Public Comment Period on latest revision of ACCT Standards

Update on ACCT's latest actions as an ANSI Accredited Standard Developer:

Public Comment Period on latest revision of ACCT Standards opens today, November 25, 2022, and ends on January 9, 2023

ACCT (Association for Challenge Course Technology)
Revision: BSR/ACCT 03-202X, Challenge Course and Canopy/Zip Line Tour Standards (revision of ANSI/ACCT 03-2019)

Included are standards for facilities used for any purpose including amusement, recreation, team development, therapy, or education. Challenge courses now have three distinct operating methodologies: facilitated (such as traditional Ropes and Challenge Courses), guided (such as Canopy and Zip Line Tours), or self-guided and monitored (such as Aerial Adventure/Trekking Parks).

Obtain an electronic copy and submit comments: https://acctinfo.org/03-202X-Comments

THE HISTORY OF ACCT
and the Standards Development Process

Significant growth in the challenge course field prompted a group of challenge course installers to gather in the spring of 1988 in North Carolina. This Symposium led to additional annual gatherings and eventually to the formation of the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) in 1993. Throughout the 1990’s, increasing use of challenge courses continued in education, corporate training, mental health, human services, and the criminal justice system prompting vendors to collaborate in the first standards which defined installation requirements.

An Installation Standards Committee was formed during the 1991 Symposium to write industry-wide installation standards. The first standards draft was completed and presented at the 1993 Symposium. Feedback on subsequent draft documents was collected and reviewed by the committee culminating in the consensus challenge course standards adopted by ACCT and published in 1994.

A task force was formed to address the need for training standards. A wide range of professionals and experienced practitioners contributed feedback and information resulting in standards addressing all aspects of course operation. In 2007, ACCT publish certification standards for practitioners focusing on the validation of the skills of individuals.

ACCT became an ANSI accredited standards developer in 2006, and actively maintains that status. Development of the 8th, 9th and 10th versions of the standards have followed the ANSI process.

A large number of volunteers continue to serve on the committees responsible for the periodic revision of standards and creating new standards to address industry changes. These committees remain a vital part of ACCT and contribute greatly to ACCT’s mission. It is estimated that upwards of 90 different individuals have served as committee members working on standards, and more than 150 people have offered comments.

ACCT continues to review and revise these standards to incorporate new information and to expand and improve the document. Those who wish to volunteer or contribute to the standards may do so at any time. Those with comments or concerns may contact ACCT about the standards at StandardsManagement@acctinfo.org.