Description
Part I. Back to the Basics Chapter 1. Introduction to the Aerial Adventure Industry What Is an Aerial Adventure Environment? A Different Outdoor Industry Aerial Adventure Professionals Professional Associations Summary Review Questions Chapter 2. History of Aerial Adventure Environments A Common History Development in the United States Development in Canada Development in Europe Development in Japan Development in Costa Rica Facility Changes Understanding What Was Happening Summary Review Questions Chapter 3. Purpose of Aerial Adventure Environments Goal Orientations Organizational Alignment Summary Review Questions Chapter 4. Fundamentals of Aerial Adventure Operating Systems Low Activities High Activities Summary Review Questions Part II. Learning the Ropes Chapter 5. Facility Design, Installation, Inspection, and Maintenance Design Installation Inspection Maintenance Summary Review Questions Chapter 6. Equipment Systems Equipment in AAEs Systems Approach Selection Use Care Summary Review Questions Chapter 7. Personnel Who Are the Personnel? Understanding the Participant Preparing Aerial Adventure Leaders Summary Review Questions Chapter 8. Operations Layers of Operational Guidelines Nodes of Operational Management Summary Review Questions Part III. Delivering the Experience Chapter 9. Knowing Your Audience Mead's Stages of a Recreational Experience Obtaining Participant Information Risk Management and Legal Information Providing Inclusive Programming Summary Review Questions Chapter 10. Designing the Experience Symbolic Interaction Theory Program Outcomes Understanding Domains for Participant Success Sequencing Program Plan Summary Review Questions Chapter 11. Facilitating the Experience Common Theory and Concepts of Facilitation Facilitator Techniques Summary Review Questions Chapter 12. Evaluation and Post-Experience Operations Role of Evaluation How Evaluation Is Done in AAEs Levels of Evaluation AAE Evaluation in Today's World Follow-Up Summary Review Questions Part IV. Professional Preparation Chapter 13. Professional Competencies AAP Competencies Summary Review Questions Chapter 14. Career Preparation Career Development Model Career Overview Professional Preparation Summary Review Questions Chapter 15. State of the Profession Supporting Research Current Issues Summary Review Questions
Elizabeth (Liz) Speelman, PhD, is a senior lecturer in the outdoor education program at Georgia College and State University, and she teaches challenge course, group development, and facilitation classes. She is also the director of the Outdoor Center at Georgia College, where she works with both university and community groups on the challenge course. Speelman has facilitated and managed challenge courses since 2002. She earned her PhD with her meta-analysis on challenge course research, and she continues to focus on the current state of outcome-based challenge course research. She earned her Challenge Course Manager certification in 2018. She is a member of the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) and served on the research committee from 2010 to 2016. She is also a current member and former board member of the Association for Experiential Education (AEE). Mark Wagstaff, EdD, is a professor of recreation, parks, and tourism at Radford University. He teaches a challenge course leadership class and oversees the Radford University challenge course program, which he founded in 2004. Wagstaff has managed and worked on challenge courses since 1988. Wagstaff has conducted research and published articles on various challenge course topics. He has coauthored and coedited numerous publications, including Outdoor Leadership: Theory and Practice, Controversial Issues in Adventure Programming, and Technical Skills for Adventure Programming. He is currently a member of the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) and serves on their research committee. He is also a member of the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE). Scott Jordan, PhD, is an associate professor in the Northern Michigan University outdoor recreation leadership and management degree program. Jordan has 16 years of experience managing challenge course programs and consulting in the challenge course industry, encompassing zipline canopy tours, aerial adventure park construction, and operational standards. Jordan is a former board member for the Professional Ropes Course Association (PRCA) and assisted in the development of the Ropes Challenge Course Installation, Operation and Training Standards (ANSI/PRCA 1.0-.3-2014). Kathy Haras, PhD, is the vice president of Adventureworks! Associates in Dundas, Ontario, where she is responsible for risk management, quality assurance, and inspection services. She is a licensed zip line mechanic in the province of Ontario and an Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) level 2 professional inspector (with supervisor endorsement). She provides challenge course programming, installation, inspection, training, certification, and consulting services at approximately 80 sites annually and presents extensively on challenge course topics. Haras is currently the chair of the ACCT Design, Performance, and Inspection Standards Writing Committee.