Adventure Leadership Team programs are great for work teams, community organizations, families—any group who wants to learn, grow and have fun.

Our experiential education philosophy allows everyone to engage at their own pace and comfort level. Our programs can focus on physical challenges or activities that are more based on strategy and collaboration. All programs are customized specifically for your groups’ interests and skill level.

We offer onsite opportunities at the Adventure Education Center, a 150-acre site in northeast Ann Arbor. Our beautiful, wooded facility includes a multi-element low course, 45-foot climbing tower, a two-tiered high ropes courses, two zip lines and a 3,000 square foot building perfect for meetings, retreats or conferences.

Our Adventure Education Center courses and challenge elements are safety inspected every year to meet the standards of the Association for Challenge Course Technology.

If you’d like to treat your group to breakfast or lunch, Michigan Catering has a variety of options that are perfect for indoor or outdoor dining.

Team Challenge

This is our most popular program! It includes intellectual and physical challenges with various props, either on the ground or on low elements.

• Goals: Can effectively address team building items like communication, cooperation and problem solving
• Program capacity: Up to 70 people per day
• Program length: Typically a short day (3 – 5 hours) or a full day (6 – 7 hours). Mini-course version (2 ½ hours or less) also available.

Team Tower

Adding our 45-foot climbing wall to your program will provide a whole new challenge to any group! Available in spring, summer and fall.

• Goals: Improve communication, focus, and mutual support
• Program capacity: Up to 60 people per day
• Program length: Short day (3 – 5 hours) or full day (6 – 7 hours)

High Adventure

Building upon the Team Challenge concept, the use of high ropes elements challenges groups in a whole new way.

• Goals: Explores and addresses issues of mutual support, individual challenge and risk-taking
• Program capacity: Up to 24 people per day
• Program length: Short day (3 – 5 hours) or full day (6 – 7 hours)

• Please wear closed-toe shoes with heel strap. Long shorts or pants are recommended.
• You will be asked to sign a waiver and complete a medical form before participating.
• We will bring any necessary equipment. Personal equipment is not allowed on the course.
• You will be using safety systems, climbing equipment and spotting techniques as directed by staff members.
• We do not allow participation of anyone who appears to be under the influence alcohol or drugs.
• Programs that include groups with less than eight participants will be charged at eight participants.

For Interested Candidates

Adventure Leadership is an outdoor, activity-based team building and leadership development program. You will guide participants on trips and through team building programs, providing opportunities to explore leadership, organizational behavior, and the environment using adventure education practices and outdoor recreation.  In addition to hands-on experiences, you will design and complete a project of your own that takes into account your unique strengths, passions, experiences and ambitions as it relates to group dynamics. For example, your project might address under-served populations; build a relationship with a key stakeholder; or create a new exercise, element or initiative for team building. No matter what your career aspirations may be, the skills and experience gained during this internship will be powerful and highly valued in all areas of your life, personal or professional.

2019 Internship Hiring, Training and Employment Timeline

The following dates are required for all potential interns. Please disclose any conflicts in the application.

• January 28, 2019 Applications Due
• January 30, 2019 Interview Invitations Sent
• February 13, 2019 @ 7PM – 8:30PM Interview Session I
• February 20, 2019 @ 7PM – 8:30PM Interview Session II
• February 27, 2019 @ 7PM – 9PM Final Interview Session
• March 6, 2019 Internship Offers Sent
• March 15, 2019 Deadline for Internship Acceptance
• March 30, 2019 @ 9AM – 5PM Facilitation Training I
• March 31, 2019 @ 9AM – 5PM Facilitation Training II
• April 3, 2019 @ 6:30PM – 9:30PM Facilitation Training III
• April 10, 2019 @ 6:30PM – 9:30PM Facilitation Training IV
• April 17, 2019 @ 6:30PM – 9:30PM Facilitation Training V
• May 6 – 10, 2019 Wilderness First Responder Training
• May 15 – 17, 2019 Trip Leader Training
• May 22 & May 23, 2019 @ 9AM – 5PM Low Element Training
• May 29 & 30, 2019 @ 9AM – 5PM High Adventure Training
• May 31 & June 1, 2019 by appointment Skill Verification Days
• June 5, 2019 – September 4, 2019 Wednesday Evening Bi-Weekly In-Service Trainings
• August 24 – 31, 2019 Peak Week – MANDATORY

Expected Time Commitment

• Early Start Season: January 9, 2019 – TBD  Hours available as agreed upon until Regular Season
• Regular Season: May 13, 2019 – September 2, 2019 Minimum 15 hours/week (maximum 40) as assigned
• All Students: September 3, 2019  – November 30, 2019 Additional hours available based on program schedule

Compensation

• $9.45/hour or stipend (depending on academic partnership)

Application

Please respond to the following prompts with a short paragraph (2-3 sentences). Attach your resume and your responses in a document and email to Jessa Lytle, Assistant Director, at jessal@umich.edu.

• What do you hope to gain as a member of the AL Internship 2019 Cohort?
• Do you have prior experience working in an adventure, education, outdoor recreation, experiential learning, or challenge program? Please list any skills, qualifications, and/or certifications you possess as they apply to this type of work.
• Please share an example of a time you felt outside of your comfort zone.
• Please list any dates/times that conflict with the internship timeframe. This information will be used to create each intern’s individual schedule, so please be as thorough as possible. Examples include but are not limited to: class, family vacation, study abroad programs, research expectations, part time job hours, other commitments, etc.
• How did you hear about this opportunity?