One of the great assets that WSU has for team building is the Challenge program. When most people think about Challenge, they think about the Student Recreation Center Backyard and all of the high elements like the Cougar Perch, the Giant’s Ladder and the Track and Trail. If you don’t know what any of these things are, you can visit the Challenge Website at http://challenge.wsu.edu/ . However, Challenge is much more than just the outdoor aspect of the course. Although the outdoor aspect is one of the major elements of what makes Challenge so appealing, when the weather gets colder, it can still be a great experience.  One of the goals for Challenge is the facilitate team building. One group comes to mind is the Greek community. Especially in January when most fraternities and sororities will be electing new executive board members, Challenge can be a great resource for a group to learn how to work together in the most efficient way. Our team, the marketing staff here at UREC, has participated in Challenge for the last two years that I’ve been a part of the team. For a group that hopes to accomplish a number of goals and often is required to collaborate in order to reach them, Challenge is a great way to establish a group dynamic and help each member find their own niche inside the group.

"I absolutely LOVE working for University Recreation as a Challenge Facilitator! Our Challenge course isn’t purely about working with participants and helping them grow. There are many other components of Challenge that assist the groups who come to us, in addition to challenging our staff! I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge including knot-tying, how to keep people emotionally and physically safe, and how to assist others in growth as individuals or as a team. I have learned about cultural competency and even how to remain conscious about the language I use that may be offensive to certain individuals. I have perfected my ability to balance school and work and I always have a strong support from all my Challenge co-workers. Not only that but I have been professionally trained in how to handle certain situations that may cause others to panic. Therefore, I am better at controlling my emotions in a panic situation and can perform in a proactive matter to relieve such a situation. Going to “work” is never boring and has provided me with a whole new family of people I love and trust. Working as a Challenge course facilitator has boosted my confidence leading a group and helped me overcome my fear of heights. It has encouraged me to grow into a person who can better assist others in developing crucial life skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership and confidence. Because of Challenge, I can now step out into the world and be sure that what I have learned here can truly apply to my future. Thank you, WSU Challenge!"   -by Anita Peralta