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On the Job with Peak Adventures

The Bulletin spoke with Jael Young, Director of ASI Peak Adventures programs

What do people think you do?
“People think that we are an ‘extreme’ adventures club, one where you need to be a member to join in. They also think we just schedule the ropes course.”

What do you really do?
“We not only schedule the ropes course, but we also train the staff and oversee the entire operation. The Challenge Course can help people with teambuilding by focusing activities on trust building, problem solving and communication. We serve about 6,000 people each year. We are also a full-service bicycle shop. We repair, sell and rent bikes, as well as maintain the bike lockers. We also do special orders for bicycle parts, and offer bike maintenance classes, both basic and advanced. We also run outdoor adventure trips. This is perhaps why some people think we are an ‘extreme’ adventure club. While we do host fun and exciting excursions, they are mostly designed for novices, giving students, staff and faculty a chance to try something new or something they haven’t done in a while.  Like the Challenge Course, we can customize our outdoor trips for specific groups needs.

Describe your office.
“Our office definitely stands out. We have bikes and bicycle accessories for sale, with outdoor gear hanging from our ceilings and walls. Because of our retail component, we are very customer-oriented and friendly. We want people to feel welcome and taken care of. As an ASI program, we view students as customers.”

What surprises people?
“The breadth of what we have to offer surprises people. Our team building services range from corporate team-building to birthday parties. We offer a variety of outdoor trips including rock-climbing, cave exploring, snow shoeing, horseback riding and wine tasting.”

What is your biggest challenge?
“Marketing our programs is our biggest challenge. Our recreational activities are for everyone. There is no need for previous experience. We want students to know anyone can have a great time participating in these activities, and it’s also a great way to meet other people.”

What do you get asked the most?
“’What exactly do you do?’ and ‘Where are you located?’ Our office and store are connected to the first floor of the University Union, and sometimes people have a difficult time finding us.”