Finn Matheney spent a recent free afternoon getting a bird’s eye view — literally — of Claridon Woodlands.
Finn Matheney spent a recent free afternoon getting a bird’s eye view — literally — of Claridon Woodlands.
The summer Leadership Geauga Youth Institute graduate tried out Geauga Park District’s high ropes course at 11383 Claridon Troy Road in Claridon Township, which he said was both fun and challenging.
“The ropes course … will test your confidence in yourself,” Matheney said, a Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin senior. “It provides enough of a challenge for you to be engaged, but enough leeway for you to enjoy your time there.”
The course is 32 feet up with eight challenge elements and a 100-foot-long zipline finish built to challenge the strength, stamina and mental focus of individuals while they experience a new pursuit in the great outdoors.
Challenge crossings include various elements, such as the Wobbly Logs, Tarzan Stamps and more.
The adventure, which opened in 2018, is free to Geauga County residents. The cost is $20 for those outside the county.
The park district highly recommends online registration, though walk-ins are allowed if space allows. Participants must be at least 10 years old, at least 4’6” and at least 50 pounds (and not exceeding 250 pounds).
Groups of up to 10 people per 1.5 hour time slots are welcome, according to the park district.
“The ropes course is just a fun and unique way to play outside in the park,” GPD outdoor education specialist and naturalist Trevor Wearstler said. “My favorite part is meeting people who aren’t sure they can do the course, but want to try. It’s awesome to see people conquer a challenge they’ve never thought they could.
“The high rope course is more than just a playground in the sky,” he added. “It is intended to provide an opportunity for climbers to problem solve, make decisions, set goals and enhance self-esteem.”
Emily Woolf, who attends the University of Vermont for a career in genetic counseling, said she really enjoys her seasonal job helping at the high adventure course.
“I was interested in this job because I have loved doing ropes course adventures and zip lining all my life and have always enjoyed helping others to have a fun time, so this job seemed perfect for me,” Woolf said.
She said people who are considering doing the course should know the main priority, other than making sure everyone has a fun time, is safety.
Matheney met Woolf and seasonal ropes leader Robert Conke during his recent visit to go over rules and safety procedures before his scale up the tower.
It is a static course, where participants are clipped into a safety line at all times.
“We are very thorough in our inspections and make sure that the gear, equipment and the course are free of hazards of any kind,” Woolf said.
She added her absolute favorite part of her job is seeing the tremendous amount of growth people have and watching them challenge themselves while conquering the course.
“We like to use the phrase ‘choose your own challenge’ because there are so many different routes you can take and any way you do it, you are pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, which is very commendable,” Woolf said.
Matheney admitted he was a little nervous at first because the treetop challenge obstacles looked difficult to maneuver until he started moving across them.
However, each were much less challenging for him than he first imagined.
“While the course is definitely a challenge and a large hurtle for some, overcoming that fear that accompanies being that high up is an experience I think many would benefit from,” Conke said. “Not to mention the memories made with the friends you bring along and the ones you may meet.”
Matheney said the most enjoyable part of the course for him was ziplining down.
“We have been thinking about adding ground elements for teambuilding,” Wearstler said. “These would be guided activities for groups of people who might work together, but more planning and research would be needed before implementation could occur.”
Wearstler said the ropes course is meant to be accessible to as many people as possible.
“Any restrictions we have are based on industry and equipment standards,” he said. “There’s no need to be super fit or have excellent balance to do the course. Most of the challenge is mental. It’s free for Geauga residents and I’d love to see more people come out and give it a try. You might be surprised at what you can do. Our excellent ropes instructors can help anyone on the course. It’s not just for kids — adults can play, too.”
Visit the Geauga Park District website for complete rules and reservations.
