Adventure Parks: The Ultimate Outdoor Classroom

These attractions encourage students to develop teambuilding skills and physical fitnes

By Miles Dobis & Dove Rebmann

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced educators to consider new and creative ways to energize and deepen their lesson plans. Traditionally, an off-si e field trip th t could reinforce classroom lessons was the ideal way to students to learn in a practical environment and discover attractions in their local community.

However, most classrooms are proceeding with a learn-athome approach, meaning most field trips a e relegated to a virtual environment. With students itching to escape their living room and teachers seeking a new way to develop exciting outings, a new kind of attraction has filled the gap: outdoor adventure parks.

Usually located in a forest, quarry or field, these elaborate parks consist of climbing walls, zip lines and obstacle courses that integrate into the natural environment. Visitors are encouraged to swing between massive trees, climb rock walls and perfect their balance on harnessed rope bridges. Instead of traditional classroom subjects such as biology or history, students instead learn crucial lessons in teambuilding and collaboration—skills that are more crucial than ever in our virus-fractured society.

“While engaging in educational opportunities at the park, students learn to build trust with classmates while encouraging communication and bonding, building a classroom culture of collaboration, and mitigating conflic

between students,” says Jeremie Bacon, co-founder of The Forge: Lemont Quarries. Across 300 variations of climbing and ropes obstacles, students learn to trust their peers and encourage each other in an outdoor environment that is safer and accommodating to COVID protocol than an indoor museum. ”The outdoors, especially getting active in the outdoors, does offer multitude of health benefits, but we are also adhering to the following evidence-based strategies to keep our guests healthy while visiting the park” says Bacon.

These outdoor parks aren’t just limited to team-building activities. The combination of natural environments and exercise ensures these attractions can be integrated into a physics, environmental science or physical education curriculum. The following parks are just a sampling of these ingenious and student-friendly attractions:

THE FORGE: LEMONT QUARRIES

Lemont, IL

Recently featured in Forbes, this park in Lemont, Illinois has quickly become the biggest adventure park in North America. With eight obstacle towers, each with up to 10 obstacles, two children’s towers, rock climbing and zip lines over 1,000 feet long, this adventure park has enough for the whole family. They also offer paddl sports, mountain biking and hiking trails, laser tag and augmented reality escape rooms (outside).

TREE RUNNER ADVENTURE PARK

Locations in Michigan and North Carolina

With locations in Michigan and North Carolina, Tree Runner Adventure Park is a unique outdoor adventure experience. This aerial obstacle course involves rope courses that take you through the forest in

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addition to adult and child ropes courses and ziplines to take you through the trees. Whether you’re looking for a great teambuilding opportunity or just some fun for your family, Tree Runner Adventure Park is for you!

THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK

Philipsburg, MT

This all-inclusive ranch experience offers amazing activities and benefit The Ranch at Rock Creek offers gue ts the opportunity for horseback riding, fl fishing, sport sho ting, archery and ropes courses. Not only this, but they have great spa and dining options. All of this with the opportunity to stay in an authentic ranch cabin lodge.

HOCKING HILLS CABINS

Rockbridge, OH

Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway or a teambuilding adventure, Hocking Hills Cabins offers ad enturous activities all year round and for all ages. Guests are able to immerse themselves in the experience with the Hocking Hills petting zoo, salt cave and glass blowing studio. They are also able to spend their day doing some of the most exciting activities, such as ziplining, rock climbing, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking and even ax throwing.

TREEHOUSES

Cave Junction, OR

What’s one thing that could make a zip line obstacle course even better? Treehouses! Gather your friends and family and take a day trip to zip through the forest, ride horses and go hiking. And don’t forget to stay till the evening to see all the treehouses lit up!

THE ADVENTURE PARK AT SANDY SPRING

Sandy Spring, MD

If you find ourself in Maryland needing an adventure, the Sandy Spring Adventure Park is for you! The largest outdoor obstacle course in Maryland, this aerial adventure park has over 14 obstacle

The Forge: Lemont Quarries

courses, 200 climbing and ziplining elements, adult- and children-specifi courses and lit-up night climbing. And be sure to check out their calendar to see their special once-a-month events!

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Gaylord, MI

This outdoor adventure park has fun activities for the whole family all while operating from a family-owned business. Guests can experience go-karting, mini golf, fishing, ayaking, paddle boating and more. They also offer themed eeks for guests to come dressed up and experience seasonal adventures.

ADVENTUREWORKS

Locations in Virginia, Tennessee, and Arkansas

With locations in Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas, Adventureworks aims to provide families and groups the opportunity to zipline through the wetlands, forests and hot springs. Spanning over diffe ent terrains, guests are able to zipline through the park and

The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring

go through various obstacle courses. Some locations even offer seasonal vents!

NORTHEAST MOUNTAINEERING

Glen, NH

While not the typical “adventure park,” Northeast Mountaineering offers g eat opportunities for guests to experience outdoor adventures. Not only do they offer climbing school classes earround, they offer daily xperiences with mountaineering, hiking, ice climbing, rock

climbing and skiing. They even offer cli and waterfall repelling!

TANDEM BASE JUMPING

Twin Falls, ID

Also while not a typical “adventure park,” Tandem Base Jumping will certainly give you the adventure and the experience of a lifetime. With the guidance and help from professional BASE jumpers, guests are able to experience jumping off f the Perrine Bridge in Idaho. ■

Only in Fairfax County can you step back in time at an 18th century president’s home and then jump into futuristic high-tech STEM lab work all in one day. Chocolate-making classes, G-STEM simulated training and eco-art workshops are just a sample of the hands-on activities that students can expect.

VISIT FAIRFAX Linda Horowitz 703-752-9513 lhorowitz@fxva.com www.fxva.com

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA WELCOME TO FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA: AMERICA’S CLASSROOM

DAY 1

Walk in the footsteps of a president at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Don’t miss your opportunity to serve on Washington’s Cabinet in “The Situation Room Experience.” Students assume the roles of our nation’s fir t president, his Cabinet, elected officials foreign ambassadors and Native American leaders and collaborate with classmates handling affairs th t impacted international and domestic crises of the time. Next stop is a visit to George Mason’s Gunston Hall. Founding Father George Mason was the architect of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which served as the basis for the U.S. Bill of Rights. Step out of your classroom and into 18th century Virginia to explore the challenge of life in colonial and revolutionary Virginia with an on-site field trip Next, soak in local Fairfax County art at the historic Workhouse Arts Center. Enjoy artist-led workshops ranging from ceramics, drawing, eco art, theater improv or dance. Wrap up your day at the Workhouse with a thrilling murder mystery dinner that’ll keep you guessing (and laughing) all the way through dessert.

DAY 2

Begin at Fairfax County’s newest museum, The National Museum of the United States Army. Here you’ll discover the connection between the U.S. Army and our society. The Army’s influence on our n tion from technology and science to financial and cultu e is highlighted. At the fully interactive Experiential Learning Center, use a realworld scenario to gain new skills in geography, science, technology, engineering and math (G-STEM) through hightech, simulated Army training. Spend the afternoon soaring through the forests at Go Ape! Zip Line & Treetop Adventure. Take on suspended obstacles, Tarzan swings and epic zip lines that will keep you challenged and living in the moment. Finish up with an unconventional and off-the-be ten-path round of mini golf at Monster Mini Golf in Chantilly. This 18-hole course is an indoor glow-in-the-dark, monster-themed attraction.

DAY 3

Enjoy a full day of scientific inquiry and learn abou cutting-edge technology at Virginia’s largest university by enrollment. George Mason University offers th Global STEM Pathways Program, a hands-on immersive STEM experience for middle, high school and community college students. Learn about emerging STEM careers in areas like forensic science, bioinformatics, climate dynamics, environmental science and geo-information science. Your day will feature a campus tour, faculty meet-and-greet, lab work and a panel session with current George Mason students to investigate real-world scientific p oblems.

DAY 4

Start your day kayaking on the Potomac River at Riverbend Park. This riverfront park has over 400 acres of forest, meadows and ponds. Explore the many islands in the Potomac River from your kayak while taking in spectacular river views and rich river wildlife. Next, spend quality time with four-legged friends at Roer’s Zoofari. This local favorite is home to Waffles th Giraffe, lemurs, ebras, kangaroos, cheetahs and more. Enjoy feeding and petting sheep, goats, warthogs and many more barnyard favorites on a walking tour. End the day on a sweet note with a chocolate-making class at River-Sea Chocolates. This Fairfax County chocolate factory is family-owned and crafts artisan chocolate from premium quality cacao. Tastings, touring, chocolate making or bar decorating classes are available.