Crew builds ropes course; reporter gives it a go

HARVEY — Being 15 to 30 feet in the air may not seem like it’s very high up, that is until you experience it first hand. Teaching Family Homes now has a ropes course that will be available for use starting next year.

“It’s a little bit like being a landscape architect,” said Tom Andrews, the ropes course designer. “You include what the people are like and what’s the land like and what are features of each that you want to build in.”

The ropes course is a self–ballay course, meaning all you need is a helmet, harness, and a few ropes to get yourself up and around. It’s not as easy as it looks.

The course has a few different obstacles that will be challenging for everyone who gives it a go.

“We know often that life can beat us down,” said Andrews. “A group of people and a positive attitude, I know it’s sounds cliché, but it really is exciting.”

Rich Rossway of Teaching Family Homes says that the course has been a dream for a long time.

“Years ago our former CEO, Chris Myers, it was her dream to it. It’s been about three years in the making and of course the biggest challenge was raising funds,” said Rossway. “We were able to meet our goal. We thought about installing it next spring but we said let’s get this thing done right now.”

The staff at Teaching Family Homes will be certified in the spring so that they can properly and safely maintain the course.

“The nice thing is not only will this be available for the youth that we serve, but it will be available for the community to do retreats, team building, a little something different than sitting behind a desk or a conference room,” said Rossway. “We really feel this will be a tremendous asset for all of Marquette County and the Upper Peninsula.”