Aerial Forest Park Climbing Record Set By Mother and Daughters at Sandy Spring, MD

November 25, 2015 - A record was set at The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School in Sandy Spring Maryland on November 4, 2015, as three women from the Paull family completed their 100th climbing day of the season. This represented the most climbing days in a single season by any of the Park's visitors to date. The Adventure Park is an "aerial forest park—a tree-to-tree climbing adventure experience that includes zip lines and aerial challenge bridges.

Twelve-year old twins Bracha and Chaya Paull, accompanied by their mother, Esther Paull, made custom t-shirts and received complimentary climbing harnesses from the Park to commemorate the event. The Paull women, who are Orthodox Jewish, climb every day that the Park is open, except for Saturdays, their Sabbath.

Unlike most climbers at the Park, who purchase a ticket for a single, three-hour window, the Paull women are season passholders. This allows them to climb any time the Park is open, without having to purchase a ticket. Not only have the passes paid off in savings dividends, they are a testament to the Paul children's commitment to the sport, as the girls pay for their season passes on their own, with their allowance money.

"They love climbing in the trees," says Park manager Emilie McIntosh of the Paull women. "This is a great use of a season pass."

Season passes, which retailed for $625 for the 2015 season, are a good option for frequent climbers looking for unlimited climbing benefits to maximize their experience. (For those who are looking for a more affordable day out, the regular three-hour ticket costs $53 for children and adults ages 12 and over, while younger children enjoy the Park at a reduced rate).

The Paull women clearly made the most of their passes this season. Not only have they climbed over 100 days at Sandy Spring to date, they also traveled to Virginia Beach, VA, to try their hand at The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium. It and the other seven locations of The Adventure Parks operated by Outdoor Ventures (http://www.FunInTheTrees.com) have reciprocal season passholder benefits – an important point to keep in mind, according to McIntosh. This means that season passes are honored at all eight of The Adventure Parks operated by Outdoor Ventures.

While the quantity of sheer climbing days by the Paulls is remarkable, it is more common than not for families to climb together at The Adventure Parks. Parents with children and teens frequent the Parks by the droves, engaging in a novel experience where they can push themselves as far as they choose along the aerial trails. All climbers participate in an interactive safety briefing before climbing and wear harnesses continuously attached to a cable throughout their time in the trees.

Difficulty levels in the color-coded aerial trails vary, from beginner to expert, but the Paull women are not afraid of a challenge. All three cite the "Black Storm" trail, the second most challenging of the Park's thirteen courses, as their favorite. (The most challenging trail is called "The Gauntlet," which they climb regularly as well). Braha also took home second place in the recent Iron Monkey Challenge, a competitive adventure race through all 13 of The Adventure Park's aerial trails.

One question that often comes up is how the religious dress code affects the climbing, as Orthodox Jewish women typically wear long skirts in public. Apparently this is not a problem for the Paull women, who climb in leggings, wearing their skirts over their harnesses to maintain the religious tradition.

As for the men in their family? Their father often comes to the Park to watch them climb. (Non-climbing guests are admitted free of charge.) Mr. Paull prefers keeping both feet firmly planted on the ground. Though when extended family come to town, the Paull women have been known to bring more than one of them to the Park to try climbing for the first time.

For those looking to try climbing at an aerial adventure Park this season, The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring will be open through November 29th but please note special hours during the Thanksgiving holiday period: November 25th: 1PM-9PM; November 27th: 8AM- 8PM; November 27th- 29th: All Advance Reservation Days. See website or call the Park office. More information can be found at http://SandySpringAdventurePark.org or by calling 240-389-4386.


- About The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School –
Located on five acres of the Sandy Spring Friends School property at 16701 Norwood Road in Sandy Spring, Maryland, The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School is the largest aerial forest ropes park in the United States. Offering some 13 different color-coded aerial trails, each composed of a combination of zip lines and climbing bridges between tree platforms. These aerial trails range from introductory through advanced challenge levels, with suitable challenges for climbers age five through adult. Previous climbing or zip lining experience is not necessary. All climbers participate in an interactive safety briefing and wear harnesses that are continuously connected to a safety cable throughout their climb. The Park site also features beautiful pathways on the grounds that parallel the action in the trees and are free of charge to those not climbing. Picnic tables available on-site.

The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School is designed, built and operated by Outdoor Ventures.