Last week, I had the chance to explore Go Ape in Bear, Delaware and I am missing it already. When I first decided that I wanted to take a day trip to Go Ape, I thought it was just a zip lining course, but it was so much more. Go Ape is a 2-3 hour, full treetop adventure course that allows its guests to swing through the forest canopy, climb across various obstacles and spend time enjoying the fresh air. I do not necessarily enjoy being more than 10 feet above the ground, but Go Ape was so much fun that I forgot that heights make me nervous.
Photo Courtesy of @_gglim_ on Instagram
When I first arrived at Go Ape, I filled out a few waiver forms, which took me maybe five minutes and then I headed over to the course with my instructor. There was a group of about 16 of us, but as soon as we were done learning the basics of how to stay safe on the course, we were free to move at our own paces from course to course. Our instructor was an awesome guy who adjusted our harnesses to make sure they fit properly. Also, he taught us how to properly work the pulleys and carabiners that we would be using throughout the course. We got to practice putting the carabiners on the lines and working the pulley system on a mini-course that didn’t require us to be above the ground. This was great, because it really helped me feel more comfortable when it came time to climb courses that were actually above the ground.
Photo Courtesy of @_gglim_ on Instagram
There was a total of 5 different courses that all had different elements to them. One had a part where you get to jump and swing into a giant net, which was my favorite part (other than zip lining). Another had a part where you get to walk across logs that are swinging from the ground in order to get to the next platform. Another thing I loved about the course was that it had different routes that you could take depending on if you wanted an easy route, medium route or hard route. So if you are completely terrified of heights, you can take the easier route (which is still just as much fun as the other two routes). The workers were very friendly and checked up on us to see if we needed our harnesses readjusted and to make sure we were having fun. In addition, Go Ape has this safety system where you can blow your emergency whistle, which is located on your harness in case you ever need help or have an emergency.
Photo Courtesy of @_gglim_ on Instagram
After I finished the five courses, I got the chance to sit down with Sal who is the Site Manager for Go Ape, Bear Delaware to talk about Go Ape. I asked Sal what Go Ape was all about and he said, “Go Ape’s mission is to live life adventurously. There is so much technology in the world today and Go Ape helps people put their electronics down and go outside.” I agree with Sal and now that summer is coming upon us, we can no longer use the excuse of “it”s not nice outside” to avoid putting our cell phones, laptops etc. down for a few hours. I think that Go Ape would be a fun place to work, but I wanted to hear from him why he liked working for Go Ape. Sal told me the reason he loved his job was, “I like to help people smile everyday. I like to come out and help people have a good time while conquering their fears.” Besides Sal and the other workers enjoying their jobs, they were very good at what they did, too. My instructor thoroughly explained what to do in order to have fun and stay safe on the courses. Also, I witnessed one of the workers helping a scared child across one of the obstacles and they stayed calm, but were confident the whole time. I have been working with people in different jobs for about 5 years now and I know what good customer service should look like and they excelled at it. I asked Sal how they handle guests who are very nervous and he said, “We offer for them to go through training on the ground. People will get through the training course and trust the equipment. They gain confidence through the training course and even if they are scared, they can come down and get a full refund.”
Photo Courtesy of @_gglim_ on Instagram
Overall, I loved the whole Go Ape experience and even though I am still scared of heights, I plan to go back sometime soon. From their amazing customer service to the adrenaline rush I felt zip lining across the huge pond to the great workout I got, it is definitely on my list of favorite places to go for a good adventure. Thanks to Go Ape, we are giving away two FREE tickets to any Go Ape ($100+ value).
Rules of contest: Contest runs starting 8 PM on 5/31/2016 to 8 PM on 6/2/2016. 1) You must follow @spoon_wcu on Instagram 2) @spoon_wcu will post one photo per day during the dates listed above and you must like each picture. Winner will be chosen randomly and awarded an e-gift card for any of the fifteen Go Ape. Good Luck!
- Bear, DE
- Chicago, IL
- Cleveland, OH
- Hartford, CT
- Indianapolis, IN
- Kansas City, MO
- Louisville, KY
- Memphis, TN
- North Myrtle, SC
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Plano, TX
- Raleigh, NC
- Rockville, MD
- St. Louis, MO
- Williamsburg, VA
I highly recommend checking Go Ape out and making it number one on your summer bucket list. Put your phones down and get outside! Happy adventuring!
Check out the video I put together about my experience at Go Ape