Safety & Accreditation

There is inherent risk in any outdoor activity, but we believe that the only thing more important than providing your family with an exciting and memorable adventure is mitigating and managing the potential risk. Your family’s safety is our family's mission!

In 2020 the zipline canopy tour at French Broad Adventures became the world's first Accredited Operation with the Association of Challenge Course Technology, ACCT.

Industry Leaders

• Owner/Operator Korey C. Hampton is a professional inspector, trainer, consultant, and operation reviewer for Challenge Towers, and ACCT Accredited Vendor (previously known as a PVM), working with aerial adventure courses throughout the world to train and certify their staff, inspect the integrity of their course structures, and evaluate their operations, to reduce risk and ensure compliance with ACCT standards.
• FBA is a member of NCAAA, the North Carolina state organization for ziplines, challenge courses, and aerial adventure parks.
• FBA is a member of the ACCT, the world’s leading and largest American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Developer focused specifically and solely on the zip line/challenge course industry.
• FBA was the world's first ACCT-Accredited Organization, going through a lengthy process to demonstrate that they are an organization that serves the general public through a commitment to quality, professional conduct, business practices, and ongoing use and adherence to industry operations standards.

Safety is Our Priority

ZIPLINE SAFETY PRACTICES

• Our zipline canopy tour structures were inspected upon the completion of their construction and are inspected annually by a professional to ensure that the course meets all design and performance standards set forth by the Association for Challenge Course Technologies (ACCT).
• Our course-critical trees were evaluated during the design process, and have been inspected annually by a qualified arborist to evaluate their suitability and ongoing health.
• Our operational practices and policies are reviewed by a third-party ACCT-approved Operation Reviewer to ensure that we are meeting ACCT Operations standards and are making every reasonable effort to reduce risk and improve safety.
• All guides must complete a comprehensive training and evaluation process before they begin guiding tours, and they must participate in ongoing training and skills verification in order to continue guiding.
• All of our Guides have First Aid and CPR certifications, and some have more advanced certifications such as WFA (Wilderness First Aid) and WFR (Wilderness First Responder).
• Before you begin your tour, you’ll watch a safety video that demonstrates the appropriate zipping procedures and gives an overview of what to do and what to expect while you are on the tour.

RAFTING SAFETY PRACTICES

Our whitewater rafting guides are some of the most experienced guides in the industry, most with multiple years or even multiple decades of experience.

• All of our guides have First Aid and CPR certifications, and our trip leaders have advanced medical certifications and Swift Water Rescue training.
• We will give you instructions before you get on the river with us. Our guides are trained to 'show you the ropes' before you begin your adventure. Among other things, they will show you how to paddle, how to brace in the raft, and how to float in the river.
• We teach the class! Owners Mitch, Korey, and Michael Hampton, along with some of our Senior Guides, teach Whitewater Rafting classes at a nearby college.
• We are members of the America Outdoors Association – the international trade association for the world’s finest adventure travel outfitters.