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WHAT IS A CHALLENGE COURSE?

A challenge course is a combination of mental and physical challenges requiring groups to work as a team to accomplish goals. Through a series of fun and unusual activities, participants learn valuable information about themselves, each other, and the group as a unit. By removing people from their usual environment and placing them in a new, unique setting, a challenge-course experience fosters shared learning, openness, and cooperation. 

 

Low elements take place on the ground or up to 3' above the ground. High elements are usually constructed on utility poles up to 40' above the ground and require harnesses and additional safety equipment. 

Who we serve?

The Stowe Heights Challenge Course is structured to serve participants 10 yrs and older. We have both programs for youth and adults. Programming is tailored to meet the unique needs & objectives of each group.

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Examples of Programs:

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  • SCHOOL GROUPS 

  • YOUTH LEADERSHIP

  • ADULT LEADERSHIP

  • FAITH-BASED GROUPS

  • SPORTS TEAMS

  • FAMILY EVENTS

  • CORPORATE EVENTS

  • MEDICAL TEAMS

  • CONFERENCE PROGRAMMING

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Any group that enjoys a change of scenery and the opportunity to build relationships, build their creativity, explore aspects of communication and understanding, or be inspired by each other's strengths is likely to benefit from a day at Stowe Heights.

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 Challenge By Choice  

Challenge By Choice is a concept by which programming is facilitated. It means that participants have choices in the level of their participation as long as that decision supports the group by adding value and does not take away from the group process or create a safety concern. It is important that participants are given control over the level of challenges they engage in. The team and facilitators are there to support doing hard things and highlighting capacities, but this should in no way be a decision made out of pressure. Creating this comfort zone is vital to developing respect and trust with one another and encouraging personal responsibility and commitment. As the team upholds these elements they will better be able to push into the "stretch zone" where the optimal learning experience exists.

The Basics

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PRICING

The pricing of our programs is largely dependent upon the scope of your session and what you want to achieve. Each group we build a program for is different. It depends on the number of participants, the goals of the experience, and the length of the experience.

 

All Pricing are baseline (starting at) prices:

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For more information go to our pricing page.

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LOCATION

The Stowe Heights Challenge Course is located behind Stowe Elementary School in Grays Woods. The main access point to the location can be found off Dubuque Ave. 

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We are located at:

3516 Dubuque Ave.

Des Moines, IA 50317

 

mailing address:

1446 MLK Jr. Pkwy

Des Moines, IA 50314

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HOURS

The Stowe Heights Challenge Course is open seasonally from May - October, Monday - Friday between 9a-5p (and sometimes on weekends) for programming.

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We are available for portable programming year-round.

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GROUP SIZE

In order to be effective with our programming, we require a minimum of 8 participants. Group costs are determined by the required number of facilitators to appropriately staff your particular group. 

 

Stowe Heights can serve groups of 8-50 participants at a time. As group size increases, so does the program length when the high course is included in the program design.  Expect to need 2 hours for the high course portion for every 10-15 participants. 

Scholarships & Course SPONSORSHIPS

The Stowe Heights Challenge Course brings a new opportunity to the Des Moines metro and the Midwest. Please consider donating to our sponsorship programs to help sustain our mission of promoting teamwork, communication, and leadership in our communities.

To apply for the scholarship fill out the application here:

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ADA Design

Our High-Course challenge course is the only course in the Midwest that is equipped to allow individuals with assistive devices to participate alongside their peers. While portable and low-challenge elements are readily adaptable to the various needs of a group, this course also allows full participation on the high course through the integration of specific harnesses and specialized equipment.  With the assistance of a mini-grant from Iowa's University Center for Excellence on Disabilities (UCED), we are assessing capacity to further accessibility as we build the low-challenge course.  If you would like more information on accessibility please contact stoweheights@cyconcepts.org.

WE ARE THE ONLY URBAN ADA-ACCESSIBLE HIGH CHALLENGE COURSE IN THE MIDWEST.

"Our group loves coming out to learn leadership, to practice leadership skills, and to develop a more cohesive group dynamic."
Jane Ann  /  St. Theresa's Middle School

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