Where You Can Learn The Ropes

Tucked inside the woods on 64 acres between Jeffersontown and Taylorsville, KY, Camp Cedar Ridge has been "teaching the ropes" and other skills to adults and youth alike for nearly 40 years. From 45 feet up in massive cedar trees, the world has a whole different look. One feels a sense of being at one with nature, while being very vulnerable to the forces of gravity.

Owned by the Presbytery of Louisville, this facility is a year-round retreat center, as well as a summer camp. Arondack cabins, retreat centers, hiking and horse trails, lake, and a pool are included in the camp layout. Activities available at the camp are fishing, hayrides, canoes, creek hikes, high ropes, teams, and a zip line. Presbyterian camps traditionally combine spiritual and personal growth within "close, relational setting." The goal is to teach people to live in community and as a group.

Even at first glance, the ropes course, with most of the activities taking place some 40 feet in the air, seems daunting and difficult. With a maximum of 20 in a given session, the whole group will take most of an entire afternoon to complete the10-station course. After ascending into the tree tops, one is presented with various bridges, swings, and other methods of traveling through the air. Safety is a primary focus on these courses, Robbie Krausen explained, and the participants are belayed at all times. Even before starting, a 90-minute "ground school" is conducted to prepare participants in the following events:

Giants Ladder - Participants must climb the 33 foot ladder of eight steps on belay. This is probably the most physical event on the course.

Ascending Stairway - Participants must ascend the moving steps with the aid of handrails. The steps hang from the handrails allowing them to move freely.

Boardwalk - Participants must again walk across the event, but instead, the boardwalk consists of boards mounted on two cables with no handrails. The whole event moves quite effortlessly.

Tension Traverse - Participants must walk backwards on one cable, using a white, nylon rope to lean their weight into. This is the highest point on the course at 42 feet high.

Postman's Walk: This consists of three cables, one to walk on, one to lean out on, and the last for safety line.

Leap for Life, or Leap of Faith: Participants must jump from one platform to another at 38 feet high. The platforms are a mear 3.5 feet apart, but are much wider in perception at that height.

Hourglass - Participants must walk as in the postman's walk, but switch on the criss-crossing ropes in the middle.

Burma Bridge: This is an easy event used for relaxation after two previous events. Walk on the bottom cable using the middle two as the handrails.

Bosmon's Chairs - Using the ropes, participants step from swing to swing.

Balance Beam - A "traditional" balance beam, but 30 feet in the air.

Executive director, Lane Mahaffey, has been in the camping field 25 years. She arrived at Cedar Ridge in January of 1999. "The Presbytery of Louisville made a conscious decision to invest in renovations and new building in order to meet the changing needs for the 21st century. As part of that plan, the high ropes course was a high priority. It was one of the original courses, and although it had been well built, it was time for major renovations to ensure continued safety. In February, Richard Barnes of Experiential Systems came out to oversee the renovations of the course. The work was completed in April, and now all systems are up."

One of the deciding factors for Lane in selecting Cedar Ridge was the rope course. I have seen courses all over the country, and courses built with poles can not compare to the aesthetics of courses built in trees. "The natural environment is highly preferable to the manufactured. Isn't nature one of the rewards for the adventurous spirit?"

Cedar Ridge also has a teams course. Where High Ropes focus on individual challenges, the Teams Course centers around communication, trust, and team building. It is a great way to start a year for a group that is just organizing, or if there are problems in a work group, this is a way to gain insight and work those issues out. "One year I had twelve lifeguards that needed to work together closely for the safety of the children they were working with," Lane shared. "Individually, they were great, the department was dysfunctional. The manager could not isolate what the issues were. After a day at the course, the communication dramatically increased. They began to see each other's perspective and to trust and rely on each other. When they went back to work, they were a cohesive team."

For sheer thrills, the ultimate challenge is the zip line at Cedar Ridge. Spanning 250 feet of forest, this high adventure thrill is enough to get anyone's adrenaline going. To get on the zip line, one ascends a giant's ladder made of rope. Then it's into high speed flight!

Cedar Ridge serves churches, non-profits, and corporate groups. If any of these adventures interest you, call Cedar Ridge for a reservation. .