Teams wanting to improve their cohesion and effectiveness are flocking to the Universal Challenge Course off Highway 72 between Salem and Rolla.
The UCC is dedicated to individual and group development through experiential learning in an outdoor adventure setting. The UCC employs low element obstacles courses to hone collective problem-solving and high elements such as zip lines and rock climbing to help individuals overcome mental barriers, such as fear and anxiety.
“We are really a learning center, but putting challenge in the title adds the appropriate amount of excitement,” says Alan Galindo, the UCC’s Challenge Course manager for the past four years. “When people come here I want them leave knowing something new and useful about themselves and each member of their group they come with.”
The UCC facility and surrounding 20 acres are owned by the Missouri Central Region Workforce Investment Board. The UCC held an open house May 21 at which they opened the facility for members of the public to try out the high elements course and learn more about their mission.
In the past, Galindo says the UCC has hosted groups ranging from firefighters to church youth groups, as well as Boy Scouts to treatment center patients. In addition to the high and low elements, the UCC also includes a large conference room available for group retreats independent of participating in the obstacles. The UCC’s grounds, in fact, have even hosted a wedding due to its silent seclusion and the surrounding forest’s serene beauty.
Galindo has a degree in social work and masters in human relations. He puts his knowledge to work in the field with participants during the low elements and high elements courses.
“The staff and I are here to help bring out the important skills needed to be successful in life, including teamwork, communication, leadership, problem solving and decision making,” Galindo says. “Our low elements take place just one or two feet off the ground and are designed to help a group improve their communication and decision making by confronting them with a mental challenge or problem they have to solve by working together.”
One low element course Galindo demonstrated was the Spider Web. The Spider Web is a series of intertwining bungee cords stretched between two trees resembling its namesake. When participating in this challenge, a participating team must move from one side of the web to the other by passing through each one of the holes between the bungees.
“This course is great because the team has to figure out who is going to go through which hole. Obviously, the holes higher off the ground are going to be the most difficult, so they have to effectively communicate and decide which team member will be best for them to hoist up on their shoulders,” Galindo says.
Among the other low element courses featured at the UCC are the ant crawl, the v-walk, the mountain top and Mohawk walk.
Galindo says the UCC high elements tend to get the most attention.
“The high elements are to not only have fun, but to take yourself out of your comfort zone. That little bubble we tend to want to stay in,” Galindo says. “You’re getting up 35 to 40 feet in the air where most people have a fear of heights, so we’re working on overcoming the fear.”
The UCC features several high elements including a zip line, a rock climbing wall and the Leap of Faith. The Leap of Faith consists of a 40-foot platform which you jump off of to ring a suspended cowbell. Galindo assures the faint of heart that all of the courses are conducted with the utmost focus on safety.
“Our facility and course facilitators are annually certified to meet national safety standards set by the Association of Challenge Course Technologies through Adventure-Based Experiential Educators,” Galindo says.
Also on site for the high elements are the Cat Walk, in which you walk along a large horizontal wooden pole, with no railing, 40 feet off the ground, and the Jungle Vines, in which you walk along a steel cable 40 feet off the ground with the assistance of several suspended ropes you can use to balance yourself along the way.
Among the attendees at the May 21 open house were Sandy Ray and her family from Rolla.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to do any obstacles because I am afraid of heights, but I did two so I am very proud of myself,” Ray said. “I did the cow bell jump and the zip line. The zip line goes really fast and it’s a rush of energy, I had an absolute blast today!”
Galindo says he has worked with many groups during his four years as the UCC’s challenge course manager, but says a group of special needs students have been one of the most inspiring.
“We have a special needs group that comes from Rolla Junior High, Ms. Miller, and each of those young students have some challenge either physical or cognitive, but they look forward to coming out each year,” Galindo says. “When they’re out here, they’re treated no differently than anyone else. They’re not able to do everything, but they go as far as they can go. We have a good time with them, they give each other high fives and come up and give us hugs. When they got back, they made their own thank you cards, and took the time and sent them to me. That brought a tear to my eye, I thought ‘Wow, that’s pretty powerful.’ They told us what they learned and we’re looking forward to coming back next year. That was touching, that they got something out of it. That was a rewarding experience for all of my staff.”
For more information, call 426-2946 or email Alan Galindo at alan.galindo@cwib.us