Woah, don't touch that! How adventure centers are adopting touchpoint sanitation

 Woah, don't touch that! How adventure centers are adopting touchpoint sanitation. 

Blog Post #5 Due: 4/6/21

In the recreation field, especially in ropes courses, there are lots of gear that are used by both participants/staff alike. This can look like shared carabiners, touching the same handholds, climbing on the same ropes, being around other participants in order to solve course challenges. Recreation has adopted this new trend of touch point sanitation which means cleaning just about anything that is common touch oriented. In addition, these centers are investing in more equipment that participants can use their own gear, and not have to share with the neighbor. In addition, this can look like the use of gloves when inspecting the gear of participants when in a staff roll. There is a heightened sense of urgency for sanitation in order for customers to feel safe, and to protect staff. 

These new norms are most likely here to stay with stay in regards with the current regulations, and possibility of another pandemic coming into our field. This new push for cleaning everything not only will keep gear operating longer. This can be done with non corrosive cleaning supplies. The use of masks in the outdoor industry will also stay for at least a year or two more. With being outdoors as the "safest" possible location we might not see the masks as long as other industries see them. 

Picture is of Camp Broadstone ropes course/alpine tower

Whilst working as an alpine tower instructor for App State owner Camp Broadstone Covid has been a great test of our facilities. We have the plenty of equipment and gear which allows us to give each participant their own harnesses, carabiners, and other gear needed. We also have a "quarantine corner" where the harnesses/ropes used for programs are able to quarantine for 7 days in order to promote a healthy environment. It is hard to clean ropes with cleaning materials so setting them aside not only gives our ropes a efficient rotation, but  a way to organize our gear in a more open sense. If another pandemic were to come about, obviously the university would most likely quit running programs but the way we sanitize, and use our gear we are able to continue with Covid and whatever else is to come. I see that other challenge courses are too in this same boat, and we are all learning as we go.