Written by Justin Tucker, NCOBS Advancement Coordinator

If you’ve taken an Outward Bound course at our Table Rock basecamp in the last two decades, you may have experienced challenge through discovery first-hand on our coveted high-ropes course.  Upon first glance of the various course elements towering above, students of all ages often think to themselves, “There’s no way I can do that,” or “That’s too scary!”  But despite initial trepidations, countless students have walked away with a newfound sense of confidence and accomplishment having conquered every fear-inducing component, including the widely applauded plunge down the legendary swing which sends you soaring through the trees.   

“Swinging!  Swing on!”  

The original course was built in the 1980s, utilizing the surrounding trees as the primary support structures.  Rebuilt in 1994 on wood poles with funds from the Dowd Foundation in honor of Roddy Dowd Sr., our challenge course would go on to cement itself as a foundational building block to the Outward Bound experience.  It’s proven to be more than just an obstacle course in the sky—it’s a catalyst for building trust amongst crewmates, encouraging teamwork and pushing beyond perceived limits.  But after 30 years of serving students, the tall, wood structure had finally reached the end of its lifespan.  Factoring in exacerbated damage to the towers as a result of Hurricane Helene in Fall 2024, the future of our high-ropes course quickly came into question.   

“As a result of this storm damage, we need to replace the structure and construct a new, state-of-the-art challenge course. This upgrade will enhance the experience for students using the course and better support our professional development programs.” –Sarah Kime, Advancement Director 

Due to the location of our base camp within Pisgah National Forest, a 6-month process ensued, which entailed working with a division of the Forest Service to engineer and approve a new challenge course.  In May 2025, the school received the final go-ahead and contracted Challenge Towers, Inc.—the Todd, NC-based construction company specializing in aerial adventures—to begin construction of the new course in mid-July. Over the span of roughly three weeks, a brand-new ropes course was erected, reaching as high as 43 feet and an overall footprint of approximately 4500 square feet.   

An inside look at the construction of the new ropes course.

Featuring eleven unique elements spread across two levels and a new swing platform resting at 31 feet, our new and improved course is sure to bring plenty of excitement, growth, and learning opportunities for students to come.  It’s all that Table Rock’s Associate Program Director, Chase Turnbow, has been talking about this season: 

“I was stoked on Table Rock getting a new modernized ropes course with some fun and challenging new elements. The lower level is pretty approachable and has several options to make the individual elements more challenging if you want. The upper-level steps up the challenge with features such as climbing hold poles and Bonsen loops—a mix of balance, strength, and dexterity to make it from one loop to the next. To exit the course, students will either step off the Deus and lower to the ground using an automatic descent device, or they can use the swing element that is an Outward Bound classic. I’m a fan of the challenge course because students can do a bit of exploration with the elements as they figure out how to traverse the course.” 

The Blue Ridge to Florida & Patagonia – Leadership Semester crew tries out the new features.

The ropes course refurbishment would not have been possible without the generous contributions following Hurricane Helene from The Dowd Foundation and The Glass Foundation. On behalf of the NCOBS community, we are extremely grateful for their support.  

“My experience with Outward Bound taught me determination. After three trips and serving on their board for many years, I’ve taken their motto to heart, ‘To serve, to strive, and not to yield.’ Those are positive and inspiring words that I try to live by.” -Frank Dowd IV