In May 2021, we proudly unveiled the High Ropes Challenge Course at Columbia Outdoor School’s Blue Lake Camp—a truly groundbreaking project in the Columbia Basin. From conception to execution, this challenge course has been a vision come to life, driven by a deep commitment to providing impactful leadership development experiences.
We were honored to have Jodie and Kathy from Adventureworks! join us. Their expertise and leadership were key to making this project unique. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first-ever challenge course built entirely by an all-woman team, a testament to the power of collaboration, diversity, and determination.! #GirlPower http://ow.ly/66Jp30rH0q1
From Vision to Reality: Bringing the Columbia Basin’s First Ever Team-Belayed High Ropes Challenge Course to Blue Lake Camp
In the Columbia Basin, a key piece of the leadership development puzzle was missing. While outdoor education has always been a cornerstone of Blue Lake Camp, we didn’t have a challenge course that emphasized teamwork, trust, and leadership development in a unique way. I recognized the need for such a tool, and driven by a deep passion for helping others grow, I set out to bring this vision to life – to build the Columbia Basin’s very first team-belayed high ropes challenge course, something that didn’t exist anywhere else in the region at the time.
The journey to make this happen wasn’t just my own. It was a community effort, supported by individuals and groups who believed in the power of this vision. The course is designed to foster teamwork, leadership, and personal growth – and from the very beginning, I knew this would be a tool not just for our camp, but for everyone in the community.
In May of 2021, after months of planning and collaboration, the High Ropes Challenge Course at Columbia Outdoor School’s Blue Lake Camp became a reality. This course is unique because it’s the only one of its kind in the Columbia Basin, and one of the few team-belayed courses in British Columbia, outside of the Vancouver area.
Building the course was an enormous task, but with the support of so many amazing people, it quickly became more than just an idea – it became a community project. The Fiorentino Brothers played a key role in bringing my vision to life by donating their time and machinery. Their generosity helped turn this dream into something tangible, and they even let me take the excavator for a spin to help move trees! But what made this project truly special was when Jodie and Kathy from Adventureworks! came onboard. Together, we formed the first team-belay high ropes course in the Basin. This dynamic collaboration was empowering, and it made the entire process feel even more meaningful.
Throughout this journey, I had the support of my colleagues at Columbia Outdoor School, who rallied behind the project from the start. They understood the value this challenge course would bring to the camp, and their belief in this vision was crucial to seeing it through. I also had the ongoing encouragement of the local community, who saw the potential for this course to serve not just our camp, but schools and organizations across the Columbia Basin. Their enthusiasm and support were motivating factors that kept me pushing forward, even when the road was challenging.
When the course opened, we saw an incredible response, even amidst the challenges of COVID-19. Despite restrictions that prevented overnight schools from attending, the course still saw nearly 1000 users in its first year of operation. This is a testament to the community’s excitement and the strong need for a facility like this in the region. The feedback from those who used the course was overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting on how it helped them develop leadership skills and foster stronger teamwork. It was heartwarming to see both campers and staff push themselves beyond their limits and grow together through these challenges.
As we approach the grand opening this spring, I’m thrilled to invite new and returning schools to experience the course for the first time. This milestone marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and most importantly, the unwavering support of those around me. But the journey doesn’t stop there – I’m already working on creating unique packages for groups and organizations to have their own transformative team-building experiences at Blue Lake Camp. This course is designed to be a tool for anyone looking to grow, develop leadership skills, and build stronger teams, and I’m excited to see the positive impact it will continue to have.
While I sometimes refer to the course as my “new toy,” it’s so much more than that. This challenge course is a tangible result of the power of community, relationships, and shared passion. It’s been my passion project, and it’s been an incredible experience to see it come to fruition with the support of so many people. The course is a reflection of everything we can achieve when we come together as a community to support each other’s growth.
This is more than just a physical structure – it’s a symbol of leadership, teamwork, and the power of relationships. I’m so proud of what we’ve built, and I’m even more excited to see how it will continue to support the growth of individuals, teams, and our community for years to come.
Update: As of October 2024, the ropes course has welcomed over 6,000 participants in just three years!
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