Beckwith's Challenge Course offers a unique opportunity for adults and youth to experience a series of challenges at ground and tree top levels. The course is designed to help groups build community and team skills, to help individuals reach personal goals, and to provide a positive learning experience for all. Individuals are encouraged to participate only to the extent that they are comfortable. All activities are highly supervised by trained instructors. When contacting Beckwith for rates and group needs, ask about arrangements for the use of the Challenge Course.

At your location:

       Beckwith's Challenge Course facilitators are trained to bring custom-designed group building activities to your site.  We will custom tailor fun and challenging positive learning experiences to help your group reach personal and team goals.  Contact us today for more information.

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The Beckwith Challenge Course
Challenge by Choice

       We are delighted that you have chosen Beckwith for your "Challenge Course" experience.  We are honored to offer your group a positive learning experience that benefits each member of the group as well as the group as a whole.  Please share the following information with your group in advance to insure a positive outcome of your time with us.

What Participants Should Know

1. Physical participation in any activity is optional.  Those choosing not to participate physically in any given activity will have opportunities to a non-physical role.  Participants are expected to remain with their group.

2. Wear closed-toed shoes and clothing appropriate for weather conditions and participation in activities with other members of the group.  Avoid clothing that might be damaged by dirt, mud, tree sap, or the wear and tear of a day of challenge activities.  Jewelry and other unnecessary items should be left at home.

3. Our Course is open rain or shine, excepting dangerous lightning situations.

4. Bring bug spray or Skin-So-Soft, a change of clothes, and a plastic bag (for wet items, or to sit on when returning home).

5. We provide ice water for your day on the course; you may bring something else to drink if you wish.

6. Smoking during participation in ropes course activities is not permitted.

7. Participants must sign our indemnity form and if a participant is under 18 year of age, the form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.  Beckwith will not allow individuals to participate in Challenge Course activities without the properly signed release of liability.

What You as Group Leader Should Know

1. Plan to arrive at Beckwith at least 20 minutes prior to the desired starting time.  Use this time to send everyone to the restroom, meet the facilitator(s), and complete any paperwork that might need to be handled (take this time to give the facilitator(s) the signed indemnity forms.

2. To some degree, you control the groups size per facilitator; we recommend no fewer than 8 and not more than 16 participants per facilitator.  Lower numbers per facilitator allow individuals in the group to be more involved in the decisions and physical challenges/achievements, but lower number also mean higher cost per person.

3. Prior to your arrival, your lead facilitator will contact you to discuss your day on the Course.

4. Your facilitator(s) will begin the day's activities with a discussion about expectations and boundaries, especially in regards to physical, emotional, and environmental safety.  These discussions will continue throughout the day.

5. Beckwith can provide meals if requested in advance.  Sack lunches seem to work best with the uncertainty of time requirements for Challenge Course activities.  You may bring your own sack lunch, or we will prepare one for you.  A soft drink machine is located on the premises.

6. The Challenge Course can be used in periods of rain and some activities and initiatives can be accomplished in protected areas when bad weather or lightning threatens.

7. In the event that bad weather has been forecast for your Challenge Course day, a representative of Beckwith will call your group's contact person the night before to discuss options available to your group.  If you have questions the night before, please call the after-hours contact person listed on the office answering machine (251-928-7844).

8. In the event that your group has fewer participants than you agreed to bring, and as a result, fewer facilitators are used, a $90 group fee for each facilitator scheduled but not needed.

9. In the event that your group does not show up for a scheduled Challenge Course event, your group will be charged a $90 fee for each facilitator scheduled. Forfeiture of deposit will also occur.

10. There will be a per-person fee (currently $15.50 for non-profit student groups and $19.00 for adult) used to cover insurance cost, maintenance, upgrades, equipment replacement, training, inspections, and other course related expenses.  In addition to the per-person fee there will be a charge (currently $23.75/hr.) for each facilitator used.  Facilitators are paid for the actual time they work with your group as well as preparation and clean-up time.  On average, this about 1-1 1/2 hours more than the time spent with your group.

What Beckwith and Your Facilitators Need to Know

1. Please share with us any individual or group goals you have.  If you have any particular themes or key concepts you are currently working on, please talk to us about how we can incorporate these into your experiences.

2. You know your group better than we do, so we encourage your input throughout the day.  If you think we need to shift the focus, change goals, make a problem easier or more difficult, move on to something else or spend more or less time processing the event just completed; then talk with the facilitator.  Normally, we base our decisions about what to do next on what we see happening within the group.

3. Are there any physical, mental, or emotional concerns/limitations we need to be aware of?

4. What is the approximate age of your group members?

5. Are there any elements or activities you wish to use or avoid?

6. Do you want to use the high course, low course, or both?

Beckwith Camp and Conference Center
10400 Beckwith Lane
Fairhope, Alabama 36532
251-928-7844
beckccc@bellsouth.net

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