Medora Uses HTC to Build a Stronger Community

Medora, North Dakota, shines in the HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC) Program. This community has stood out in North Dakota for various reasons. The scenery, the entertainment options, and their golf are just a few things that put the community in the spotlight. As Medora begins the tourism season, the town is planning internal actions that are worthy of attention. Medora has decided to use their HTC funding to create Community Days 2009. This two-day agenda will include a day of socializing and team building and a day to listen to nationally accredited speaker, Boaz Rauchwerger.

Last fall, community representatives recognized how the population is very tied up in their individual work. This has developed a strong base of community assets but hasn’t allowed for building relationships among the population. The HTC Medora committee decided to create an agenda that was strictly for the residents and allowed people to get to know each other on a more personal level. The events are two separate days and will be held at locations that are of interest to the community. Life-changing speaker, Boaz Rauchwerger, will speak at the newly renovated Roughrider Hotel. The second event, the Community Ropes Day will be held at Badlands Ministries, which houses a team building ropes course and has recently moved to a new, beautiful location. The Ropes Day will have residents on the high and low ropes, singing camp songs, and mingling in a way that hasn’t been available before.

The participation in these events demonstrate the commitment Medora has to a sense of community, which will add further to the Medora experience that thousands of people come to see each year.

For more information about this event, contact Amanda.Moser@dickinsonstate.edu

Amanda Lynn Moser
HTC Project Coordinator

Three High Ropes Certified

Three Strom Center staff members are now High Ropes Level 1 Certified. Jeanne MacDonald, Amanda Moser, and myself (Kim Hayes) attended the High Ropes Training May 19-21, 2009 which was held at the Badlands Ministries High Ropes Course just South of Medora, North Dakota.

Throughout our three days of intense training we learned not only how to facilitate but we also learned what it’s like to be a participant. We also learned the safety management and technical skills necessary to lead the High Ropes Program.

The Badlands Ministries High Ropes Course consists of 6 elements/obstacles which are all approximately 30-40 feet above the ground. We participated in all 6 elements of the High Ropes course, including the Dangling Duo, Multivine, Power Pole, & Zip Line. Each element was done with a partner in a specific sequence to build trust and strengthen relationships.

We became certified in High Ropes so we can offer these services to any businesses, organizations, or groups who would like to build a better team. Jeanne and I will work closely with our area to take any interested groups through the program, while Amanda plans to use this program to engage the members of the communities her HTC program works with (ie: Bowman, Dickinson, Hettinger, Killdeer, Medora, MHA Nation, & Williston). The goal of taking groups through the High Ropes Course is to develop high performance teams in the workplace through the transition of what is learned on the course.

To sign up for the High Ropes Course or for more information call me, Jeanne, or Amanda at the Strom Center at (701) 483-2756.

Kim Hayes
Talent Initiative Assistant
Strom Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation