The Lesser Known History of Challenge Courses

Description:

Episode 244: Christy Brodeur (Project Adventure) and Chris Damboise (High 5) join Phil Brown to discuss the lesser known history of challenge courses. The discussion covers the contributions of Georges Hébert, Yvonne Moreau, the development of obstacle courses, and the integration of challenge courses into Outward Bound and Project Adventure. The conversation also touches on the role of women in the history of challenge courses and the transition from military-focused training to educational and team development purposes. The guests highlight the importance of understanding the historical context and origins of challenge courses in order to have meaningful discussions about accessibility and diversity in the field. It discusses how challenge courses were initially developed as a way to prepare soldiers for war and how they later transitioned into educational and recreational settings. The conversation also touches on the commercialization of challenge courses and the need for practitioners to be intentional and inclusive in their approach. The key themes include the historical context of challenge courses, the impact of culture and community, and the importance of accessibility and inclusivity.

Episode Takeaways:

• Challenge courses have their origins in military training and physical fitness, specifically in the French military and the experiences of Georges Hébert.
• The development of challenge courses involved the transformation of military training methods into educational and team development tools.
• The history of challenge courses includes the contributions of women, although their roles have often been overlooked or minimized.
• Understanding the historical context and origins of challenge courses is important for discussions about accessibility and diversity in the field. Challenge courses have their roots in military training and the Outward Bound model, which incorporated service projects as part of the experience.
• The development of challenge courses was influenced by the need to prepare soldiers for war and the realization that traditional sports alone were not sufficient for combat readiness.
• Challenge courses have evolved to be used in educational and recreational settings, but it is important for practitioners to be intentional and inclusive in their approach.
• The commercialization of challenge courses has led to a pay-to-play model, which can limit access for certain communities. Efforts should be made to make challenge courses more accessible and culturally relevant.

Additional Resources:

• Watch this episode on YouTube.
• Connect with host and producer Phil Brown by…
  • Email – podcast@high5adventure.org
  • Instagram – @verticalplaypen
• Connect with Chris Damboise – cdamboise@high5adventure.org
• Connect with Christy – cbrodeur@pa.org
  • For Christy’s cited research click here