COMPANY PROFILE 1
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hank you for considering Challenge Towers for this
and I assembled a team of people who share my passion
important initiative. I founded Blue Ridge Learning
and care deeply about their work. I’ve been fortunate to
Center in 1992 because I believe challenge changes
build the kind of company I want to work for and a team
lives. Today, Blue Ridge Learning Centers is one part
that is driven to create incredible experiences. My team
of an integrated enterprise of companies that include
consistently strives for excellence and their experience
Challenge Towers, Aerial Adventure Technologies, and
and perspective produce incredible value for Challenge
High Gravity Adventures.
Towers clients.
Challenge and adventure are powerful tools for growth,
Hiring Challenge Towers comes with a number of benefits.
learning, and living a life well lived. I’ve made it my life’s
My team represents more than a century of collective
passion to connect people with meaningful experiences
experience in the aerial adventure industry. They’ve worked 2
in camps, on canopy tours, at commercial parks, and
Challenge Towers represents quality and value. We
with collegiate programs.They understand where
work tirelessly to get it right the first time and fix it
the industry started and share a well-informed
if we don’t. Our facility design and post installation
perspective on the direction ahead. That
support make risk management and efficient
perspective is underpinned by a synergy among
operations easy. High quality materials, attention
my enterprises that places my team on the front-line
to detail, and passion for craft produce facilities
of nearly every facet of our ever growing aerial
built for a lifetime of use. We work diligently to
adventure world.
produce integrated systems that keep management,
When you work with Challenge Towers, you work with an integrated team across enterprises capable
operations, and long-term care simple, consistent, and predictable.
of supporting the full scope of your operations.
Thank you again for considering Challenge Towers
The team at High Gravity Adventures lends critical
for this important initiative. My team is ready to offer
insight to commercial park design and operation
you their lifetime of experience.
while facilitators with Blue Ridge Learning Centers keeps Challenge Towers grounded in the world
Yours in Adventure,
of traditional challenge course and team building programs. As the industry’s leading online outfitter, Aerial Adventure Tech supports a range of common and unique solutions for sound and efficient operations working with hundreds of operators to support thousands of products. And Challenge
Ken Jacquot President
Towers trainers, inspectors, and maintenance technicians are the road warriors that see it all.
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COMPANY INFO Challenge Towers was founded in 1996 as an extension of Blue Ridge Learning Centers whose mission is to create unique learning environments to promote critical thinking and conscious action. Today, our family of companies include High Gravity Adventures and Aerial Adventure Tech, each providing comprehensive insight to our core business of building and supporting aerial adventure facilities. Our team is stacked with industry veterans and experts who actively influence the responsible growth of the aerial adventure industry. Challenge Towers was among the first Professional Vendor Members (PVM) accredited by the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) and we have a list of industry awards that reflect our passion and commitment to excellence. Most of all, we are accessible and excited to talk to you about your next big project or ticking those critical items off your facility management list. Our clients represent a wide range of businesses, organizations, and institutions from camps and conference centers, to schools and universities, municipal and military, and private and resort-based aerial park operators. 4
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ABOUT ACCT Founded in 1993, The Association for Challenge Course
First released in 1994 and now in its 8th Edition, the ACCT
Technology (ACCT) is the world’s leading and largest
standards have come to be recognized as the international
challenge course industry trade association. An American
gold standard for installation, inspection, and adventure
National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards developer,
operations. Since their creation, the ACCT Standards
ACCT provides the most comprehensive and widely
have been recognized in nearly every court case and
recognized criteria for the design and operation of
regulatory effort related to aerial adventures in the US and
challenge course facilities and programs. Comprised of
abroad. Active in the insurance and regulatory arenas for
more than 3,000 individual and organizational members,
nearly two decades, major insurance companies actively
ACCT works on behalf of a global alliance of operators,
look to the ACCT for advice and consultation. Many state
installers, practitioners and vendors in advancing the
governments have also looked to ACCT Standards in
responsible growth of the challenge course industry.
enacting responsible regulations for the industry. No other
Professional Vendor Members are accredited by the ACCT through a peer review process aimed at ensuring vendors compliance with ACCT Standards. The initial accreditation
organization claiming to represent the aerial adventure course industry has the depth of the insurance and regulatory industry that ACCT has.
takes on average from 12-18 months and includes a hands-on review of installation, inspection, training and certification practices. Subsequent re-accreditation is required every 3 years.
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COMPANY FOCUS Build
Training
If you’ve got the land, we can come up with the plan.
Having a well-trained, skilled, and attentive staff are
Challenge Towers designs integrated solutions for
one of the risk managers sharpest tools. In-house only
everything from small spaces to steep places. Our
training programs can suffer from the silo effect leading
all-angles design approach takes input from our training
to operations creep where inappropriate and outdated
and operations team, builders, and designers to craft smart
practices become normalized over time. Planning for an
solutions that support efficient operations.
independent annual training to complement your in-house
Smart design, high quality materials, and professional execution is our recipe for facilities that are built right the first time and built to last. Challenge Towers courses are so well built you’ll spend less time and less money maintaining them.
program keeps your whole staff current with the latest standards, practices, and equipment. You get an objective assessment on your staff capabilities and limitations and insightful observations about your programming and policies. Our trainers are passionate and experienced educators who blend instructional and hands-on learning to deliver personalized trainings and ACCT accredited certifications.
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COMPANY FOCUS continued
Inspections An independent annual inspection conducted by a qualified inspector is intended to identify critical issues that can render your course unsafe. ACCT standards, insurers, and various states and municipalities require documented review of all facility components and program equipment on a recurring basis. Challenge Towers provides detailed inspection report that outline required actions to keep your course compliant with current standards and helpful recommendations to improve course and programming efficiencies. Facility inspections provide critical and independent feedback about the overall condition of facilities and compliance with prevailing standards. Challenge Towers certified inspectors take a thoughtful and hands-on approach in the assessment of critical components and equipment. Each inspection includes a comprehensive review of overall course design and construction standards in addition to assessing the condition of trees, poles, cables, ropes, hardware and other critical course elements. An organized and timely report documents key findings and outlines critical requirements and recommendations. 12
COMPANY FOCUS continued
Maintenance Keeping up with regular maintenance not only extends the life of your facility, it’s a key component to a well-rounded risk management plan. While many items can be addressed in-house, improvements and modifications to critical components and substantial structural changes should always be completed under the supervision of a qualified vendor. Challenge Towers has decades experience maintaining a wide range of challenge courses, climbing towers, zip lines, and giant swings. No matter who built it, Challenge Towers can fix it. Our team approach to problem solving means you get sound solutions quickly. With basic information, we can identify the problem and return recommended solutions, their cost and other considerations. Our field technicians work at a variety of facilities in the US and abroad and are adept at addressing unexpected issues and on-the-fly repairs.
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AERIAL ADVENTURE EMPIRE AAT
facilitates a range of activities from our base camp at the
Adventure transforms lives and Aerial Adventure Tech
Carolina including the Challenge Towers built Discovery
provides the tools that make adventure possible. The industries premier online outfitter, AAT features more than 3,000 products backed by our knowledgeable team. We tap into a global network of professional builders and operators working in climbing gyms, at ropes courses,
Blowing Rock Conference Center in Blowing Rock, North Course and dual zip lines, an indoor high course, low activities, and custom built curriculum designed to meet a groups unique goals. Incorporated in 1992, BRLC is the company from which Challenge Towers, Aerial Adventure Tech, and High Gravity Adventures evolved.
aerial adventure parks, zip lines, and canopy tours to test and select the products we sell. Choose AAT for unmatched product selection, insight, information, service and support.
HGA High Gravity Adventures is an award winning aerial
BRLC Blue Ridge Learning Center brings people together for collective challenge and growth by providing experience-based learning programs for schools, organizations, corporations, and therapeutic groups. BRLC
adventure park located next to Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, North Carolina and features two aerial courses, a three-person giant swing, and an integrated zip line tour. A learning laboratory for Challenge Towers and Aerial Adventure Tech, HGA provides critical insight to all facets of commercial aerial park management and operation. The newest of the Challenge Tower family of companies, HGA began operations in the spring of 2014. 14
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LEADERSHIP TEAM Ken Jacquot Founder & President
Ken is the founder and President of Challenge Towers and affiliated companies including Aerial Adventure Technologies, Blue
and the Utah Olympic Park. Ken has provided significant contribution to the Association for Challenge Course Technology serving in various board and committee roles. In 2013, Ken was awarded the ACCT Critical Link Award in recognition of his contributions to the development, maintenance, and growth of the ACCT.
Ridge Learning Centers, and High Gravity Adventures. Ken’s long history and rich engagement in the industry
Carson Rivers
provides critical and strategic insight to all facets of
Vice President of Operations
the enterprise. Day-to-day, Ken works to support a wide-reaching team by reducing obstacles and advocating
Carson has been with Challenge
for success. His goal is to sustain an enterprise that provides value to the community of employees, clients, colleagues, and users it serves. From the beginning, Ken has been a committed advocate for the ideal that challenge changes lives. As Challenge Towers rapidly gained a reputation, it attracted a diverse and engaged roster of clients who share his passion for adventure-based play from YMCA to BSA, the US National Whitewater Center, Nantahala Outdoor Center,
Towers since 2007 serving in a variety of roles across the organization which gives him unique perspective into the operations of the company. He works closely with the President and Vice President of New Business Development, providing oversight and direction for the company. He is responsible for planning and goal setting with divisional leadership, ensuring quality control for products and services, and providing financial oversight for the organization.
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LEADERSHIP TEAM In addition to his work with Challenge Towers, Carson
sales pipelines. Having previously managed the Challenge
provides day-to-day management for Challenge Towers’
Towers Design and Installation division, Andrew has a
affiliate companies High Gravity Adventures and Blue
keen interest and expertise in contracting and continues to
Ridge Learning Centers, as well as providing administrative
advice and counsel during contract negotiations.
assistance for Aerial Adventure Technologies. Carson is also very active in the industry at large having served on many committees and task forces within the Association for Challenge Course Technology where he currently sits as the Treasurer for its Board of Directors.
In addition to his work with Challenge Towers, Andrew serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Aerial Adventure Technologies and has overseen the transformation of AAT into the industry’s leading online gear and equipment reseller. Andrew has been in the Adventure Industry
Andrew Miller Vice President of New Business Development
Andrew has been with Challenge Towers since 2011 and is a key member of its leadership team, providing oversight
since the mid 1990’s having worked as a private guide, photographer, outdoor educator, and as an administrator for a comprehensive, university-based outdoor education center. He has lead expeditions in Alaska and New Zealand, explored caves throughout the Southeast, and guided in the American West.
and direction for the company. He is responsible for driving brand and marketing strategy as well as the development, management, and oversight of all marketing funnels and
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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS Yellowstone Adventure Park
The UOP aerial park includes 3 separate adventure
LOCATION: West Yellowtone, MT
known timber frame aerial park and utilizes cutting edge
WEBSITE: yellowstoneparkzipline.com A unique aerial park located in downtown West Yellowstone offers more than 50 challenge elements, integrated kid’s course and mini-zip tour. The park offers a design that eliminates diagonal guys and associated anchors making for a relatively small footprint while maintaining the organic look and feel of wood pole construction. The main course and integrated kids’ course have been designed for
courses, an adventure playground, and a 65’ drop tower. This install “wins the gold” for being the first technologies including a continuous belay system and Powerfan freefall adventure.
Wild Blue Ropes Adventure Park LOCATION: Charleston, SC WEBSITE: wildblueropes.com
self-navigation by utilizing continuous belay systems. A self
A large commercial park located on James Island with
navigating 4-line mini zip tour travels around the perimeter
72 challenge elements and an integrated Saferoller kids
of the course punctuating this dynamic aerial park.
course. Built around majestic live oaks, Wild Blue packs a ton of activity into its small footprint all while staying
Utah Olympic Park LOCATION: Park City, UT WEBSITE: utaholympiclegacy.org
within a 35ft building height ordinance. The main course is designed using the Bornack SSB to promote exploration and self-navigation while an integrated kids course using the Saferoller continuous belay system provides age appropriate terrain for kids as young as 5 years old. 18
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS Nantahala Outdoor Center Skynet Course
course was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, Challenge
LOCATION: Bryson City, NC
Mountain Recreation Complex. The re-opening of the
WEBSITE: noc.com Two miles of zip lines high above the Nantahala Gorge
Towers was hired as the consulting designer and later as the installer for this unique course located within the South Treetop course marks the first U.S. installation of the newly redesigned Saferoller 2 continuous belay system.
on this premium, three-hour tour. Traverse NOC’s remote
High Gravity Adventures
400-acre Townhouse Creek property with panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and
LOCATION: Blowing Rock, NC
Nantahala National Forest. The tour’s highlight, the half-mile Mega Zip soars 350′ above Townhouse Creek, providing a
WEBSITE: highgravityadventures.com
breathtaking adrenaline rush.
High Gravity is an award-winning adventure park and canopy tour located in Blowing Rock,
Turtle Back Zoo LOCATION: West Orange, NJ
NC and is owned and operated by Challenge Towers. Features include a multilevel main course and integrated kids course, three person giant swing, and zip line tour
WEBSITE: turtlebackzoo.com
culminating in a 70ft Powerfan free fall. Since opening,
Congratulations to Essex County and
Family-Friendly Travel Ideas to Get You Going” and is active
HGA has been featured in the New York Times article, “20
our friends at Turtle Back Zoo on the opening of their new
in the surrounding communities of Boone and Blowing
and improved Treetop Adventure Course. After the original
Rock, North Carolina. 19
828.265.0602
162 Timberlakes Drive, Todd, NC 28684 ChallengeTowers.com
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