

About the Adventure Course
Enjoy low and high elements and the learning experiences that come with it. Plan a day or several days of team building, cooperation, trust, communication, problem solving and fun while enjoying the outdoors. Help create an environment where students, staff, employees, or anyone can reach out of their comfort zone and into their creative, learning, stretch zone, with facilitators who help them reach personal and group goals in a safe and enjoyable environment.
Nestled in the hills outside Ellicottville, the CTE Adventure Course and Outdoor Recreational area is the perfect place for your group or organization to have fun while developing group dynamics and individual growth. Built into all of our programs, participants find adventure for the body, mind, and spirit as they balance, climb, lift, puzzle, swing, jump, and think through solutions in a variety of situations and events. Your employees and staff may learn to become facilitators during summer training sessions.
For more information about the Adventure Course or to tailor your program, contact:
- Noel Sheehy: (716) 376-8620opens phone dialer
- Deanna Steffenhagen: (716) 376-8345opens phone dialer
Course Considerations
There are a few things you may want to consider when planning your Adventure Course outing:
- How many participants will you have?
- What are your specific group goals?
- Are participants interested in high elements?
- How many days/topics/challenges are you interested in?
- Do you need extra accommodations, (will you have a meeting, staying overnight, food, etc.)?
- What are your travel considerations?
Pricing
All pricing is per district group or organization, but you may combine participants to meet minimum participation requirements. Course fee: $250.00 per use plus facilitator fee PER DAY. Bringing your own, trained facilitator will save the price of one facilitator.
- Up to 12 participants (1 facilitator): $200.00
- 13-24 participants (2 facilitators): $400.00
- 25-36 participants (3 facilitators): $600.00
Facilitator Training
We are not offering facilitator training at this time.
Adventure Learning Series
Our facilitators come to your school or facility or a combination of your and our facility. Designed to meet your specific needs, but to include mindsets and behaviors for student success, in line with NYS Counseling standards (self-management skills and social skills) and ESSA Social and Emotional learning. Combination of fun, in class activities that can include topics (presented in games and activities) such as:
- Communications
- Coping Skills
- Leadership
- Listening
- Problem Solving
- Respect
- Self-Confidence
- Teamwork
- Trust Building

Classes last 30-45 minutes meeting 5-7 topics and culminating with a scheduled day on the course in the spring (age appropriate activities). Very interactive and hands on, with introduction and debrief at the end of each lesson. For schools, teachers and aides are encouraged to participate with their students. Grades 5-12 and adults. (Possibility of younger student’s participation with teacher collaboration).
Outdoor Adventure Lodge
The outdoor lodge can be used alone or with the course, and accommodates 45 people. It is heated, air-conditioned, has a small kitchen, technology and WiFi enabled, and is a perfect retreat or meeting center. Outdoor activities include:
- Exploration of 100 acres
- Hiking
- Orienteering
- Overnight Use (with your chaperone staff)
- Puzzle Challenges
- Rock Wall
- Science and STEM Activities
- Snowshoeing
- Swing Shot and/or Zip Line

Event Form
Below are the safety forms for adults and students, please print one out for each participant and bring them with you when coming to the course. Thank you.
- Student Participant Adventure Course Releaseopens PDF file
- Adult Participant Adventure Course Releaseopens PDF file
Ellicottville Ropes Course Event Request Form
A Sample Day on the Adventure Course
Below is a sample schedule for a 6th grade class from September 2019.
Arrival – 9am
- Large group activities in the lower field.
- Large circle activities (maybe group sit, wave, clapping, etc)
- Line up along fence by birthday (no talking) split into 3 groups of 16. Group A, B, C (withing group # students 1, 2, 3 and repeat)
- Chicken baseball
- Mass pass in groups
- Within groups, introduce how to spot one another
Walk to the Outdoor Lodge – 10:30am
- Group A – Whale watch
- Group B – Spider web
- Group C – Triangle
Lunch – 11:15am
More group activities – 12pm
- Group A – Wild woozy
- Group B – Mohawk walk with additional walk
- Group C – Pirate crossing and additional walk
Walk to High Elements – 1pm
- Explore the rock wall and demo the cat walk