BEAR – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation and Go Ape, billed as “the nation’s premier Treetop Adventure company,” have announced the addition of a Treetop Junior course to its already-popular Go Ape course at Lums Pond State Park. Planned to open in late summer, the junior course will provide younger residents and tourists the chance to climb rope ladders, swing from trees, and zoom down ziplines, just like their older family members. This is the company’s fourth Treetop Junior course nationally, making it a unique attraction in Delaware for Lums Pond State Park.
“The Go Ape course has proven to be an incredibly popular amenity for the park,” said Ray Bivens, Director of Delaware State Parks. “This new junior course will help expand the adventure to younger children and help more families experience Delaware’s natural resources in a unique way.”
Go Ape’s Treetop Junior course is a fun-filled experience of tree-to-tree crossings, including the Pannjärve Bridge, Yamazoe Steps, over 18 additional obstacles, and 2 ziplines at heights of 20 feet above the ground. While designed for adventurers ages 6-12, the smaller course also welcomes adults who may want to navigate it for starting zipline experience.
“Opening a course in Lums Pond just for younger children is thrilling because it supports our mission to help everyone life adventurously,” said Go Ape Managing Director Dan D’Agostino. “Parents will get an immense amount of satisfaction from seeing their kids enjoying the park from the trees, but also seeing their sense of accomplishment as they work through the course’s obstacles.”
The safety systems are designed so that participants stay attached the entire time they are in the trees. Participants only become unattached when back on the ground. Children under six must be accompanied on the course by an adult, while children 6-15 must be supervised by an adult either from on the course or from the ground.
All of Go Ape’s courses are designed to minimize any impact on the trees and the environment. Go Ape courses use clever braces that grip trunks and the platforms rest on these. The system allows the brace to expand as the tree grows. All trees are inspected annually by independent arborists to ensure their continued health.
The new Junior Treetop Adventure will cost $28, and reservations are recommended through www.goape.com. For directions, visit: https://goape.com/Locations/Delaware/Bear. The GPS Location is Lums Pond State Park, 1042 Howell School Road, Bear, DE 19701
About Go Ape
Go Ape’s mission is to encourage everyone to live life adventurously while treading lightly in the most beautiful places and spaces in the US. A Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course is an outdoor experience that provides participants two to three hours of outdoor fun and exercise. Courses allow participants to explore the park from an otherwise unobtainable vantage point while navigating through the treetops using zip lines, obstacles and Tarzan swings. A love of the outdoors and our desire to share that passion demands that we take care of our little corner of the forest. From donating our time and resources to local community and environmental groups, to providing a unique view from the treetops, we strive to be socially and environmentally responsible. All of Go Ape’s U.S. courses are located in public parks and giving back to the parks and community is a significant aspect of our values.
Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902, or Jeff Davis, Go Ape, 410-372-0827 (office) 410-916-4835 (cell) or [email protected]
Image Credits: Go Ape