The mission of the Clark County Parks and Recreation Challenge Course Program is to safely provide an experiential opportunity for any individual or group to broaden their perspective of themselves, the environment, and those around them.

What is a Challenge Course?
Challenge courses, for the most part use structures constructed of rope, steel, cable and wood. The  environment for these challenge course programs is a series of components installed in a wooded area at ground level or up off the ground in trees or on utility poles. The components are walls, beams, cable and rope traverses, nets, bridges, ladders, platforms etc. Challenge course programs are part of the larger field of adventure education through which people are motivated to venture out into unfamiliar and challenging territories of life experiences. Growth takes place when people become willing to face the unknown, make an effort to accomplish the new, and sometimes, the difficult.

Are you up to it? Challenge by Choice
Most important to the principles of the Camp Lee Canyon Challenge Course is the strict attention to safety and the philosophy of challenge by choice. Challenge by choice is a principle used to offer group members the opportunity to assess each activity and make individual choices on whether or not to participate. If they decide not to participate, that decision is honored and respected and they are encouraged to find a different role to play.

Full Value Contract
This is imperative and essential before any activity takes place. The contract asks for its members to respect the integrity, diversity and strengths of the individuals at the same time they respect and support the group as a whole. Nonetheless, this is a contract for the group to support, respect and not discount each other. The contract is used to set boundaries and to assure emotional and physical safety. Group initiatives are problem-solving activities that are accomplished through the combined effort of a group of 8-12 participants. Each employs an apparatus in an activity designed by the facilitator to accomplish a particular objective or group of objectives. After each activity, participants are asked to reflect on their experiences and to discuss points of learning that they believe took place.

Low Element Activities
Most days begin with a series of warm-ups, ice breakers and group initiatives which help set the tone for the day. Ice breakers are made up of games that encourage participants to set aside fear of embarrassment, and to establish a safe space where individuals feel supported to step forward and assume an active role in the group process. 

Group initiatives are problem-solving activities that are accomplished through the combined effort of a group of 8-12 participants. Each employs an apparatus (component) in an activity designed by the facilitator to accomplish a particular objective or group of objectives. After each activity, participants are asked to reflect on their experiences and to discuss points of learning that they believe took place.

High Element Activities
Some, though not all programs progress to the high element activities which take place as high as 35 feet above the ground. Success in the low elements help establish a safe and supportive environment where people can step outside their comfort zone. The Clark County Parks & Recreation challenge course consists of nine high elements.
The elements are: Islands, Vines, Catwalk, Pipe Dreams, Climbing Wall, High V, Giants Ladder, The Leap of Faith and the Giant Swing.

What can a Challenge Course offer you and your group? 

 Communication • Conflict Resolution • Cooperation and Respect 
Creativity • Decision Making • Exploring Diversity • Play/Fun  
Motivation • Team Building • Trust Building

The Challenge Ropes Course Program 
The Department provides two different course programs; one located at Camp Lee Canyon and one portable low rope course for patron requested locations.

Reservations must be received a minimum of 30 days in advance. Cancellations must be in writing and received by the Department at least 2 weeks in advance of reservation date to receive a full refund of the deposit.

Low Element Activities
Most days begin with a series of warm-ups, ice breakers and group initiatives which help set the tone for the day. Ice breakers are made up of games that encourage participants to set aside fear of embarrassment, and to establish a safe space where individuals feel supported to step forward and assume an active role in the group process. 

Group initiatives are problem-solving activities that are accomplished through the combined effort of a group of 8-12 participants. Each employs an apparatus (component) in an activity designed by the facilitator to accomplish a particular objective or group of objectives. After each activity, participants are asked to reflect on their experiences and to discuss points of learning that they believe took place.