines. The second is a sort of raised obstacle course, a string of bridges, ladders, and other unconventional means of getting from point A to point B.
Its WVU s new Challenge Course, a multi-element high-and-low facility to be used for student education and development. Once completed, the challenge course facility will be one of the largest educational facilities of its kind in the state.
The creation of the challenge course has been overseen by Greg Corio, senior program assistant with WVU s nationally recognized Adventure WV program, and Nathan Harlan, who will act as program manager for the facility. Theyve seen the project through design and site preparation through to the training sessions held in recent weeks.
WVU s Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, which manages the University Forest, helped with land clearance and harvesting to set the stage. Students in one of the divisions summer construction course built a cabin for storage and office space. The tower and discovery course were designed and constructed by Alpine Towers International.
The result is what they hope will be a versatile resource for members of the WVU community and surrounding region. Course activities can be designed for everyone from experienced climbers to the much-less adventuresome, emphasizing themes such as team-building, personal growth and goal development, and a range of other life lessons. Certain activities are accessible to the handicapped, and the course offers therapeutic opportunities as well.
The challenge course will be used as a setting for Adventure WV groups in the summer of 2008. Adventure WV, recognized with a 2007 Lee Noel and Randi Levitz Retention Excellence Award, combines outdoor activities with fireside discussions about college life and community service opportunities. The orientation program is part of WVU s First-Year Experience.
The course will also be open to student organizations, faculty groups, and others looking for a fresh perspective on the university experience.
The next steps will be to train facilitators. Groups of faculty, staff, and students participated in training during the last weeks of summer, and WVU s Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources program will offer a course this fall to introduce students to the challenge course industry and prepare them to lead programs at the site.
The emphasis this fall will be on developing the safety, staff and programming for the course,Harlan said.In the spring we will be able to run groups and accommodate the University community.
Harlan has kept a blog on the Challenge Courses development athttp://challengecourse.blogs.wvu.edu/