Check out these workshop sessions at the ACCT Conference and Trade Show led by contributors to Adventure Park Insider. Plus, don’t miss “Industry Data: Analysis, Interpretation, and Application” led by Adventure Park Insider editor Rick Kahl on Saturday, February 3 at 8:30a in FWCC 203 A.
Rick Kahl
Industry Data: Analysis, Interpretation, and Application: Feb 3, 2018 8:30-10a
Data from the “State of the Industry Report” can be used to improve your business and guide decisions. A panel of experts led by Adventure Park Insider editor Rick Kahl will discuss ways to interpret and analyze industry data, how to benchmark data against your own business, and provide tips on ways to apply your findings to improve your operation.
Paul Cummings
The Lifecycle of the Adventure Business: Feb 1, 2018 8:30a-3p
Adventure Businesses go through five stages of development throughout their life in the market. We will examine each stage and explore the opportunities and potential pitfalls of each one, while uncovering the best ways to approach each unique stage.
Financing Adventure: Feb 2, 2018 2:45-4:15p
Finding adequate funding for adventure businesses has historically been a struggle, if not impossible to obtain. As our industry becomes more mainstream, lending options are becoming available than ever before. Join me as I discuss the current trends in the lending space, what lenders are looking for, and what potential pitfalls to avoid.
Grow Your Adventure Business: Feb 3, 2018 10:15-11:45a
Whether you are running a canopy tour, aerial park, challenge course, or experiential training center, our models and tools can help you grow a more profitable business!
Stephanie Sibillie
The Lifecycle of the Adventure Business: Feb 1, 2018 8:30a-3p
Adventure Businesses go through five stages of development throughout their life in the market. We will examine each stage and explore the opportunities and potential pitfalls of each one, while uncovering the best ways to approach each unique stage.
What’s In A Name: Feb 2, 2018 10:15-11:45a
As aerial attractions continue to gain popularity in the U.S. and globally, their depth and breadth has become increasingly hard to keep track of, for customers and operators alike. We will explore the fundamental differences between various attractions, and will discuss how to manage client expectations in a way that is genuine, profitable and avoids common marketing mistakes.
Grow Your Adventure Business: Feb 3, 2018 10:15-11:45a
Whether you are running a canopy tour, aerial park, challenge course, or experiential training center, our models and tools can help you grow a more profitable business!
Valdo Lallemand
Aerial Adventure Park Design Choices: Feb 1 8:30a-3p
Sequential or interconnected? Poles or trees? Belay cable above or at chest height? Wrap or bolt? Continuous and continuous interactive belay systems? How to optimize flow for best guest experience and memories? Building all at once or in phases over time? And how about other park-enhancing activities? Join us to design (or further enhance) the adventure park of your dreams!
Level 2 Give Me A Brake: Feb 2 10:15-11:45a
Do you currently have a zipline tour in operation? Could your operations run more smoothly with a change in braking system? In this session, we will do a deeper dive in a greater understanding of challenging ziplines and how to resolve these issues.
Scott Baker
Understand Trees- Biology and Biomechanics: Feb 1, 2018 8:30a-3p
Scott and Dave will bring their extensive experience with tree and ecosystem management. We will help participants understand the impact that building courses in and around trees can cause. We will look at different methods of attaching stuff to a tree. We will review a couple of case studies from our or colleagues work.
Not So Basic Tree Biology: Feb 2, 2018 10:15-11:45a
Basic tree biology that will include concepts that challenge course and zip line managers need to know in order to keep their trees alive and flourishing for a long time. What to do and what not to do! Focusing on tree maintenance.
Leslie Sohl
Training-the-Trainer: Educator & Risk Manager Extraordinaire!: Feb 4, 2018 8a-12p
Anyone can train right? Yes! No! Maybe? This workshop looks at Training and being a Trainer as a specific job with a specific skill set. While 8 hours is not enough time to cover everything, we want to provide some ideas for Trainers on how to prepare, deliver, and document the trainings they are conducting – beyond the obvious.
Bahman Azarm
Aerial Adventure Park PPE Hot Topics: Feb 2, 2018 2:45-4:15p
Workshop will focus on hotly contested customer PPE and rescue device options used in commercial Aerial Adventure Parks. ‘Hot topics’ to be discussed include but aren’t limited to: ‘sit vs. full body harnesses’, ‘helmets or no helmets’, ‘non-locking carabiners vs. continuous or smart belays’, etc.” Attendees will be encouraged to discuss what equipment they use and the logic behind it.
Aerial Adventure Park Training Standards: Feb 2, 2018 4:30-6p
Seeing the need for training standards for Aerial Adventure Parks
Casey Dixon & Craig Langer
Pricing & Discounts: Finding the Sweet Spot: Feb 3, 2018 10:15-11:45a
Presented by The Flybook and a panel of adventure park owners and operators, this session will discuss best practices around pricing strategies as a way to increase revenue. Panelists and case studies from John Hines, with Outdoor Ventures; Nick Holt, with EDGE Adventure; and Ruthie Nathan, with High Gravity Adventures, will walk through key learnings on setting base prices, increasing average ticket prices as well as positioning and communicating offerings and prices with clarity.
Micah Henderson
Zip Line Speed and Position Analysis: Feb 2, 2018 2:45-4:15p
We will examine how different environmental effects impact the performance of a zip line with regards to rider speeds and whether or not a rider stops short at the end. We will use real life calculations to show how wind, temperature, altitude as well as zip line geometry and cable tensions can significantly impact the ride and safety of participants.
Michelle Cummings
Awesome Icebreakers and Energizers: Feb 2, 2018 8:30-10a
This high-energy, hands-on workshop will teach participants how to play some of the industry’s best icebreakers. Kick off your programs with some fun! Ice breakers and energizers need not be just fillers or boredom-breakers; when used effectively, they too can be directly tied to leadership objectives and markedly advance the transfer of learning to the real world.
Nick Krotki
Aerial Adventure Park Training Standards: Feb 2, 2018 4:30-6p
Seeing the need for training standards for Aerial Adventure Parks
Rachel Moore
360/VR Video For Engaging Your Customers: Feb 2, 2018 8:30-10a
Tourism and travel industries have a new & dynamic way to share their attractions with new customers: 360 and Virtual Reality Video! Get an industry-specific overview of these video tools, recommendations for equipment and methods, and new ideas for how to stand apart when your customers are choosing their destinations for outdoor adventure.
We look forward to seeing you all at Fort Worth! Come say hello to the Adventure Park Insider team at booth 401/402.
