In 1965 George and Edna Wilson donated “Botany Glen, The James S. Wilson Memorial Sanctuary”, a 40 acre nature preserve on the south shore of the Mississinewa River for the purpose of education to Marion College.  For several years professors in the Biology department used the property for conservation and botany studies. 

In 1995, the Vice President in Student Development, interested in developing a ropes course program focusing on developing students in leadership began to think about the possibility of building the ropes course at the 40 acre site called Botany Glen.  In 1996 Construction began and five high ropes elements and four low ropes initiatives were constructed.  Originally, members of the residence life staff participated in leadership development programs as a part of their staff training in August.  Through word of mouth the program began to attract outside youth groups and non-profit organizations.  In 2001 and 2002, a significant expansion of the high ropes course was added including a fifteen foot high ropes circuit and completion of the existing thirty foot circuit. 

While the ropes course facilities were growing, so was the variety of groups coming for leadership development.  Still maintaining focus on the Indiana Wesleyan University Residence Life staff, IWU sports teams, short-term missions teams, and other leadership staff across campus began to utilize the facility. 

As use of Botany Glen was growing, Indiana Wesleyan acquired a 70 acre property a few miles of east of Marion, donated by Frank and Rose Ketcham.  The Ketcham’s worked closely with IWU prior to donating the property, in 1998, to provide a location where students could get away from campus and enjoy God’s creation. 

At the same time IWU’s enrollment was growing rapidly and each year the incoming freshmen class enrollment exceeded the preceding year’s.  Student Development leaders working to creatively improve New Student Orientation and accommodate larger numbers decided to include a leadership development segment using low ropes initiatives during the 2001 orientation program.  As a result, thirty low ropes initiatives were built at Ketcham Woods. 

In 2003, an indoor high ropes course was added in the Recreation and Wellness Center to facilitate several community outreach programs held on campus and to expand the existing program offerings.  Also in 2003, the Center for Experiential Learning was created encompassing the growth of programming at both facilities as well as assuming leadership of other student development initiatives growing on campus; including the indoor climbing wall, indoor high ropes course, and Soul Search Adventure.   

Growth and development of facilities continue at both properties.  In 2005, led by students, a paintball course was built at Ketcham Woods to facilitate new and creative programming for IWU students and outside groups.  In 2007, new ropes course initiatives were built at both facilities and major cosmetic and structural improvements were made to all existing initiatives. 

CAL continues to grow and add program offerings for non-profit organizations, large corporations, and educational institutions.