Merry Christmas to One and All

Coming to the end of another year, we take time to reflect on the last twelve months. It has been another exciting year for Upward Enterprises with the addition of a new Ropes Course Manager, John, who joined us at the beginning of the season. We made some additions to the ropes course too with our new Canopy Tour and Zipline Return which got great reviews and has proved to be an integral part of the course.

We had a full season filled with some repeat clients and also a lot of new client groups coming out to the ropes course for the first time. Hopefully everyone will be returning in 2011 now they know how much fun it is.

Our last official team building group of the year was on the 2nd of December. A good end to a long season. Now we get some time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends over Christmas and the New Year before starting again full swing in March. (But don't hesitate to call in January and February. If the weather is good we will be out on the course.)

We are excited about what 2011 will bring and have plans to make changes to the web site and a new calender of events including monthly team building open days on the ropes course.

We would like to thank our staff, clients, family and friends and wish them a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Fun New Year.

Couple's Team Building

I have just completed a couple’s team building ropes course and it was interesting to see how the group dynamics change when the participants know each other on a different higher level.

One couple has been together for 16 years and obviously knows each other very well. Or so they think! When the circumstances are so different from the normal day-to-day routine and the consequences are so vastly exaggerated, the dynamics become so different. The 5 day long class saw a huge move from normal behavioral habits to a more sensitive approach and thoughtful process of what they perceived their opposite partner needed or indeed wanted.

If only we could get the same breakthrough to our other clients who maybe spend as much time with each through work and school but do not communicate on the same level.
I guess 16 years of marriage stands for something!

Lessons from a Canopy Tour Experience

A co-worker of mine recently visited one of those new canopy tour adventure parks which seem to be going up everywhere you look. They are designed with all the new gadgetry that is supposed to keep people from unclipping themselves as they move from one canopy element to the next. I can safely report that this system works but without a trained guide in the air with you it can still lead to problems for the customer.

While my co-worker was there as a guest enjoying himself on his day off he witnessed a young girl in another party who managed to get herself stranded. She was hanging from the cable she was on unable to go forward or backwards. She didn't have the strength to pull herself back up to safety despite the frugal advice from the canopy tour "supervisors" who were directing her from their position on the ground. Her mother, who was on the next platform, made an attempt to rescue her daughter but with no success. Seeing the struggles of the stranded girl and her family, my co-worker decided to act.

He went out and pulled her safely back to the platform. The locking mechanism that prevents individuals from opening both clips kept her safe however she was still stranded, this time at least on a platform where she could rest and regain her strength. Eventually the guides got their butts up the tree and used a key to unlock the mechanism to send the young girl down an easier cable. What a palaver! What if the girl had of been hurt and needed urgently to be grounded for help?

These self-guided entertainment canopy tours are all very well in the right place but personally I prefer a good solid well trained facilitator like we have at Upward Enterprises that can problem solve all situations and give customer care and service all as working together as a team.

Daily Show Sanity Bus Tour Stops at UEI Ropes Course. Our 30 Seconds of Fame!

So the date was set and the crew from Comedy Central "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" turned up at the ropes course. I had John, my Ropes Course Manager, meet the bus and we were surprised that the 6 participants came with a total of 11 crew members including Jason Jones and John Oliver. My wife had made cupcakes and there was only just enough.

The whole thing was geared around Team building. (NOT). The whole episode was a complete histerical laugh and utterly hilarious. Watch the program and see for yourself.

Call and book your own adventure but please, no flour.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Midterm Teapartyganza - Reasonable Debate on the Sanity Bus
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

Operation Misty Morning

Code Name: Operaton Misty Morning

Time / Date / Location: 0600 hours, July 18th at UEI Ropes Course in Buckeystown, MD

Mission: To navigate the three zip lines and complete the canopy tour with the Leap of Faith as the final obstacle!

Administration: Call HQ at 301-834-6140 to sign up for our boot camp experience.

Cost: $45.00 per person.

Deadline: July 17th at 1900 hours.


Details: Bring the necessary gear to survive the morning. This is not for the faint of heart. You may be left behind. Bring a wingman and receive a discount.

Are you up for the challenge?

Over and Out.........................................

Canopy Tour and Team Building




New Upward Enterprises
Canopy Tour

Having just built our canopy tour to compliment the ropes challenge course already in the ground we have found that the team building aspect is still as strong as ever. We first thought that our clients would be drawn to the cables and ropes that bridge each tree throughout the tour from platform to platform as an adventure and for individuals challenges only. That was not the case. The groups that we have already put through the tour have found that there is huge amount of team work involved to complete the extensive run through the trees. The Gymnastics rings located at the far end and optional as an activity have again proved to be the most challenging and not for everyone. The zip lines are as always a favorite and a nice way to transfer from one area to the other and back again. For us it was pretty much what we thought and expected but our clients were pleasantly surprised by the level of challenge and amount of trust and support required to complete the course. Now it is your turn to come and check it out. Call us today (301) 834 6140

New elements being built will be ready by Easter

Ready for a new adventure?

We've had some delays due to the enormous amount of snow we had on our ropes course in January and February here in Frederick, Maryland. Now that the sun is out and the snow has finally melted, we can get back out on the the ropes course and continue with finishing construction of our new elements for 2010.

We're excited to have Upward Enterprises' new ropes course elements ready by Easter and are looking forward to groups especially enjoying our new canopy tour!

Don't miss out and book your next team building outing to the ropes course soon.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Does the cold weather stop you from team building?

Yes it is cold out there! Yes we have been forced indoors but we can still work on team building. Let's re-evaluate what we are here for. The question to start with is "what is team building"?

The answer as we know is "a group of 2 or more people working together towards a common goal". The common goal is the important part of that statement. Many teams are working together, or so they think, but not always in the same direction. Sometimes team members actually work against each other without realizing it.

The ropes course is traditionally used as our outside vehicle to take a group on their journey through the jungle of group dynamics. We use cables and towers to create a sense of adventure that can be both exhilarating and fun but also distracting. Where as the indoor program is created using different tools such as hoops and blindfolds. The journey is very similar in that the group dynamics will be the same. Each group will need to assess the problem and evaluate their resources before they create their plan and execute it to their best ability. Good communication along with respect and trust and support are just some of the key skills that will be required.

What experience have you had with group dynamics that you might like to share?