Who makes an AYE decision?

• A. The course safety officer only
• B. The assistant facilitator only
• C. The participant and the facilitator; EVERYONE involved in the challenge course experience
• D. The center director only

Answer: (C)

Moving forward on a challenge course hinges on shared responsibility and clear communication about readiness. The decision to proceed—often called the AYE decision—is best made together, with input from the participant, the facilitator, and everyone involved in the experience. This ensures that concerns, fears, or uncertainties are heard and addressed before advancing, and that consent and understanding are confirmed by all voices present.

While safety staff and administrators play crucial supervision and policy roles, the actual moment-to-move-forward decision benefits from a team check-in. If someone isn’t ready or if risks aren’t fully understood, the group can pause and adjust. A practical example is when the participant verbalizes comfort level and the facilitator asks clarifying questions; together with observations from others on the course, they decide whether to proceed or modify the task.