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Heights, Woods, and Bravery

The Adventure Park at Storrs

Cables connect an ariel obstacle course at The Adventure Park at Storrs

I attended the opening ceremony of The Adventure Park at Storrs last week, and as people traversed cable pathways in the trees overhead, I peered up through the rain to watch them and contemplate my own bravery.  I’m not scared of heights, but I appreciate them.

Only one safety clip at a time can release. Ingenious.

Only one safety clip at a time can release. Ingenious.

Beyond just the concept of aerial pathways and ziplines through the forest, which is already pretty spectacular, three things about the new Adventure Park impressed and delighted me most.  First, the technology of the safety clips that attach each climber’s harness to the cables makes it impossible for both clips to release at the same time.  A climber is always attached to a safety line, and can never accidentally go into a free fall.  That was incredibly cool to me.

staff

Orange. Nice.

Next, twenty-five people who love working with people, the outdoors, and physical challenges have new jobs.  The Adventure Park is staffed by excited, happy, fit young people in bright orange sweatshirts, and their enthusiasm is contagious.  I love to see businesses that give responsibility and expert experiences to young adults, especially in the so-called quiet corner of our state where we have had few such new openings.

LynnandRusty

Co-owner Lynn Stoddard and her noble dog, Rusty

Finally, I’m completely inspired by my friends, Lynn Stoddard and Chris Kueffner, who with their partners have opened the park.  When Lynn first told me of their concept a year ago, it seemed to face insurmountable obstacles and unknowns.  Yet she had this vision of doing something ecologically responsible with the land she and her husband owned, and finding a way to get people into the trees, and bringing a sense of fun to our community.  I find her inspiring.  She put a dream and hands-on bravery into action.

Did I make it up into the trees?  This time, I did not, but I saw the world from a new perspective even from the ground.  And I’m going back.

One Response to Heights, Woods, and Bravery

  • Muuten hyvä mutta yksi kohta oli satuilua:”Kun hän kertoo tuttavilleen olevansa vanhoillislestadiolainen”.Hän ei kerro. Muiden hengellisyyksien jäsenet kertovat mielellään omasta uskostaan tuttavilleen. Vanhoillislestadiolainen ei kerro.

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