More News

A group of teenagers from New Life Christian School relaxed in a circle on a grassy field in Buckeystown on a recent Thursday, reflecting on the lessons of trust and teamwork they had just learned on nearby climbing wall.

The group chatted about how they could apply their new skills in everyday life — such as being more aware drivers — and listened closely to each other's ideas.

For five years now, the Frederick church group has been one of the 270 churches, nonprofits and businesses that have turned to Upward Enterprises for a rigorous day of team-building drills.

The company, now owned and operated by Brunswick residents Liz and Clive Felgate, started in the early 1990s with small ropes challenge courses and picnic areas at three sites in Germantown, Gaithersburg and McLean, Va. When business outgrew the small facilities in 2002, the company moved to the Bishop Claggett Center property in Buckeystown.

Felgate, a former physical trainer for the British Royal Air Force, was CEO. Under their visa restrictions, the couple in 2006 faced a choice of either returning to England or taking over the business. They opted for the latter.

"I saw a lot of potential in this company," Felgate said.

Under its partnership with the Claggett Center, Upward Enterprises has developed 22 of the property's 272 scenic acres into a ropes and challenge course, complete with a zip line. All told, the company sank more than $200,000 into equipment. In lieu of rent, the church uses the courses for its own group retreats for free.

Timothy Hampton of Walkersville was among New Life Christian School's group leaders at the retreat last week. A former small-business manager, Hampton said he had always envisioned team-building retreats mainly as a fun outing and was surprised by the wealth of lessons gleaned.

"After seeing how they were working — setting goals and strategies — I can see a big business application in this," Hampton said. "They were dealing with distractions. They realized they were speaking over each other and that they had to listen to each other, and they actually did better."

Upward Enterprises also uses structured team-building drills for nonprofits and businesses — including the Red Cross, Children's National Medical Center and Lockheed Martin — accounting for roughly 30 percent of its business. Business-oriented exercises aim to foster better communication between supervisors and employees and between departments that may not be working smoothly together, Felgate said.

"Businesses generally come to us when they're dysfunctional as a corporation," Felgate said. "It's about working together, trusting, supporting, group dynamics and communications. It's getting to know people and how they think."

This week, Upward Enterprises is hosting a team from VeriSign in California that is traveling to Leesburg, Va., for business. Felgate also plans to travel soon to the Social Security Administration offices in Woodlawn, Va., with a suitcase full of games to help about a dozen employees "identify goals and tasks and execute them."

"The exercises require planning and synergy," Felgate said. "It's about getting people out of their comfort zone."

Felgate, who declined to disclose revenues, said the business is growing through referrals. Groups range from 10 to 300 in one day, with an average size of about 150 participants. Repeat clients make up about 70 percent of business.

"They come here, and it's a level playing field," Felgate said. "They find their problems are a simple communication problem, a simple trust issue. We've got to turn them into a working, functioning team."

Courses are flexible, with varying start times and lengths. They may include an outdoor picnic or lunch in the Claggett Center's $5 million dining and conference facility. Prices vary according to the duration and add-ons, but the charge is roughly $55 per person.