CTLC Facilities
The majority of our programming is delivered on the Cornell University Campus in Ithaca, New York. We're able to provide exceptional programming at high-quality facilities all year round. The following is a list of our primary facilities, but please note that we also work on location and can draw from a wide variety of venues for your group.
Hoffman Challenge Course- Ropes course featuring high and low elements, located in Freeville, NY
Outdoor Learning Center on Mount Pleasant- Yurts, pavilion, hiking/biking trails, tree climbing in Freeville, NY
Lindseth Climbing Center- Indoor rock climbing center at Cornell University, Ithaca NY
Barton Hall- Indoor high ropes course located at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Other Facilities at Cornell University- Schoellkopf Stadium rappel, Beebe Lake canoeing and more!
The Hoffman Challenge Course
Operating since 1997, the Hoffman Challenge Course is one of the largest collegiate challenge courses in the country, with over 50 low and high ropes elements for your group to enjoy. Our course is set back in the woods and made up of snaking trails that connect the elements and structures that dot the property. The entrance to the course brings you to an open field with a pavilion that serves as a meeting space for groups. We have two yurts (which are great for cold, rainy days). They receive their electricity from on-site solar panels and we have a composting toilet facility as part of our continued commitment to sustainability. Located just five miles from Cornell's central campus, the Hoffman Challenge Course is our primary facility. With over 50 low and high elements to choose from, the activities are selected to cater to groups with diverse goals and abilities. The course is also extensive enough to accommodate groups for several days at a time without exhausting or repeating the available options.
About the Facilities
The Hoffman Challenge Course is located on top of Mt Pleasant. It is a 15-minute drive from Ithaca NY. The site is in a rural area, on a mix of farmland and forest land. During the program, you will be in the forest and you can read more about the activities that you'll be doing below. We have a few covered areas that we use in the case of rain. There is a top-of-the-line composting toilet on site, along with a water cooler, but no running water.
High Elements
The high elements are climbing structures situated 20-40 feet above the ground and navigated individually or in pairs while participants are secured with harnesses and ropes. To promote trust building and group bonding we enlist participants to support their teammates from the ground as part of the belay system. The centerpiece of the facility is a 64-foot high replica of Cornell's McGraw Tower, complete with a "tree fort" platform, rappelling stations, a 400-foot long double Zipline, and a 40-foot Giant Swing. Other high elements include high Balance Beams, Pamper Poles, a Flying Squirrel, Lily Pads, Quadrophenia and many others.
Low Elements
In the wooded areas around the tower are over 30 low elements. These elements are a group obstacle course of sorts, designed to challenge teams to work together in a variety of ways. Some low activities are physically challenging, but most emphasize teamwork through problem-solving and mutual support. Among the low elements are classic activities such as the Spider's Web and the Up and Over Wall, along with more recently designed elements such as the Whale Watch (a balance platform for groups of up to 25), the Giant's Finger and the Nitro Crossing.
The Hoffman Challenge Course on Google Maps
Outdoor Learning Center on Mount Pleasant
Cornell Outdoor Education's Outdoor Learning Center includes two enchanting yurts, a pavilion, 3-miles of biking/hiking/skiing trails, and tree climbing platforms.
The yurts that can be used for retreats, workshops, or even overnight trips. These yurts feature solar-powered lights and wood-burning stoves for the colder months. We can provide tables and chairs, however for overnight stays, groups must bring their own camping gear (sleeping bags, pillows and sleeping pads). In the case of inclement weather, team building programs can also be moved inside the yurts.
Groups must have a program reservation in order to reserve a yurt overnight.
Lindseth Climbing Center
In addition to open climbing hours and our Physical Education courses, we also provide creative team and leadership programming with rock climbing as the central focus. The Lindseth Climbing Center is a state of the art climbing center with 8,000 sf of bouldering, top rope climbing and sport lead climbing. It is located in Bartels Hall on the Cornell University Campus.
Click here to visit the Lindseth Climbing Center's website
Barton Hall Indoor High Ropes Course
Originally built in 1914 to serve as an airplane hangar during World War I, historic Barton Hall currently houses indoor track and field facilities and Cornell's ROTC program, in addition to CTLC's indoor high ropes course. This majestic space includes high elements that are incorporated into the ceiling joists and support beams of the building and Flying Squirrel that reaches all the way to the top of the building, nearly 80 feet in the air!
Our facility is located primarily in the southwest corner of Barton Hall, near the Air Force ROTC branch. Barton Hall is located at the intersection of Campus Rd. and Garden Ave, across the street from the Statler Hotel.
Gorgeous Outdoor Facilities
We offer unique team bonding and leadership experiences including rappelling off of Schoellkopf Stadium, canoeing on Beebe Lake, hiking in the gorges, or portable team building challenges that take place around the Cornell Campus.