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

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.

Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Team Building at Upward

Last week a group of employees from The Adventure Park at Sandy Springs Friends School came out to our UEI's ropes course for some good old fashion team building. We went through our communication building and trust exercises and at the end of the day, everyone in the Adventure Park group walked away with a renewed synergy.

Both of our facilities have rope climbing and zip lines but our programs are very different. Where Sandy Spring provides pure adventure and adrenaline, Upward Enterprises provides the component of team building with a facilitator. We are geared for groups while they are more of an amusement park where individuals can explore independently.

Clive exploring The Adventure Park

In return, this week we were invited to The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School to have a day of fun. It was a challenge for our staff and a good break from the busy back to school team building season for incoming students from the around the Washington Metro area.

Thank you, Adventure Park for trusting Upward Enterprises with your team building training and for a great day at your facility as well.

A Good Day of Team Building

In July, Worx Graphic Design came out to our challenge ropes course for some team building. Afterwards they sent us this incredibly kind thank you card. Truly it goes both ways. When a group comes to our course, whether adults or kids, and they take in what we teach it's always gratifying to know we can make a difference.

Smokey Glen Farm Zip Line at the Grove Picnic Site Open

Just uploaded a new video highlighting our zip line Upward Enterprises just built at Smokey Glen Farm. This zip line is located at the Grove picnic site. This video was taken at its grand opening event in May. What is unique about this zip line is that it is designed with a return so that riders circle back to where they started. On a beautiful opening day, we had a lot of riders come to the end of the zip line and hop right back on for another trip. The kids loved it!

 If you are booking an event with Smokey Glen Farm at the Grove, give us a call if you are interested in also booking the zip line 301-834-6140.

Moral Thought Experiment

At the ropes course we often use the moral debate game we call "Cave Rescue" to generate discussion and opinion. We unearth what each individual in the team building group values in others. Why does one person stand up for another who is in peril versus letting another person, who they deem not as valuable, to suffer? It's a great thinking game that always provides lively discussion and interaction in the group.

Below is a great illustration of the same Cave Rescue game presented by BBC 4 Radio series History of Ideas. Take a look and let us know what's your philosophy.

Introducting the new Zip Line at the Grove at Smokey Glen Farms

Due to the increased popularity of our zip line at the Pavilions, Upward Enterprises has expanded our service to add a new zip line with return at the Grove picnic facility at Smokey Glen Farms in Gaithersburg, MD. The new Grove zip line is open for private events booked through Smokey Glen.

We will be previewing the Grove zip line at the 2015 Smokey Glen Farm Open Day, April 8, 2015.

Ice Climbing at Cunningham Falls State Park with Mark Hardie

Recently, Mark Hardie, the former owner of Upward Enterprises was recently featured by the Frederick News Post while ice climbing in Cunningham Falls State Park. Mark was the original founder of Upward Enterprises before selling the business to Clive Felgate. He is a great mentor and friend to UEI. Mark now owns Daybreak Excursions. If you are interested in private climbing lessons we highly recommend him.

Happy Holidays to our Customers

To all our clients who have supported Upward Enterprises over the years, I'd like to say thank you for believing in the power of our team building. Happy Holidays to you, your family and all those you love.

 
Miracle from 34th Street - Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

Seize the Day

Before it gets too cold, come out to the UEI ropes course and play like a kid.

Crossing the Amazon

Group navigating the Amazon at
Upward Enterprises Team Building

Have you been out to our ropes course in Buckeystown, MD in 2014?

If your group has been out there working on your team building, you might have tried our new "Amazon" activity that Travis built over the Spring. The object of this activity is for the group to work together to retrieve an object on the other side of the creek (our mini Amazon).

At Upward Enterprises, we are always looking to update our course and add new elements, keeping our course fresh and interesting year after year.

Thank you to all our clients for the great feedback!

"Truly amazing experience at the ropes course this year and I don't think there is anything that we would have changed."
Eric H.,  Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Inc.

Spider's Web at Upward Enterprises Team Building

"I think the kids enjoyed themselves and learned a lot. Thanks Clive. Looking forward to working with you in the future."
Kristy N. Upper School Counselor, Friends School of Baltimore

"Thank you for such a great experience on Saturday! The tightrope activity was an especially good way to get us all working together."
Bridget, Georgetown University

"The students had a great time on the course. It was definitely one of the highlights of their weekend. Larry was a great facilitator and brought the students to a different level in their team building."
Chuck T. Programming Coordinator, George Mason University

Wholistic Woman Retreat at Upward Enterprises Ropes Course

Being Brave…Ready, Set, Go! ~ by Carol deLaski

Harnessed by strong cables, I found myself in an unusual position  high in the trees… facing upwards and glimpsing patches of blue sky.  A team of eight women had pulled me into this position and awaited  my decision to release the cord which would drop me into a free-fall  swing through the tree tops. Butterflies swirled in my stomach and  my breathing grew rapid as I allowed myself to fully experience this  strange suspension in the air. Time felt suspended, too, as I savored  this momentary mixture of calm and electrifying anticipation.

 Encouragement from the women below wafted up to my ears and I  knew I had the full support of my team. “You can do it!” and “Go for  it!” let me know that they believed in me.

To read the complete story of the Wholistic Woman Retreat adventure at the Upward Enterprises team building ropes course, click here.

Cyprus Friendship Program Team Building at Ropes Course

Last week a group of teens visiting the United States from the country of Cyprus came out to the ropes course for team building. They were taking part in the youth program Cyprus Friendship Program, a year-long peace building and leadership program that aims to build cross-cultural friendships between teens on this small island country in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. WUSA Channel 9 News came out to capture the event at our ropes course for a story on their 6 p.m. news. Check it out below.

Being a Leader

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.      

~Maya Angelou

Don't take our word that team building at Upward Enterprises Ropes Course is great. Read some recent comments sent in from our clients.

"We had a fantastic time at the ropes course. Just about all the feedback I have received was extremely positive. You and your staff were excellent."

Ralph, E. Johnson, PhD, Dean, Student Success and Faculty Development
Washington Adventist University

"Dear Clive, the ropes course programs were fantastic this past weekend. Thank you so much. Larry, Dave, Travis, Javier and all the other folks were just superb - very professional, great with the girls, able to connect with them and really push them to do things they didn't think they could do. Everyone had a positive attitude and really made an effort to get to know our students. The girls had the best time. We look forward to seeing you all next year!"

Emily Fetting, Interim Dean of Students, Director of Service Learning & Global Outreach
National Cathedral School

"We had a wonderful time. Larry was engaging as always. You guys have this down to a science and the kids (and teachers) really get a lot out of it. See you next time!"

George Kasnic, Middle School Guide
Greenspring Montessori School

Meet Our Facilitator Travis

If you have come out to our team building ropes course this year, you might have met one of our newest members of the Upward Enterprises team, Travis Creamer. 


Travis Creamer at Upward Enterprises Ropes Course

Using his degree in Physical Education from Ohio University, Travis has worked in the outdoor recreation field for many years both as a facilitator and a builder of ropes challenge courses. His love for outdoor education started in the late 80's as a lifeguard for a local camp. Since then he has worked for multiple organizations and camps. He also has experience leading a variety of activities such as canoeing, climbing, caving, backpacking, primitive skills and of course team building on a challenge course.  In his free time he enjoys coaching team sports, fly fishing, disk golf, home brewing and barbecuing. 

We are very happy to have Travis as part of our organization. He has brought considerable talent and energy to our team.

Great to work with Travis yesterday!
Donna Kerner, Program Coordinator Bishop Claggett Center

Team Building Joke Tuesday - Ziplining

Of course at Upward Enterprises we operate REAL zip lines and we promise the only electricity you will feel will be from your own excitement.

Company Picnic at Smokey Glen Farm with UEI

Next week, April 2, 2013 is the annual Smokey Glen Farm Trade Fair. It was originally going to be this week but with the cold weather, they decided to postpone the event. Upward Enterprises has had a long and rewarding relationship with Smokey Glen. It's a great picnic facility and we highly recommend Jim Sweet and his staff to put on a memorable event for you group.

For over 10 years, UEI has been the exclusive operator of the double zip line at the Pavilion. We also offer portable rock climbing wall rental as an additional event. We can even bring our portable team building program out to Smokey Glen. The Trade Fair is always a fun day, where we get to meet our old clients and hopefully make new ones. We will have the zip and wall running for you to test your adventurous side while Smokey Glen will have the barbecues fired up to serve samples of their delicious food.

So come out if you can to meet Clive and the staff at Upward Enterprises. The crew will be out there from 10am to 1pm. Yum, I can smell the chili and hot dogs cooking now!

March, in like a Lion

As I work to prepare our ropes course in Buckeystown Maryland for the upcoming outdoor team building season which begins in full force the end of March, mother nature is here to remind us that winter is not yet gone. Tonight and tomorrow it is predicted that we will get anywhere from 8-14 inches of snow. Will this be another Snowmageddon like that occurred in 2010? If you do find yourself snowed in tomorrow, break out the Guinness and enjoy a little winter music. Enjoy the break while you can. I hear that by next Monday, the temperatures will be back up into the 50's and I will be back out at the course getting the canopy tour and high elements ready for your next event.

Antonio Vivaldi - Four Seasons Winter born on March 4th 1678