I love this idea.

this is a great idea I like the aspect of team work

this is a great idea I like the aspect of team work

I think this idea and the Student Creative Center are the only two proposals that would bring new opportunities to UMBC. I have a few questions:

Would there be any bathroom facilities on the site? Water fountains? A tent/pavillion or somewhere where people could rest in shade, eat, and sit? I think these would be important features to promote the course to outside companies.

Would there be a cost to students for use? Would the course be open all year long? Could there be a rock climbing wall or technical/challenging sections?

Are you going to secure the site so people can't use the equipment unsupervised?

Would the land need to be graded or foundations made prior to construction? Cost of this?

Would you have enough funds for any of the amenities or security features mentioned?

The ropes/challenge course is an incredible idea for UMBC's campus. Not only is this presentation well organized (if you haven't read it, READ IT), but it's incredibly thorough. Aside from how well it's put together, let's consider the advantages. Everyone who's been in a student org. that has gone on a retreat to a ropes/challenge course will tell you that it's an incredible experience and probably one of the biggest impacts on their success in forging great relationships with their staff members/teammates. So why should we bring it here to UMBC? Because having a ropes course adds to how unique we can be here at UMBC. The ropes course would serve a purpose year round with local area businesses and companies and possibly even school systems approaching UMBC for the opportunity to use this facility. So in addition to the funds we'll save by having this facility on site, we can further generate revenue by operating our own ropes/challenge course.

Additionally, if a simpler rock climbing wall could be added to this facility for day use by students I think that would be really great!

I don't know entirely the liabilities and insurance we'd have to maintain on this site, but as with most challenge/ropes courses I know they can still operate w/out this being a major issue.

With all of the considerations put forth and all of the different university liaisons mentioned on the last page of the proposal, I have to say that this really seems like a reality for UMBC. :)

This is a good idea. I think its the best of all the proposals. It has a lot to offer UMBC.

While the ropes course may sound like a "cool" idea, does it really add anything to this campus? It's only going to be used once a year, and it's a competition, something to entertain us. It won't add anything to the campus in terms of the environment. However, the pond idea is something that would help our environment and make it cleaner. We can't resort to petty distractions when our campus environment is in a downward spiral.

Honestly this Prove it campaign is about doing what is best or most pertinent to the campus. While the ropes course may be a cool idea, anyone who honestly believes it is the best thing for the campus is not worthy of a college degree

I agree with what Mike said above about this idea. It most certainly will require some sort of way to keep people off it when it is unsupervised. There is a community nearby and I am sure it would be very tempting for children to want to play on it. If someone were to get hurt, it could be a serious liability issue for UMBC.

I also think this idea will not appeal to a large range of students on campus. It is not something that people would make use of every day. And if you did, then you would have to hire staff. In this case I did not see any proposals for self sustaining the course (besides attracting people from outside UMBC). I think this would be inadequate. Certainly you cannot expect to charge students to use it.

I see how there may be a group of students who could enjoy this, but I don't think it is the majority of campus. I couldn't care less about a ropes course. We already have a huge amount of student dollars going to support athletics, we don't need to spend more. I would never use this. It would not contribute to my college experience.

I do however have a problem finding space to study late at night, and there is currently no where on campus to work on creative projects, as it seems kind of uncool to drag a bunch of messy or noisy paints and tools into the study space. I prefer the creative center, with the study space as second.

I would much rather see the money go to something other than sports. I also consider weather an issue, if this is an outdoor thing it will only be useful/fun during part of the year and it doesn't really fill a need on campus. This ropes course still ranks third.

4th place goes to the green space, and 5th to the pond.

After doin ropes courses before, I know that they barely involve any physical or athletic ability - its more intellectual thought and how to work together as a team with whatever group you choose to go with.

I dont know if athletics would sponsor this or not, but this type of activity is far from being athletics... just my two cents

To tag on to katie, a ropes and challenge course isn't directed toward athletes...at all. If you read the proposal, its sole purpose is to help develop teamwork and team building skills. If you've ever been on a ropes and challenge course, it's not a fitness type of activity.

Thus, this could be utilized by any type of student organization on campus as sort of an ice breaker for incoming members or anything related to developing a team.

I do think academics is an important emphasis on campus, but I also think that students need to learn the importance of building relationships and working within a team. Realistically, how many careers are there out there that don't require you to be part of a team?

This is the only proposal that brings something new to campus as opposed to renovating an existing place.

As someone who has attended retreats before, I think that this would bring groups closer together and inspire organizations to accomplish their goals throughout the year.

1. Ropes Course
2. Study Place
3. Student Creative Center
4. Pond
5. Greenspace

This is the only proposal that brings something new to campus as opposed to renovating an existing place. As someone who has attended retreats before, I think that this would bring groups closer together and inspire organizations to accomplish their goals throughout the year.

1. Ropes Course
2. Study Place
3. Student Creative Center
4. Pond
5. Greenspace

No offense guys, but this is my 5th place idea. It has allot to offer but...not for me. i would prefer a greenspace and def the creative center. The Hub is cool and the pond should already be done but...i mean idk

I'd love it if i could use it on my own without supervision or a waiver. I just want a cool place to chill and hang out, and if i could do that at your course without signing a waiver...this would be my #1

I really like this propsal. I second the ideas people have said before about it being a good leadership activity. I know that for one of the clubs I was in, we did a ropes course but we had to go somewhere else. I think it would have been more effective and more people could have came if it was at UMBC. This course will help provide a form of physical fitness for the campus. And many people think that the gym is becoming overcrowded, esp around the middle of the day. This could help solve that problem (and would be cheaper than having to build a whole new gym)

To me this is the is the only proposal that seems like it will provide fun. We already have alot of academic and nice looking places on campus but not too many places to hang out and do things. And alot of people leave campus at nights and on weekends. This will draw more people to stay.

And on another note, the pond and study area ideas doesn't seem like something for Prove It. The pond can probably be done if someone talks to the maintenance people.
And as for a study area, while most close around 9 to 10, there are a few that are open 24/7. And there are the study lounges in the dorms that are always open. And the study area seems like it is only geared to people who like engineering and the arts which I believe is a small part of campus

I can see a ropes course not getting much use at all during the winter. I also do not think that this is something that even the students that do use it will use very often. It seems that this proposal is simply for the sake of attracting outside attention to the university, when it really should be mainly catering to students.

I do see "ropes" and "team building" thorough exercise-like physical activities as fitting under the umbrella of athletics. While I understand that student orgs could use it, they would probably use it once or twice a year each at most, and many of them not at all. On the other hand, the creative center would fill a very real need that isn't being met right now. I think I would use the creative center at least once a week (and the ropes course never).

While some of you raise points about 24 hours lounges in dorms, those don't do us commuters a bit of good. As far as I know the only places we commuters have access to late at night are the library atrium and a computer lab in the engineering building. It gets pretty crowded in the library atrium some nights, if you don't stake things out early you may not end up with a chair let alone a table to work on. There is definitely a need for more 24-hour facilities. A new and different one like the creative center opens up the options for students to explore different kinds of fun, and be more well rounded individuals.

Oh, and I find making things, and exploring creatively to be WAY more fun than doing team building or playing on a playground.

Sure people have to work well in teams in many jobs There is so much more to life than just playing well with others.

Did you guys think about accidents???
How will insurance cover that??
This will be a huge liability on the school.

What about the upkeep after weathering??
Did you happen to come up with a future plan for that or are you just going to leave that as UMBC's responsibility??

I don't think this will be used by enough of the campus on a day-to-day sort of thing.

BUT, if you added paintball, a climbing wall, zip line ... I could see myself coming on a great spring day out. I could see waiting lines formed.

If you're curious about theft, etc ... just have a system where you swipe your red cards to unlock the guns. That way there's accountability.

Also, for paintball, be Sure to have rules where you need to have the gun with some sort of cap and safety lock before you start playing, and a mask at all times. Cleaning utensils for the chamber as well, in case a few bullets explode. There should be at least one previous player play in every round as well, to give guidance. OHHHHH imagine glow in the dark paintball!! hollllaaaa

I personally don't think this is the best Prove It idea for UMBC. While I can see some merit to it, I don't think it is something the entire campus would be able to benefit from, or utilize. Personally, I'm not involved in leadership activities on campus and I don't really plan on getting more involved in the future. This Ropes course doesn't appeal to me at all.