About ArborTrek Canopy Adventures
About ArborTrek Canopy Adventures
OUR STORY
WHO IS ARBORTREK?
ArborTrek is a company built of talented people who are passionate about exploring the natural world, empowering people, and providing individuals, small groups, families, and corporations the opportunity to share an unforgettable adventure together.
Additionally, ArborTrek provides the opportunity for established tour operators, resorts, and landowners with wooded property near tourist destinations or near densely populated areas, the opportunity to enter into the emerging eco-adventure park market with the management experience and financial backing necessary to be successful.
HOW ARBORTREK BEGAN
Inspired by emerging opportunities in the eco-adventure market and frustrated by the limited role of a design/build vendor, Michael Smith launched ArborTrek Canopy Adventures’ flagship operation at Smugglers’ Notch Resort in November 2010 with the goal of being the premier provider of zip line canopy tours and aerial adventure parks in the U.S. and Canada. A second park was opened in 2014 at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee.
While ArborTrek is a relatively new company, the experience and systems behind ArborTrek are rooted in the success and growth of many of the top tours in the U.S. and Canada. ArborTrek has uniquely positioned itself to capitalize on the growing eco-adventure trend by providing the opportunity for established tour operators, resorts, public parks and landowners with wooded property to enter into the market with the financing, design, installation, training, and management experience necessary to be successful. ArborTrek is currently seeking locations across the United States and Canada.
OUR MISSION
Be the premier provider of zip line canopy tours and adventure parks in the United States and Canada.
BUSINESS FOCUS
Design, develop, and deliver novel, eco-adventure programs that foster an appreciation for the environment, create lasting memories, and help individuals learn more about and connect with themselves and the people and world around them.
Our locations will serve to be a place where clients can always come to escape the negative stresses of life and rejuvenate their energies, enjoy the camaraderie of their family and friends, and appreciate the great outdoors. To this end, we strive to create experiences where we are the visitors to the area and where our impacts are minimized. Simply put, our goal is the educate, entertain, and inspire people through unforgettable adventures.
LEADERSHIP
MICHAEL R. SMITH, PRESIDENT
As the President and founder of ArborTrek Canopy Adventures, Michael is dedicated to providing high-value, small group and family experiences that foster an appreciation for the natural world, inspire and rejuvenate the mind, and educate the community on the values of wild places and adventure. Michael brings more than 28 years experience in the challenge course industry as a facilitator, builder, manager, trainer, and business consultant and holds degrees in Wilderness Leadership and Master of Training and Development. He has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies as a business consultant, authored and published climbing guides, worked as a Chief Field Instructor for the Outward Bound School, and managed a web design and marketing company focused on the outdoor industry. Through his work as zip line builder and canopy tour consultant, he has helped to design and launch 16 zip-line canopy tours in the United States and Canada and has consulted with dozens of other zip line canopy tour and adventure park operations on business planning, feasibility, staff development, and marketing. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) and currently is a member of the ACCT Accreditation and Certification Committee. Outside of ArborTrek, Smith is regularly retained as an expert witness in zip line and aerial adventure park cases and he provides business, marketing, and risk mitigation consulting services focused on the outdoor adventure market.
MICHAEL BEBER, CHAIRMAN
Michael provides financial and related insight and support to the ArborTrek team. Michael was born and raised in Toronto, graduated from the University of Western Ontario and is a Canadian Chartered Accountant. Michael is best known as a forensic accountant where he was a senior manager at KPMG, a partner at BDO and subsequently was a co-founder and principal of Lindquist Avey, an international forensic and investigative accounting firm. Beber, now a resident of Rye, in Westchester County, New York, possesses more than 30 years of significant experience in developing market-leading intelligence and risk/data management businesses for major corporations from his years as a strategic and operating executive with companies including Kroll, one of the leading risk consulting companies; Marsh and McLennan, the world’s largest risk manager; MidOcean Partners, a leading middle-market private equity firm; Altegrity, an international investigations and security company; and most recently, Exiger, a global authority on regulatory compliance and due diligence. Beber’s love of zip line canopy tours and entrepreneurial pursuits led him to Michael Smith, one of the most recognized leaders in the industry where they forged their mission – to build ArborTrek into the premier provider of eco-adventures in North America.
APRIL EDWARDS, BUSINESS MANAGER
A local in the truest sense (our road is named for her family), April is responsible for safeguarding and advancing the inner workings of the company. While often found locked in the office in front of multiple monitors pouring over accounts receivable, taxes, and excel sheets, she is equally at ease taking bookings, welcoming guests, or caring for and showing off her prized horses.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
BUILD AN ARBORTREK PARK AT YOUR SITE
ArborTrek is actively seeking partners with property to develop our brand of canopy tours and adventure parks. We provide a complete solution for resorts, tour operators, and land owners who are seeking to enter the canopy tour and adventure park market but lack the experience or capital to do so on their own. LEARN MORE
MARKETING EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS
Whether you’re seeking to offer to a special promotion to bring more people in the door, have a good cause to promote, or simply want to exchange links and increase web exposure, we’re always open to opportunities to partner with local businesses and organizations. LEARN MORE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
ArborTrek Canopy Adventures is always looking for enthusiastic, hard-working, skilled individuals. While many of our positions require individuals proficient in technical skills, previous experience working in the out-of-doors is not required. Strong communication skills and a passion for working with people is required.
While ArborTrek operates year-round, work opportunities are primarily seasonal. Hiring for summer guide and customer service positions generally begins in early March. We generally seek to have our summer positions filled by late May or early June.
For more information, please visit our Employment Opportunities or stop by our offices.
