As a participant, you will be asked to come prepared to play an active role in your group’s experience. Playing an active role means:

1) Committing to the Full Value Contract. The Full Value Contract asks for the following commitments and presumes specific expectations for all group members and facilitators:

• Working together to achieve individual and group goals.
• Adhering to certain physical, mental, and emotional safety guidelines. We follow the Challenge by Choice philosophy.
• Giving and receiving honest feedback.
• Making a concerted effort to confront and challenge any behavior that devalues or discounts yourself or others.

2) Having FUN! You will be amazed at what laughing can accomplish.

3) Stretching yourself beyond your perceived limits.

4) Developing your team and leadership skills.

As a participant, you will be asked to come prepared to play an active role in your group’s experience. Playing an active role means:

1) Committing to the Full Value Contract. The Full Value Contract asks for the following commitments and presumes specific expectations for all group members and facilitators:

• Working together to achieve individual and group goals.
• Adhering to certain physical, mental, and emotional safety guidelines. We follow the Challenge by Choice philosophy.
• Giving and receiving honest feedback.
• Making a concerted effort to confront and challenge any behavior that devalues or discounts yourself or others.

2) Having FUN! You will be amazed at what laughing can accomplish.

3) Stretching yourself beyond your perceived limits.

4) Developing your team and leadership skills.

Your TEAM facilitator is responsible for ensuring a fun, supportive, and intentional learning environment. The use of the Full Value Contract is a tool for the facilitator and group to ensure that environment

1. Eat a healthy meal and make sure you are hydrated before arriving at your program. You will need all the energy you can get!
2. If you are attending a full day program, please bring lunch and snacks or make sure there will be food provided for you by your group. (WE DO NOT PROVIDE FOOD!)
3. Check the weather on the day of your program and prepare accordingly.

Need to have:

• Appropriate attire for physical activity and the weather
• Closed toe (and heel) shoes (no Crocs or UGGs, please)
• Water bottle
• Inhaler / EPI Pen, if necessary

Nice to have:

• Bug repellant
• Sunscreen
• Hat and/or sunglasses

Optional:

• Camera
• Snacks
• Rain jacket (check weather forecast)

Programs are normally scheduled at the JMU University Park TEAM Challenge Course.

For buses or drop-off, please use: 1081 Turner Ashby Lane, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. There is a turnaround at the end of the lane.  

For parking, please use: 1090 Devon Lane, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. This leads you to the UPARK Gatehouse; turn left into the roundabout to drive past the Gatehouse and then turn right to reach the U2 parking lots.

Many TEAM programs can be “relocated” to a site of your preference. Check with your group leader to find out the location of your program.

Below is a checklist that will help prepare you for your time with us.

• Group Contact Meeting and Agreement: A TEAM Lead Facilitators will reach out to you; please schedule this meeting for at least 5 business days prior to your scheduled program and be prepared to discuss your group’s needs and. We will confirm program details, including the schedule, final participant counts, and your contact information. Following the contact meeting, please return the signed agreement.
• Informed Consent: Please provide to every person participating in the program; both an electronic and a PDF version of the form will be provided to you via email. For paper copies, be sure that everyone has completely filled out the forms in blue/black ink pen (no pencil). Participants younger than 18 years of age will need a parent signature to be able to participate.

You may  submit paper copies to the Coordinator of Adventure and TEAM Programs or bring them to the Lead Facilitator on the day of your program.

• Policies and Procedures: Review ALL of the TEAM Challenge Course policies and procedures.
• Day of the Program: Make sure all participants eat breakfast/lunch and drink plenty of water before coming to the course. Meet the TEAM staff at the UPARK Challenge Course (or designated program space) 10 minutes prior to your designated program start time. Please call us 540-568-8742, if you have any further questions.
• Post-program: Invoices will be sent following the program; they will include instructions on how to remit any necessary payments to the JMU University Business Office. We also request feedback on the program, so that we can continue to learn and grow and provide excellent TEAM experiences.

General Policies

• All participants must submit the Informed Consent form prior to utilizing the TEAM Challenge Course.
• Climbing on course elements and use of equipment is permitted only during approved scheduled and supervised programs.
• Participants cannot use personal climbing equipment on the course.
• Participants must wear appropriate clothing and closed toe (and heel) shoes. Participants who are not wearing closed toe shoes will NOT be allowed to participate.
• Hazardous and obtrusive jewelry, watches, and clothing items must be removed.
• Alcohol and tobacco products are not permitted at the TEAM Challenge Course facility.
• Participants must remove objects from mouth, such as gum, candy, food, etc.
• All waste must be disposed of in proper receptacles.
• Participants must respect the Policies, as well as the rules set forth by the TEAM Challenge Course staff.

Reservation Policies

• Reservation requests will be reviewed in the order they are received.
• Preference will be given to JMU student groups, then JMU faculty/staff, and then non-JMU groups.
• All paying groups will be charged for a minimum of 8 participants.
• Reservation request forms must be received 21 days prior to requested date. The submitted request form does NOT constitute a finalized reservation.
• To receive the student rate, ALL participants must be current JMU students and present a valid JAC at time of arrival.
• All groups must schedule a contact meeting and provide a final participant count no later than 5 business days prior to the program.

Cancellation Policies

• Cancellations must be in writing and received at least 5 business days prior to the scheduled program date. Non-JMU groups will be charged a processing fee (to be calculated related to program costs).
• UREC staff reserve the right to cancel a reservation at their discretion.
• Cancellations due to inclement weather will be made by UREC staff members only (see Weather Policies below). Every effort will be made to reschedule if a weather cancellation is warranted; however, if rescheduling is not possible, groups will receive a full refund.
• All groups must comply with the 80% and no-show policies.
  • The 80% policy - a group must show up with at least 80% of the confirmed number of participants to avoid a fee (to be calculated related to program costs). Typically, this fee is the cost difference is between number of participants and the 80%.
  • The no-show policy - groups who do not show up for the confirmed program will be charged a no-show fee, typically the full cost of the program (to be calculated related to program costs).

Weather Policies

We love to play in any weather, and can continue to climb, traverse, zip, and do low course events even in rain, cold, and heat. However, we do sometimes need to cancel a program due to severe weather, such as these examples:

• Thunder and lightning
• Tornado watches/warnings
• Temperatures below 35° F
• Temperatures above 100° F
• Precipitation plus temperatures below 50° F (including snow and ice)
• JMU campus closure due to weather
• Declared VA State of Emergency

If we must cancel due to weather, you will be contacted by the Lead Facilitator on the day of the event at least one hour prior to the event start time and we will make every attempt to reschedule. If your program is underway and severe weather conditions arise, we will consider the program complete if 75% or more of the program has been completed. If less than 75% of the program is complete, we will either reschedule the program or adjust the pricing.