Tree Dimensional

TREETOP ADVENTURE DESIGN PROCESS

Not all treetop adventures are built the same. When it comes to zip line canopy tours, tree houses and adventure structures, we believe the possibilities are endless.

Our one-of-a-kind, sustainability-minded, treetop adventures are known not only for their functionality, but for their refined aesthetics, high quality craftsmanship, and creative use of resources. Throughout the process we take a holistic approach, balancing client resources, our proprietary, environmental installation methods, and your business needs. It is our commitment to do more than just create the highest quality product on the market. It is our goal to create:

  • Healthy businesses that will prosper well into the future
  • An experience that sells itself through word of mouth and repeat business
  • Unmatched eco-tour experiences that foster an appreciation for the environment and natural world
  • Eco-friendly courses that enhance the environment rather than detract from it

Our 5-step design process is outlined here to help prospective course owners and entrepreneurs better understand our work process. Please take an opportunity to review the stages so that you have a clear understanding of the time frame and commitment involved, as well as, understand the services we can provide.

DESIGN PROCESS

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The Discovery Phase provides an opportunity for us to get to know one another. It is a time ask questions, collect information, and educate each other. The principal goals of the discovery phase are to:

  1. Create a clear vision of the business model that will be enacted
  2. Educate one another about goals and expectations
  3. Set shared goals and clarify vision
  4. Develop a project time frame and action plan

Overview

The Discovery Phase is generally initiated by the client with a phone call to our offices where time will be scheduled to meet in person or by phone to discuss project needs and opportunities. Initial conversations may range from one hour to many hours depending on the scope of the project, client’s understanding of canopy tours, and stage of business planning.

A site visit is usually required to help layout the course and select the appropriate obstacles and structures. It is often recommended that prospective course owners visit several other successful canopy tours ahead of time to get a clear picture of the requirements and opportunities that abound.

The Discovery Phase culminates in the delivery of a conceptual proposal with a rough course layout and ballpark cost estimates for canopy tour development.

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During the Design phase the course and business begin to come to life. Beginning with a site visit, the design phase often includes tree and property surveys, the development of three-dimension renderings and CAD drawings, and project mapping.

The goals of the design phase are to:

  1. Solidify business goals and objectives
  2. Formalize the scope of the project in terms of design, business relations, training, and ongoing support
  3. Determine what local or regional resources are available to assist (if necessary).
  4. Create a project timeline.

Overview

It is key to understand the importance of the Design phase. It is here that successful programs and businesses are created.  Proper design processes not only ensure that our clients get the best product, it allows time for visions to be crafted and vetted before work begins and serves to overt costly changes that might otherwise be requested later.   

The Design phase is much more than an opportunity to draw out a course or treetop structure. During this time, our experience as designers, trainers, and challenge course program managers is applied to ensure that all aspects of the business are sound. While surveys and drawings are being completed, it is equally important that other business processes are underway, including the development of internal systems (staffing, reservations, financial, legal, marketing), physical plant, and infrastructure.

Depending on the scope of the project, beit it a straight purchase, financing, or other partnership, the end of the Design phase is marked by the signing of formal agreements, time frames, and a project cost.

The Design phase is generally conducted as a separate visit from the Site Feasibility Report conducted during the Discovery phase. Clients can expect the design visit to take four to ten days on-site for small projects and two to three weeks on-site for highly complicated courses where towers and other structures need to be installed. Additional time is often required in the office to complete drawings. While design is an ongoing process, the Design phase generally takes several weeks depending on permitting, degree of engineering required, jurisdictional requirements and complexity of structures to be installed.

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By the time the Installation phase begins, all of the groundwork and preparation should be complete and all of the important decisions finalized.

The goals of the Installation phase are:

  1. Complete installation of the canopy tour, tree houses, walkways and other structures and conduct testing
  2. Ensure the ongoing development of support structures, infrastructure, and business systems
  3. Order and organize participant and guide equipment

Overview

Successful preparation during the Design phase is critical to a timely and smooth installation. Sometimes situations do arise in the field and the client is informed about these decisions and is given necessary updates as to the progress of the installation.

The installation time frame will depend on the size and complexity of the course to be installed. For most installations, 1 to 3 months are needed to install the course. Larger projects may be best divided over several seasons or years.  It is critical during this time that other improvements to the physical plant are underway.

During the end of the Installation phase, our program development staff and canopy tour trainers will join the team to ensure smooth transition and finalize training and prepare course operation documentation. Although progress of the Installation phase is often marked by stages in the development of the course, it is equally important the staffing, marketing, legal, and business targets are being reached. Our staff are well prepared to assist and coach you through this process.

The end of the Installation phase is marked by a transition from the build team to the training team. As the course is broken in, members of the build team will remain onsite to ensure proper operation and make minor adjustments as needed.

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The Training and Staff Development phase begins early in the Installation with the development of documentation, business systems, and hiring. Although principally marked by a core training of guides, it extends to include coaching and consulting for the operations team and ongoing assessment and development initiatives. The principal goals of the Training Phase are:

  1. Development of business operations and staff development systems
  2. Achieve required core competencies among staff sufficient to run the tour at anticipated levels
  3. Formalize risk management plans and procedures, including the development of internal business processes, documentation, and development of relationships with local emergency resources.
  4. Assess program operations with initial groups and provide guidance during tour launch.

Overview

The Training and Staff Development phase can be further divided into several phases:

  1. Transition from the installation phase to operations
  2. Formalization of training materials, supplements, and business materials
  3. Conduct intensive training sessions with staff
  4. Lead mock and live tours
  5. Tour opening to the public
  6. Consulting and development of ongoing training processes

The amount of training required by canopy tour guides will vary greatly depending on the scope of skills required and aims of the program. It is important to ensure that in addition to technical training, that adequate time is budgeted for medical training, environmental training, inspection and maintenance procedures, and mock tours prior to opening to the public. Following initial training, review and assessment schedules will be arranged along with ongoing practice sessions, on-the-job training, and operations coaching sessions.

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The Support phase is initiated by the transition of supervision from the Training Team to Operations personnel. Despite a diminished presence on-site, it is our goal to ensure the smooth operation of the tour and successful business practices.

Depending on the business arrangement formalized in the Development process, support services may be obtained through phone consultation, periodic site visits, scheduled maintenance, and the development of joint relationships.

It is important that operators budget sufficiently for course maintenance, periodic external review, and staff development. Our experts make themselves available by phone and e-mail and arrangements can often be made for immediate site visits. 

In general, operators should budget for annual inspections (more frequently for courses in areas with extreme weather or where high volumes are predicted), annual or bi-annual training sessions, periodic site visit and site reviews, and the amortization of course hardware and equipment. For this reason, operators may opt to arrange a support relationship in advance to ensure priority support and response when needs arise.

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you're looking to add a backyard tree house retreat, commercial tree house rental, or imagining an expansive treesort with a zip line canopy tour, we're excited to learn about your vision.  The first step is setting up a consultation so that we can determine whether you're ready for a site visit.

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