Attention Prospective Canopy Tour Operators, Entrepreneurs, and Investors!

We are heading to Portland for the 2008 Annual Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Conference (January 31 to February 3) and we hope to see you there.   In addition to the opportunity to meet and explore course options, the conference is always packed full of excellent workshops on challenge course construction standards and adventure education programming.  

Click here to learn more about the 2008 ACCT Conference in Portlant and register online.

Canopy Tour Pre-Conference Workshop

On January 31, the Canopy Tour Task Force will be presenting a Pre-Conference Workshop on the State of Canopy Tours.  Builders, trainers, operators, and interested parties are welcome.  The Pre-Conference will be a participatory workshop aimed at defining indsutry terminology, exploring current and future trends, and discussing program philosophies and tour approaches.  With a variety of builders and operators from the US and abroad scheduled to share their views and experience, the workshop is certain to provide an excellent opportunity to network and share. 

Competency-based Staffing Models for Adventure Challenge Programs

Mike Smith of AdventureSmith, Inc. and S.T.E.P.S., Inc. will be presenting a workshop for Challenge Course Managers and Adventure Program Directors on competency-based staffing models.  Participants will be exposed to a training model that includes assessment and evaluation tools, competency-based development models, and an employee appraisal system.  Participants will learn how the model helped to align training, reduce staffing costs, and improve program quality inside a growing challenge course programming organization.

Who is Coming

The following S.T.E.P.S. Bonsai representatives will be at this year's conference:

• John Walker - President of Bonsai Design and Builder of Canopy Tours, Ropes Courses, Climbing Towers and other cools stuff
• David Brassfield - President of S.T.E.P.S., Inc.  Responsible for Program Operations and Management
• Mike Smith - Director of Special Projects for S.T.E.P.S., Inc. and President of AdventureSmith, Inc.  Responsible for Canopy Tour Guide Training and Development, Marketing, and Program Development
• Rhonda Sandweiss - Director of Staff Development for S.T.E.P.S., Inc.  Canopy Tour Guide/Trainer and Ropes Challenge Course Trainer
• Dave Grossman - Director of Sales and Marketing for Bonsai Design, Inc.
• Phill Kroll - Program Manager and Ropes Course Facilitator
• Hans Kraai - Ropes Course Facilitator
• Reid Burland - Canopy Tour and Challenge Course Builder
• Jason Fail - Canopy Tour and Challenge Course Builder
• Mark Craven - Canopy Tour and Challenge Course Builder
• Tyler Anderson - Canopy Tour and Challenge Course Builder
• And others..

To Schedule a Meeting in Portland 

The conference is always packed full, so please call Mike Smith at (248) 481-2568 to schedule a time to meet.