Adventure Challenge Ropes Course Complete

Fundraising for the adventure challenge ropes course is now complete! The School recently received a very nice gift of $3,000 to push us over our $85,000 goal. Thank you to all of the members of the Timber Ridge family who helped us reach a successful completion to this fundraising goal.

The ropes course is located on the north side of our 152 acre campus and has three high structures and six low structures. One of the high ropes includes a static tower that has as many as eight elements participants can explore. Another high element is the cargo net tower. The high ropes feature the students are extremely excited about is the zip line that crosses over a portion of our picturesque lake. Low ropes elements include a spider web crawl, a tire port hole, a Mohawk walk, nitro swing and a fidget ladder.

Mr. Michael Link, student life worker in the Sequoia Unit has been named the manager of the ropes course. Mr. Link has an impressive background in outdoor recreation as well as ropes course facilitation and is eager to begin in his new role. He stated, “I’m really looking forward to creating a program to integrate the ropes course, and the experiential opportunities it offers, into our life skills curriculum.

Through these activities students can develop life skills and earn trust in their peers and the staff.” He continued, “Initially the ropes course will be utilized by our students. I am also looking forward to developing a program where we will make it available to other groups in our community. This will come in time”.

The ropes course was built by Mr. Mark Hardie and his team from the Upward Enterprises Adventure Programs. In early May, Mark and his team trained seven of our staff members, certifying them to lead participants through the ropes course. Mr. Link will continue to work and train his facilitators as they develop their program to meet our students’ needs.

Again, thank you to all of the individuals and businesses who saw our need for an adventure challenge ropes course. The ropes course will provide another instrument for our staff to teach our students trust and interpersonal skills. Your partnership is appreciated.