Climbing Tower

New Climbing Tower Built!

Over the last two years slightly more than $10,000 was raised at Annual Fundraising Dinner events towards building a Climbing Tower at CBD. These funds along with a generous donation received this fall from the William Kenepp estate, enabled the Camp Blue Diamond Board to procede with the construction of a Tower.

On November 6th, construction began with a pole raising event thanks to Valley Rural Electrict Co-op. In mid November Universal Ropes of Albrightsville, PA began construction of the wall, zipline and giant swing, completing the task on Dec. 3rd.

The climbing tower will has five different climbing surfaces and a zip line. One side will be slanted for younger climbers, one vertical, one side will have two different reverse slanted sides (for more advanced climbers), and one side will be a rope lattice (rope lattice not installed yet). Once a climber reaches the top, he/she can ride the zip line down. Also part of the construction is a giant swing, which is located nearby in the woods. The giant swing is series of cables strung between two trees. One person is harnessed into the swing, while the group pulls him/her toward the ground. The person is then released, and then swings back and forth between the trees.

The climbing tower will be a valuable asset to Camp Blue Diamond’s facilities. The tower will provide opportunities for campers and retreat participants to have a thrilling and difficult, self-confidence building, challenge. But even more importantly, tower activities require great cooperative group effort, which leads to team and relationship building. Such group and individual challenges also create personal faith building, and opportunities for group discussion on faith, and our relationship with God.