Catalog Orders
Workshops
Challenge Courses
Miscellaneous FAQs

Q. What are Project Adventure's hours of operation?

A. Our Call Center is open from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (EST) Monday through Friday. Orders received after hours or over weekends and holidays will be processed the next business day when the Call Center is open.

Q. When can I expect my order?

A. If the merchandise is in stock, our orders ship to arrive (in the 48 contiguous states) within 7-10 business days (weekends and holidays do not apply). If the item is a kit item, it may take an additional 10 business days. International orders can take up to 3-6 weeks (depending on stock levels and time to clear customs).

Q. What can I order on the web site?

A. At the moment, you can order Publications, Equipment, and Memberships. You can also register for an Open Enrollment Workshop.

Q. What if I don't know specifically what I need?

A. Project Adventure is a full service company. We have a wide range of experienced staff members to help you. Whether you are building a challenge course (ropes course), replacing equipment from an existing course, buying a PACK for the first time, ordering your first experiential education book or your first prop, we have someone here who can advise you. Please call our customer service department and we will work to get you the answers you need.

Q. How can I check the status of my order?

A. Please call our customer service department at 800-468-8898 and provide them with your order reference number.

Q. I placed an order on-line and I noticed an error or wish to change my order. What should I do?

A. Please call us at 800-468-8898. We would be more than happy to make the correction(s).

Q. How do I cancel my on-line order?

A. Please call us at 800-468-8898. We can verify if the order has shipped. If it hasn't, we cancel shipment. If it has, we can work together to find the appropriate solution.

Q. How can I qualify for discounts?

A. Join CircleUp, Project Adventure's membership program Check for monthly discounts.

Q. Can I order a catalog?

A. Yes you can. Call us at 1-800-468-8898.

Q. What does "professional installation required" mean?

A. This requirement basically means that you should have someone with Challenge Course experience install this product.

Q. How much is shipping?

A. Shipping charges within the 48 contiguous states are 13% of the list price.

Q. Where are your sale items?

A. Sale items are listed on our web site.

Q. Where should I ship my return?

A. The address for returns is designated at the bottom of your RMA form. If you do not have an RMA form, please call 800-468-8898.

Q. How long are your products guaranteed?

A. All of our products are guaranteed for two years (normal wear and tear). If something has failed, please let us know. We will have our engineers inspect the merchandise. If we determine that it is covered under the guarantee, we will repair or replace any and all parts to satisfy your needs.

Q. When is my credit card charged after I've placed a backorder?

A. Your card is charged when the backordered item becomes available. If your order includes both in-stock and backordered items, you will initially be charged only for the in-stock portion of your order. The backordered portion is charged to your account when the item or items are shipped to you.

Q: What if I am ordering for a tax-exempt organization?

A. All tax-exempt organizations must provide us with a tax-exempt certificate that we can file for future reference. Some certificates do expire so we may need updates depending on the state in which you reside. Please fax or mail us a copy of this certificate if you have not already done so.

**We can only waive taxes if the organization is paying for the order. If you are paying with your personal credit card, we cannot waive taxes.

Q: Where can I get information on workshops?

A: Visit the workshop section of our website.

Q: How do I register?

A: By credit card: Complete the online registration form and click Submit.

By check: Complete the online registration form, print the page and mail it along with your check. (Note that we only accept online submission of registration forms that are accompanied by credit card payment. Orders with checks or purchase orders must be mailed or faxed to Project Adventure.)

By purchase order: Complete the online registration form, print the page and mail or fax it along with your purchase order. A hard copy of the PO must accompany your registration form. (Note that we only accept online submission of registration forms that are accompanied by credit card payment. Orders with checks or purchase orders must be mailed or faxed to Project Adventure.)

Q: How much does a workshop cost?

A: Please refer to individual workshop descriptions for complete pricing detail.

Q: What forms of payment are accepted?

A: Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express), purchase orders and checks are accepted forms of payment.

Q: Do you require a deposit?

A: Yes, a $200 minimum deposit or a purchase order for the full amount due is required at the time of registration. We cannot accept registration forms or hold space in a workshop without a deposit or purchase order. For one-day workshops, the full amount of the workshop is due at registration.

Q: What is the cancellation policy for open enrollment workshops? Are there monetary penalties?

A: 1) Workshops are occasionally cancelled by Project Adventure due to low enrollment or other unforeseeable circumstances. Every effort is made to announce cancellations at least two weeks (14 calendar days) in advance. If Project Adventure cancels a workshop, all fees will be refunded; however, Project Adventure is in no way liable for nonrefundable travel reservations.

2) Participants must inform Project Adventure of their intent to cancel at least two weeks in advance of the start of a workshop. Participants who cancel after this date will forfeit their $200 deposit. If a participant does not appear for a workshop, full tuition, room and board fees will be charged.

Q: Do I need to pay for meals and lodging?

A: For workshops located in Beverly MA, Covington GA, Malibu CA and Pittsford VT, meals are required; lodging is optional. Other workshop site policies on meals and lodging vary, please contact a Project Adventure registrar for more information.

Q: Why are meals required for certain sites?

A: Meals are considered an integral part of the workshop experience. Valuable conversation and networking is a frequent component of workshops. For sites where meals are required, this is necessitated by the fact that meals are served buffet style and there is no method by which we can easily monitor who may have paid for meals and who has not. We can provide for all types of dietary restrictions at those sites that require meals (e.g., vegetarian, low sodium, low carb, low sugar, kosher, etc.)

Q: I work for a tax exempt organization, do I have to pay meals or lodging taxes?

A: All workshops fees in MA and GA that are paid by credit card will be charged tax per state laws. Offsite workshops in other states are not subject to the same policies.

In MA, there is a 5% tax on meals for all open enrollment workshops. If you are paying with a check or purchase order from a tax exempt organization, you must attach your tax exempt certificate for a tax exemption.

In GA, there is a 7% state sales tax on meals and a 12% tax on lodging. GA does NOT provide a general exemption for tax exempt organizations.

Q: Where are your workshops held? Where can I find directions?

A: We have several workshop locations and descriptions. Directions are provided to each site for easy traveling.

Q: Can I arrive the night before the workshop or leave a day late?

A: Yes, for sites that offer lodging, rooms are typically available for extra nights before and after your stay. Costs may vary so please contact a Project Adventure registrar at 800-468-8898 for more information.

Q: What does tuition fee cover?

A: Tuition covers instruction and materials costs.

Q: Will I be "certified" after I attend a workshop?

A: Project Adventure does not confer "certification" on participants who complete our workshops. Each participant who attends an open enrollment workshop will receive a certificate of attendance. We offer a comprehensive certification program that requires completion of several Project Adventure workshops, prior programming experience on your own and completion of a one-day certification test. More information can be found in the Credentialing section of our site.

Q: Do you offer credit for Project Adventure workshops?

A: We offer several options for credit:

Professional Development Points (Clock Hours)
Project Adventure is an approved Professional Development Provider in MA, NJ and TX and an approved provider of Washington State Clock Hours. Other states may or may not require approval for training. Please check with your state department of education or local school district to determine whether or not a Project Adventure workshop will qualify for PDPs or Clock Hours.

Continuing Education Units
CEUs can be earned by attending any of our catalog workshops. CEUs are granted by Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia, and are calculated as .1 unit for every contact hour. The number of contact hours will vary depending on the number of days of the workshop you are taking. You must apply for CEUs within thirty days of completion of the course. Further information on CEUs will be provided at the time of the workshop.

Graduate Credit
Project Adventure is pleased to offer graduate credits through Plymouth State University of the University System of New Hampshire. For an additional per credit fee you can receive two to four credits for most of our workshops (not applicable to one-day workshops). You are eligible for two credits upon completion of the workshop and an additional two credits upon completion of an optional Independent Study Project. The Plymouth State University Division of Graduate Studies, Continuing Education and Outreach offers the Master of Education, Master of Business Administration, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies and professional teacher certification programs. Additionally, these credits are transferable to many other institutions. You must apply for graduate credit within three months of completion of the course. Look for the Plymouth State University Graduate Credit information packet available at the start of your workshop. Current pricing is $90 per credit payable to Plymouth State University.

Q: Can I obtain a college degree through Project Adventure?

A: Yes, we offer a Master's Degree in Adventure Education through Plymouth State University. For information on admission to the program, please contact Plymouth State at:
forgrad@mail.plymouth.edu or 1-800-367-4723

You will need to apply to Plymouth State University via the normal graduate program route, then you simply attend a series of Project Adventure workshops which are eligible for 2-4 credits depending on whether you opt to do an Independent Study Project for each workshop. You will need to complete 21 credits with Project Adventure, 9 credits with Plymouth State and a thesis worth an additional 3 credits.

Q: What prior experience is needed before attending a workshop?

A: No prior experience is required for Project Adventure foundational workshops. Some advanced workshops do have pre-requisites. Please refer to individual workshop descriptions for more details.

Q: I have an 11 year old son/daughter who I'd like to send to PA. Do you have any programs for youth?

A: We do not offer programs for individual children. Programs for youth groups (organized through group organizations such as schools, camps, etc) are coordinated through PA's Youth Programs office.

Q: What steps do I need to take for installing a Challenge Course?

1. Who will be the primary audience for your Challenge Course? (Physical Education Students, College Orientation, Business Executives, Adjudicated Youth, Campers etc.).
2. How many participants will be on the Challenge Course at one time?
3. Are you considering indoor installation, outdoor installation or both?
4. If outdoor, will you be installing in trees or utility poles?
5. What level of Adventure skills does your staff currently have?
   • None
   • Foundational
   • Intermediate
   • Advanced
   • PA certified
6. How many staff will be trained?
7. What is your estimated budget for installation?
8. What is your estimated timeline for installation?
9. Who else from your organization will be involved in the decision-making process?

And then give us a call! 1-800-468-8898.

Q: How long does the challenge course installation take?

A: An average size course takes about one week.

Q: How soon can PA get here?

A: Advanced planning is essential! Our calendar is often booked 3-6 months into the future. Off-peak (mid-summer/winter) scheduling is advised to avoid delays. In particular, plan for indoor installation during the winter months, and avoid the spring rush for safety inspections. Have adequate funding in place before scheduling.

Q: Can we install a course even if we do not have appropriate trees?

A: Yes! Project Adventure has installed hundreds of courses on utility poles, in school gyms, field houses, barns, etc. In fact, one of Project Adventure's specialties is indoor construction. Our in-house engineering expertise gives us the ability to communicate effectively with architects and structural engineers and is available to you when designing your course.

Q: Can I build my own challenge course?

A: We recognize that there are reasons why you would want to install your own course, such as limited funds, the creation of buy-in from those who may use the course, or simply personal satisfaction from doing the job yourself. To answer this need, we offer a product, Challenge By Choice, as a learning tool to prepare you for and guide you through the process of building your own low challenge course. You can pick from a list of eighteen of the most popular low elements and activities. You are provided with video instruction, installation drawings and descriptions and up to two hours of phone consultation from a PA installer to guide you along the way.

Q: How do we prevent unauthorized access to the elements?

A: Nearly all of the low elements can be built to be removable if you are concerned about unauthorized access. High element access requires a ladder that can be locked away when the course is not in use.

Q: Is it harmful to install a challenge course in the trees?

A: Challenge courses are designed to blend into an area and cause minimal environmental impact. Our through-bolting technique for connecting cables to trees is a method that is commonly used by arborists and tree surgeons. We minimize any clearing and limb-removal to preserve the natural setting. Adding a layer of bark mulch and wood chips in areas with heavy foot traffic will help prevent soil compaction and therefore help protect the health of your trees.

Q: Does Project Adventure guarantee its installation work?

A: Project Adventure, Inc. warranties all parts and materials used in the installation of the challenge course for a period of two years from the date of completion (exclusive of excessive use or abuse of wood products, hardware and rope). Call your local office for a more comprehensive explanation of our warranty policy. It is your responsibility to obtain qualified professional instruction in the safe and proper use of your Project Adventure challenge course and associated technical gear.

Q: How often should my course be inspected?

A: An annual safety inspection by a qualified professional is recommended by Project Adventure, Inc. and is a requirement of the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), as well as insurance companies.

As part of our safety inspection service, Project Adventure provides a written report detailing the condition of the elements and equipment, and recommends any necessary repairs or replacement of equipment. In addition, Project Adventure recommends that the program staff continually monitor the condition of the course and equipment to identify any potential problems.

Q: How much will it cost to maintain the course?

A: The annual safety inspection costs approximately $500 to $1,100 depending on the size of the course and the travel costs for the inspection visit. Plan on spending another $1,000 to $1,500 annually for equipment replacement and repairs, especially as your course becomes older.

Q: Can you do training at my site?

A: Yes. The rule of thumb is that if you have six or more people at your school or organization to train, it makes better financial sense to have our facilitator come to you. If you have a Challenge Course, it must have had an annual course inspection within 12 months of the training date by PA. If another vendor did the inspection, our Risk Manager will need to review the inspection report. We always recommend that your annual course inspection is done by a Professional Vendor Member (PVM) of the Association of Challenge Course Technology (ACCT). Contact one of our Sales Specialists by phone 1-800-468-8898 or email for more info on bringing a training to your site.

Q: Can I do certification testing at my site?

A: Sometimes. Specific high elements are required for testing. If you have four or more staff to have tested, contact a Sales Specialist at 1-800-468-8898. You may also do a skills verification.

Q: Do I need a Challenge Course to do Adventure?

A: No. True Adventure activities challenge groups and individuals, provide opportunities for taking risks with learning, value both success and failure, are fun and have "a-ha" moments. With training, educators, counselors, youth workers and corporate trainers can provide these Adventure experiences in a classroom, field or hotel ballroom.

Q: Once I'm Certified as a Practitioner, can I train others?

A: No. Think of PA Certification the same way you think of CPR Certification. When you become PA Certified, you are certified to facilitate Adventure with others, but not teach Adventure facilitators. Similarly, when you are certified in CPR, you are not certified to teach others to do CPR.