Consultants & Experts

in Zip Lines, Aerial Adventure Parks, and Challenge Courses

Home Team Michael R. Smith, Adventure Park & Zip Line Expert

Michael R. Smith, Adventure Park & Zip Line Expert

Consultant

Expert Witness

Inspector

Operation Reviewer

Trainer

Qualification

BA: Wilderness Leadership, Prescott College | MTD: Training & Development, Oakland University | NAARSO Level 2 (Advanced) Inspector | ACCT Level 2 Professional Inspector | ACCT Qualified Operation Reviewer | ACCT Challenge Course Manager

Contact Info

Michael R. Smith - Adventure Park and Zip Line Expert and Consultant

Michael R. Smith - President & Founder

    • Michael R. Smith is a recognized leader in the aerial adventure industry and a proven expert in business development, marketing, and risk management. With 27 years of experience designing and developing award-winning zip line canopy tours, aerial adventure parks, and challenge courses, and more than three decades delivering adventure-based tours, experiential programs, and leadership development training, Michael offers unmatched insight into the operations, standards, and market forces that shape the industry.
      He holds a B.A. in Wilderness Leadership from Prescott College (1998) and a Master of Training and Development from Oakland University (2004). His career includes consulting engagements with Fortune 500 companies, authorship of published climbing and adventure guides, and instructional roles with the Outward Bound School.
      As founder and principal of AdventureSmith, Inc., Michael continues to serve as a trusted consultant and expert witness for both plaintiff and defense counsel in matters involving zip lines, challenge courses, and aerial adventure parks. His industry leadership, extensive network of vendors, manufacturers, and associations, and proven record of results make him one of the most respected and sought-after experts in the field.

 

Industry Experience

Smith is the principal and founder of AdventureSmith, Inc., a niche consultancy focused on marketing, business consulting, risk management, and staff development systems for the aerial adventure market. Ranging from the publication of climbing guides to the development and maintenance of an online directory designed to track the growth of the zip line market, AdventureSmith, Inc. has been active in business development and marketing strategies and has provided support to many commercial and non-commercial challenge courses, zip lines, and aerial adventure parks in the U.S.A. and Canada. Through AdventureSmith, Inc., Smith offers risk management planning through technical inspections, operation reviews/audits, staff training, accident investigations, expert witness reporting, and the development of custom operating manuals, safety handbooks, and emergency action plans.

  • From 2009 to 2023, Smith served as the President of ArborTrek Canopy Adventures, LLC, an aerial adventure park operator headquartered in Jeffersonville, Vermont.  During his tenure, ArborTrek tours were recognized with the following accolades:
  • Smith oversaw all business functions at ArborTrek Canopy Adventures which included but was not limited to the design, development, and operation of zip line canopy tours, aerial adventure parks, climbing adventures, and traditional challenge courses, including high and low ropes challenge courses, group initiatives, and adventure-based team building programs.
  • Before founding ArborTrek Canopy Adventures, LLC, Smith was employed by S.T.E.P.S., Inc. (1994 – 2009) in various positions ranging from challenge course facilitator to organizational development consultant to Director of Special Projects. Founded by a group of professionals in education, treatment, and organizational development who shared a common interest in the benefits of adventure education, S.T.E.P.S., Inc. grew to be the largest provider of adventure education services in Southeastern Michigan. In 2005, S.T.E.P.S., Inc. became an early leader in the U.S. and Canada’s emerging zip line canopy tour market. During his 15 years at S.T.E.P.S., Smith trained hundreds of facilitators and guides, designed and developed more than 14 commercial adventure parks and dozens of traditional courses in the U.S.A. and Canada, consulted on numerous commercial and traditional projects, and oversaw the delivery of programming to more than 200,000 participants. Projects he helped bring to market have served an estimated 2.5+ million participants.
  • Other relevant experience includes four extended summers as a mountaineering and field instructor for the Outward Bound School, swift-water and high-angle rescue training, emergency response, technical rock guiding, mountaineering, tree climbing, and experience designing, leading, and evaluating organizational development interventions and change processes. Smith currently serves as Board Secretary for the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) and ACCT’s representative to the Professional Ropes Course Association (PRCA) Standards Committee. He previously served in the following roles: ACCT Board Member (2014 to 2017), and the ACCT Accreditation and Certification Committee (2019 to 2023). Smith is a participating member of ASTM F24.61 sub-committee, which oversees the development and maintenance of ASTM F2959 Standard Practice for Aerial Adventure Courses. Additional areas of expertise include expert witness consulting; technical inspections of zip lines, aerial adventure parks, and traditional challenge courses; program audits; staff training; and the production of custom operation manuals and documents. He is adept at publication design and layout, graphic design, illustration, and web development.
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