Summer Employment Opportunity at Upward Enterprises

Are you looking for a fun summer part-time job with a flexible schedule?

We are looking for seasonal staff to work at our event facility in Gaithersburg where we run zip lines for picnic groups. It’s a fun, outdoor job for someone that is enthusiastic and dependable. Most events are held on the weekends and we offer training as needed.

Job Duties: assist guests with proper harness and helmet fitting, assist with landing point for participants, and provide excellent customer service.

Benefits include: flexible hours, working outdoors, meals and shirt provided.

Requirements: high school or equivalent, must complete safety training, ability to stand outside for long periods of time, reliable transportation, English speaking, ability to pass background check and drug test, excited to deliver adventure and educational experience to our guests.

To apply: send email inquiry and resume to Clive at clive@upwardenterprises.com

Dramatic Video You Have to See

This is an amazing video. Théo Sanson completed this 500 meter walk in Utah between The Rectory to Castleton Tower in Castle Valley. The landscape is breathtaking and his daring is beyond anything we have at the Upward Enterprises ropes course.

Leap of Faith

Alan Eustace made his "leap of faith" from the stratosphere 135,000 miles to earth. While we don't jump that far on the ropes course, you can take your own personal "leap of faith" at our ropes course.

Using the Playground as an Adventure Classroom

Beauvoir Elementary School in Washington, DC is getting attention for its unique approach to experiential learning. They have designed a playground for children that is built into a hillside at the school that doesn't include your standard playground equipment. Kids can scramble over rocks, climb rope cargo nets and splash in the man-made creek that is supplied with rain water.

Looks like a lot of fun! It's refreshing to see kids exploring their environment and using their imagination to play.

Cave Jumping

Have you seen this? A network of underground trampolines installed in a slate quarry cavern in the Welsh mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Check it out and tell us what you think. No caves unfortunately at our Upward Enterprises ropes course.

Leaf Peeping Ziplining Through the Trees

What a beautiful fall day out on the Upward Enterprises team building ropes course. The leaves are a golden shade of yellow and burnt red. We wish we could have everyone come out and share with us the amazing colors.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has a wonderful website giving you a guide to find fall foliage. The leaves might have peaked in Western Frederick County but we have plenty of them to see. Book an event at our course before the last leaf falls. 301-834-6140

Getting our Adventure on with FiNDiT Frederick

Back about a month ago, Upward Enterprises had the pleasure of having the staff of FiNDiT Frederick come out to our ropes course in Buckeystown for an afternoon of team building. Melissa Howes-Vitek of the magazine wrote a great follow-up article for the magazine. Many of the people who come out to my course are hesitant to participate because they are afraid they will fail or the activities will be too scary. Melissa and her group are great proof that coming out to the team building course and tackling those fears can change your life. Melissa, we here at Upward Enterprises are inspired by you. Please, if you have the time, check out her story and video below.

 

High School Teen Mentors Benefit from Day of Team Building

I was happy to welcome a group of 12 students from St John's Catholic Prep of Frederick Maryland who were being prepared as mentors to incoming freshmen this semester. Their teachers and counselors had set goals for the day and the students, I am sure, had some goals of their own. Even though the school is very close to the Upward Enterprises ropes course, this was the first time the school had ever come for team building. After the day’s successful outcome, I am hopeful they come back with more students.  

It was easy to see right from the start that this group was going to be receptive to the education that I was about to introduce to them. We started with the formal introductions and got straight into what team building meant.

One of the team building activities I set up for them was to get the team through a hoop in the fastest possible time. They had most of the "Cliché" answers but could they put the theory into action? Immediately they had questions about what through the hoop meant and if there were any rules or boundaries. As I watched the group work together, they came up with the following strategy virtually by themselves.

1. Defined the goal and confirmed exactly what “through the hoop meant”.
2. Set the standards to which they all agreed to work by.
3. Confirmed the start and finish lines.
4. Tested their theory several times to collect data and changed their strategy as more ideas were gathered.
5. Completed the task in 9.2 seconds before they showed no further improvement.
6. Processed the whole experience so as to learn what and where the new found skill and group dynamic could be used in the future.

 All this in one activity! Whew…

After that we moved on to the cable traverse, affectionately know as the Mohawk Walk. This is a series of 4 cables that have various elements one can to use on the crossing to the given destination. Here the group was tested. The students had some great ideas which worked right off the bat. However other ideas created consequences to be paid. They quickly learned that consequences can immediately slow things down putting the entire process in jeopardy. Strengths and challenges of the group as a whole were taken into consideration and the group started to work around them. This synergy lead to a major break-through idea that then set the path. The end was now in sight. Time was running out to finish the exercise, adding more pressure, but with that came focus and determination.

The whole task was completed to rapturous applause and celebration. It was amazing to watch this group learn and grow as a team right before my eyes. As a reward, the St. John students got to ride the zip line at the ropes course. But what has riding a zip line got to do with team building I asked? Of course I got all the right answers.

The students gained a rewarding learning day that they can carry with them throughout their lives. The teachers went away with a little more knowledge and pride in their students and a mountain of metaphors to use in the future when the time arises.

I went away with another gratifying day in my outdoor classroom knowing that I contributed to the future of the next generation in America.

What a zip line and high ropes adventure can teach you

Thanks Kimbra for writing such a great article on your visit to our Upward Enterprises ropes course that appeared in the June 2012 issue of Chesapeake Taste. Hope to see everyone come out and experience the same.

On nearly the last zip line day, the one that ended with a high-speed collision into a cargo net, my husband, Mike, hollered through the trees, “Look down!” So I focused on the ground as I launched myself off the platform. For the first time all day, I actually recognized that I was falling--- ….

To read the rest of Kimbra and her families experience, go to the full article on Chesapeake Taste here.

Zipping, Swinging and Problem-Solving

Written by Karen Highland June 12, 2012, for her website 365 Frederick

We recently participated in a Team Building Retreat with a dozen people from our office. From problem-solving and team-building exercises, on to zip lines and swinging over the Monocacy River, this was a remarkable experience!

Clive Felgate with Team Building Ropes
Course in Background

Clive Felgate owns and operates Upward Enterprises in Adamstown, Maryland. Located on the grounds of the Claggett Retreat Center @ 3035 Buckeystown Pike, they specialize in Team Building and Adventure Programs. On the grounds you’ll find several challenge courses and team-building activities available for Corporate groups, youth groups and birthday and private parties. Some of the activities:

• Ropes Course Training, over 80 different high and low ropes activities
• Corporate Team Building
• Event Planning
• Rock Climbing
• Caving
• Ropes Course Design and Construction
• Indoor Team Building and Conferences

Our Team Building Retreat

Twelve of us spent 3+ hours together at Upward Enterprises last week. We struggled through two team-building exercises, learning a lot about ourselves, and each other, our communication styles, and how our interactions can improve. I thought it was a valuable experience and took away several points............................
To read the rest of Karen's ropes course experience story go to her website 365 Frederick.
Thanks Karen!!

Jerry Seinfeld vs Jay Leno zip line in New York

I watched with eager anticipation the advert during the Super Bowl for the Acura NSX.The zip line feature full access package offered by Jerry Seinfeld nearly did the trick until Jay Leno turned up with that flying suit. Ah well, I don't have a flying suit to offer but I do have zip lines that will opening again this month. Why not get ahead of the rest and book your adventure now.

Zip Line at Upward Enterprises Facility in Maryland

An Exciting New Year Ahead!

Here we are in the second month of 2011 already. Before we know it, it will be the summer and instead of freezing like today it will be 100'....oh we can't wait.

Well until it's time to get out the shorts and sunscreen, there's still lots of fun to be had at the ropes course and we'll even throw in some hot chocolate to warm you up.  There's nothing better thatn getting the  adrenalin running to get you warmed up on a cold day.

Last year we added an amazing Canopy Tour to our array of activities and if you didn't get chance to do it last year, then 2011 is the year to  come and try it out.  After zipping through the trees on our 600ft zipline, take another zipline to connect with the start of the canopy tour.  Once hooked on you traverse through the course high in trees. Sound like fun?

The weather is going to start warming up soon (we hope) and we're eager to get out on the course again before cabin fever sets in, so give us a call to book your groups visit to the Ropes Challenge course for some fun this year.

We look forward to seeing you there.

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.........................................