The long-standing partnership between EKU and the state Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) has led to the establishment of the Commonwealth's "premier" challenge course on the Eastern campus.

The state-of-the-art ropes course, located behind the Funderburk Building, home of the DOCJT, will serve the DOCJT, Kentucky Police Corps and the University. The facility is reserved four days each week for EKU students, student organizations, Army ROTC and outside organizations, through the University's Division of Community and Workforce Education.

"The elements of the course provide a multitude of group and individual exercises that develop leadership skills, team building, problem solving and self-confidence," said Fran Root, executive staff advisor for the Police Corps.

Designed by EKU graduate Todd Domeck's firm, Experiential Resources Inc., Bloomington, Ind., the course features 16 low elements, 12 high elements and a six-sided "tango tower."

"This is the premier challenge course in Kentucky," said Dr. Charles Everett, "because of the number of elements and because the size of the course will enable us to handle numerous groups at one time."

Everett, an assistant professor of leisure studies, said he and Lt. Col. Brett Morris, chair of EKU's Department of Military Science, initiated discussions about the feasibility of a challenge course, but, "It wasn't until DOCJT and the Police Corps got involved (and provided the funding) that the project shifted into the next phase.

"Ultimately," Everett said, "this is the best deal for the University and a real good example of cooperation and interdependence."

Everett is excited about the course's potential in enhancing the preparation of EKU's leisure studies majors and attracting more students.

"It will help us provide the needed training for students going out into the field," he said. "Employers need people who have experience working with challenge courses."

The ROTC program is expected to be another heavy user of the facility, but that still leaves plenty of time for the remainder of the student body.

"This is an outdoor laboratory that can be used in a variety of academic disciplines and
for student groups," Everett said.

Cari Wallace, director of First Year Programs and Academic Testing, said the course "will be a great outdoor teaching tool for instructors to encourage students to get to know each other, learn more about their leadership style and develop problem-solving skills."

She plans to incorporate the course into First Year orientation courses and use it to train Student Orientation and New Student Days leaders.

The Division of Community and Workforce Education will integrate the course into "as many activities as possible," said Director Lucie Nelson. "Local companies and businesses will see the course as an opportunity to enhance their employee development plan and performance. Churches and teams will also see the growth potential for their youth and players."

Challenge Course coordinator Rick Lewis can be reached at 859-622-1224.

The federally-funded Kentucky Police Corps offers each recruit a full college scholarship in exchange for four years of service as a patrol officer in communities across the Commonwealth. Similar programs exist in other states, but the Kentucky Police Corps is rapidly expanding and gaining positive national attention for its visionary curriculum.

Kentucky's intensive 21-week program offers recruits traditional police training as well as a 19-week language and culture immersion program that concludes with a two-week international component in Morelia, Mexico. The goal is to build a well-trained corps of Kentucky police officers who can serve local citizens and speak fluent Spanish. About 25 recruits from 14 Kentucky communities will go through basic training in Kentucky's first stand-alone Police Corps Academy.