Madison College Recreation

Jeff Messer was hired in August of 2017 to serve as the new Challenge Course Coordinator at Madison College, coordinating the operations of the Challenge Course Program.
 
A native of Beloit, WI, Messer graduated from Beloit Memorial High School before moving on to UW-Stevens Point where he graduated with a BS in Resource Management. Since his graduation from Stevens Point, he has been involved in the outdoor education field since 1988. He first got involved in the field as a UW-Stevens Point camp counselor and trip leader for the UWSP Environmental Station. He then spent the next 17 years working with the Department of Juvenile Corrections’ SPRITE program, where he led youth on climbing, hiking, canoeing, and snowshoeing trips throughout the state of Wisconsin. No longer part of the Department of Juvenile Corrections, SPRITE stood for Support, Perseverance, Respect, Initiative, Teamwork, and Education. During his days off with the SPRITE program, he served as a paid on call firefighter, EMT, and MPO for the Town of Beloit Fire Department.
 
In 2005 Messer took a job close to home as Blackhawk Technical College started the first challenge course in the Wisconsin Technical College System. After six years at Blackhawk and working in Janesville, he took a job with Loyola University in Chicago as a ropes course facilitator. During that time he also worked as a challenge course staff trainer and ropes course inspector for Experiential Systems.
 
Messer also attended the Nation Fire Academy in 2000 and received certification in Public Communication, as well as presenting at the National Conference for Challenge Course Professionals in Boston, MA. Messer currently resides with his family in Edgerton, WI where he owns his own consulting business, Incorporating the Invisible. His company has worked with City of Edgerton, the City of Milton, the Town of Beloit, and the Town of Turtle fire departments to improve their communication and team work. He and his family enjoy archery, fishing, growing apples, raspberries and blueberries, and wild flowers when they are not walking their dogs.