NREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation and Go Ape have announced the addition of a Treetop Junior course at the popular Go Ape course at Lums Pond State Park.
Slated 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 zip lines. This is the company’s fourth Treetop Junior course in the nation.
“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 features tree-to-tree crossings, including the Pannjärve Bridge, Yamazoe Steps, more than 18 additional obstacles, and 2 zip lines at heights of 20 feet above the ground. While designed for those ages 6-12, the smaller course also welcomes adults who may want to navigate it for starting zip line 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 Ape courses are designed to minimize any impact on the trees and the environment. Go Ape courses use braces that grip trunks and allow platforms to not damage trees.
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
