Overview

The Chumash Challenge is an interactive adventure learning program located on Serrano Ranch along Stenner Creek. This group development program offers unique opportunities to learn in a natural outdoor environment and also to exhibit Cal Poly's motto of “learn by doing.”

The program is designed for the individual to challenge themselves while learning the importance of working as a group to problem solve, make decisions, gain confidence, strengthen relationships and communicate effectively. The staff of professional educators with over 40 years combined experience is there to provide assistance and guidance for both a high and low ropes course, leadership in creative games, and provide warm-ups and group initiatives to emphasize the experience in a positive outdoor learning environment.

In order to maximize the learning opportunities and ensure transfer from the course to work, family, and personal life, Chumash Challenge uses a metaphorical learning process. Their focus of team building is to teach people to trust one another to allow your inner strength to take you further than you could have ever imagined.

History of the Chumash Indians

The Chumash Indian homeland lies along the coast of California, between Malibu and Paso Robles, as well as on the Northern Channel Islands. Before the Mission Period, the Chumash lived in 150 independent villages with a total population of about 18,000 people. In different parts of the region, people spoke different but related languages.

The area was first settled about 13,000 years ago. Over time, the population increased and the people adapted their lifeways to the local environment. Villages along the coastline, on the islands and in the interior had access to different resources, which they traded with one another.

This trade was made possible in part by the seagoing plank canoe, or tomol, which was invented about 2,000 years ago. In addition to the plank canoe, the Chumash are known for their fine basketry, their mysterious cave paintings and their money made from shells.

Today, there are still many people who can trace their ancestry back to these historic Chumash communities.

As you can see, the Chumash people were very skilled and hard workers. These ideals have been carried over into the teaching and learning which the Chumash Challenge exemplifies.

Current Workshop Prices

		Team Building 1	Team Building 2	Team Building 3	High Ropes 1	High Ropes 2	High Ropes 3	Combo
	Group Size	(3 hrs)	(3 hrs)	(6.5 hrs)	(3 hrs)	(3 hrs)	(6.5 hrs)	(6.5 hrs)
Cal Poly Campus	8-15	$120	$120	$225	$225	$225	$375	$345
	16-24	$190	$190	$360	$360	$360	$600	$550
	25-36	$290	$290	$540	not offered	not offered	$900	$830
	37-48	$385	$385	$720	not offered	not offered	not offered	$1,105

Youth Groups Local Schools	8-15	$225	$225	$450	$300	$300	$600	$525
	16-24	$360	$360	$720	$480	$480	$960	$840
	25-36	$540	$540	$1,080	not offered	not offered	$1,440	$1,260
	37-48	$720	$720	$1,440	not offered	not offered	not offered	1,680

Community Government	8-15	$375	$375	$675	$405	$405	$825	$780
	16-24	$600	$600	$1,080	$650	$650	$1,320	$1,250
	25-36	$900	$900	$1,620	not offered	not offered	$1,980	$1,872
	37-48	$1,200	$1,200	$2,160	not offered	not offered	not offered	$2,496

Business	8-15	$450	$450	$900	$600	$600	$1,200	$1,050
	16-24	$720	$720	$1,440	$900	$900	$1,920	$1,620
	25-36	$1,080	$1,080	$2,160	not offered	not offered	$2,280	$2,430
	37-48	$1,440	$1,440	$2,880	not offered	not offered	not offered	$3,240

Website Team: Travis Busch, Ryan Darling, Lauren Grik, Coby Leavitt, Frank Ventura