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Iowa Valley Adventures/Challenge Course
 The Iowa Valley Adventures Challenge Course, pictured in the photos on this page, is a unique hands-on leadership development tool based on the philosophy of “experiential learning.” It’s a tower and rope structure that looks like adult playground equipment, but it’s much more than that!
The mission of the Iowa Valley Adventures Challenge Course is to foster leadership development, teamwork, collaborative problem-solving, and personal growth. This is accomplished through challenges of the mind, body and spirit.
- The challenge course tower, materials, and curriculum are integrated to provide appropriate, safe, and effective experiential learning. Participants are presented with group challenges; after completing the challenges they discuss how their team performed solving the challenges and how they can improve their teamwork.
- It is a learning environment where tangible, transferable skills are acquired.
- It is a “challenge by choice” curriculum that includes ground level team initiatives as well as high ropes initiatives. The ground level team initiatives can be held inside, outside, here at Iowa Valley, at your business or at a conference site. Teams who have worked on their team building skills can participate in the high ropes and climbing initiatives.
- It is a course unlike any other in existence in Iowa.
- It is handicap-accessible for people of all ages and for those with special needs. This is a team challenge, not a physical challenge.
- It is located on the Iowa Valley campus, 3702 S. Center St., in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Who Benefits? Iowa Valley Adventures serves the training and programming needs of many diverse groups. Our trained facilitators guide teams through Challenge Course activities that are specifically developed to foster teamwork, leadership, and positive self-efficacy. Trust, goal setting, team building, and self-reliance are not just discussed - they’re experienced first-hand. The ground level course can be used by people of all abilities to learn the same types of skills. The high ropes course incorporates breathtaking high-element activities centered around the tower and climbing nets.
The Challenge Course is appropriate for business teams, boards and trustees, community and civic group leaders, youth organizations, corporate training programs, conference attendees, outdoor adventure programs, hospitals and health care providers, treatment centers, rehabilitation programs, rescue and fire training, families, and schools/students/athletes/ teachers.
What About Results? The individuals and groups participating in Iowa Valley Adventures Challenge Course training can expect to experience improved self-efficacy, increased self-reliance, improved teamwork skills, physical fitness and fun, leadership development, improved communication and trust, successful risk-taking, cooperation, compassion, and respect for others.
For more information about integrating your corporate or organizational training into Iowa Valley Adventures, contact Laura Schinnow , IVCE Challenge Course Manager, or call 641-752-4645, ext 5603. Call toll-free at 1-800-284-4823.
Our Special Thanks
The Challenge Course was the class project of Iowa Valley Leadership Team 2000. Iowa Valley Leadership plays a vital role in building community leaders, attracting adults who are in emerging leadership roles in their professions or community organizations. Iowa Valley Continuing Education issues a special thanks to this lasting legacy provided by IVL Team 2000!
Tower Specifications
 Curious about the tower? Here’s what it’s all about:
- A 50-foot high pole and rope tower on a 30’x30’ triangular base. Each leg is secured to the ground by screw anchors and guy wires.
- Hardware that supports belay cables has a tensile strength of at least 11,500 pounds.
- Participants on the Giant Swing are on belay cables (attached to a horizontal lifeline made of flexible wire rope) at all times.
- Participants who are climbing are attached to a team member with another team member ensuring their safety at all times.
- Approved safety seat harnesses and helmets are worn by every participant.
- A monthly tower inspection is conducted as part of IVCE’s staff responsibility.
- A structural inspection is conducted annually, with a comprehensive inspection every three years by the course builders.
- The challenge course is engineered for safety. Its builder is certified by the Association of Challenge Course Technology.
About the Facilitators
All Iowa Valley Adventures Challenge Course participants are under the direction of our trained facilitators, who will customize the experience based on the needs of each group. The facilitators work in teams, with two or more facilitators present for each training session. During the tower climbing, the facilitator-to-participant ratio is 1:6.
Our facilitators are local individuals, 21 years or older, with direct experience working with learner groups. They include youth pastors, police officers, firemen, coaches, recreation workers, teachers, retirees, and others. All of the facilitators hold current CPR certification and are trained in First Aid, and all have exhibited sound judgment in their professional and volunteer experiences.
Facilitators are skilled in giving directions, listening and observing, fostering teamwork and enthusiasm, monitoring the safety and well-being of participants, minimizing risk, making decisions to fulfill the learning goals of the client in keeping with ethical practices and the program philosophy, and conducting programs that are socially and culturally appropriate.
Contact Laura Schinnow , IVCE Challenge Course Manager; for more information or call 641-752-4645, ext 5603 for more information.
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