Snake Road Adventure Center
Snake Road Adventure Center humble beginning was in 1986 with a full-time maintenance employee as the first coordinator. Our first high ropes course was completed that year with the help of a grant from the American Diabetes Association. The high course was built by Project Adventure a leader in ropes course construction and facilitator training. The first high course consisted of eight instructor belay elements and a zip line all in the trees. Facilitating and belaying was done by various camp staff including the camp director at that time, Pete Heintzelman. The belaying technique was the seat or butt belay, no mechanical devices other than carabiners were used.
In 1991, the first full-time director of Snake Road Adventure Center was hired. Mike Trainor was a part-time facilitator before becoming the director. Mike developed and nurtured the program consistently serving over 5000 participants in a year. Mike left at the end of 1995 to run his own challenge program full-time. Peter Hatlestad was hired as the next and current director in March 1996. Peter has been working the field of adventure education for over 25 years. The Snake Road Adventure Center serves over 11,000 participants during the year. This does not include those served through our successful and growing youth, children and family ministry programs.
The Snake Road Adventure Center has gone through many program and facility changes over the past ten years . In 1997 we built a two level high ropes telephone pole course with 18 challenges replacing four elements in the trees. We also added a Pamper Pole challenge. In 1999 we added a 50 foot steel climbing tower and two zip lines. In 2004 we added a Giant Swing bringing the total high ropes/climbing tower challenges offered to 22. We also have added and rehabilitated many low ropes course elements bringing our total to 22 separate challenges. Covenant Harbor is currently in the process of constructing a new Activity Center that will contain a gym and indoor climbing wall. The project is targeted to be completed by May 2008. This will open up more opportunities for groups and organizations to utilize Snake Road Adventure Center programs throughout the year.
The Snake Road Adventure Center offers backcountry adventure trips that include backpacking, canoeing, caving, and rock climbing. These trips are for individuals or groups. In 1999 we ran our first Mission Adventure trip to Ecuador. Since that time we have returned to Ecuador six times, run three trips to Chile, three trips to Alaska and a trip to Mexico and one cooperative trip to Kenya. This has become an important extension of Covenant Harbor's ministry to other countries and camps throughout the world.
The Snake Road Adventure Center began developing Outdoor Education Programs to schools in the early 1990's. Since that time we have established our program and services to serve numerous school groups including: athletic teams, elementary and middle schools, and community policing programs. Our service oriented approach, beautiful grounds and strong challenge course program give us a unique niche in the Outdoor Education program field.
