Program Statement

Judson Collins Center has provided a unique environment for personal development through experiential learning in rustic outdoor setting for over 50 years. The Initiatives, challenge Course, and High Ropes Course provides growth-potential for youth and adults. This exciting and powerful learning tool is designed to increase self-confidence, provide a sense of achievement and to promote personal growth of the individual, as well as group cohesiveness. The development of teamwork, cooperation, self-discovery, communication, and group-processing skills are the expected outcomes of this type of experience.

The program has been carefully designed and structured to provide a progression of events incorporating physical, psychological, and social challenge. The events or “elements” are constructed from ropes, cables, pulleys, platforms, beams and, various other materials at a height of 2-30 feet above the ground. All activities are designed with safety as a primary concern. Proper equipment and strict safety procedures are required. Trained and experienced staff are responsible for the supervision of the programs.

In addition to the overwhelming sense of fun and adventure, which these activities offer, are principles that apply to everyone’s life on a daily basis. The emphasis is placed on trying, where success is equal to effort, both individually and as a group. The goals listed below are the ones that can help shape a person’s life whether young or old, and to help them face problems, fears, challenges, and temptations as a part of the human experience.

1. Group Building – To develop mutual support, trust and a sense of responsibility among group members, which will lead the individual into willful cooperation and team effort.
2. Acceptance – To foster an attitude of caring, compassion and mutual acceptance of other group members’ strengths and weaknesses.
3. Self-Understanding – To increase the participant’s understanding of self, self-confidence, self-awareness and a sense of success through accomplishments or lessons learned from failure.
4. Physical Development – to develop an increased level of agility, balance, strength, and coordination.
5. Safety – To provide a learning atmosphere that is enjoyable and which gives the individual an opportunity to laugh and enjoy a situation.
6. Adventure – To provide a learning environment filled with adventure, anticipation, unpredictability, drama and suspense that contrasts with the familiarity of the classroom, home, or office.
7. Progression – To provide incremental experiences, which build upon one another where intellectual, social, physical and emotional learning can collectively develop.
8. Action/Reflection - To create a learning environment that combines and utilizes experiences of active, “hands-on” involvement followed by opportunities for personal and group reflection, and evaluation.

For more information, call
Judson Collins Center at 517-467-7711
or e-mail at judsoncollins@umccamps.org