ropes Course FAQ
Is your course open to the public? Our course is open to the public, and must be booked in advance for a group. We charge for a minimum of 12 people.
What if we have fewer than 12 people? Groups smaller than 12 can use the ropes course, but we still charge the minimum of 12 people.
How do I book a group, and what are the rates? Contact our office at (315) 346-1222 and talk to Robin.
How many participants does the ropes course have each year? Oswegatchie serves approximately 3,000 participants in ropes activities each year, with 1,000 of these coming from our summer camp program.
Typical Schedule for a Day on Ropes Course? A ropes course day is 3 hours of low ropes and 3 hours of high ropes. Depending on when your group arrives and when you need to depart, we can adjust accordingly. Our staff will keep your group moving along. We will maximize your time on-site depending on your needs.
What is the ideal group size? 60 people are the largest number for our ropes course.
What if I have more than 60 people? Larger groups will split up over multiple days, or if part of your group prefers alternative activities, such as hiking, boating, outdoor survival, or environmental education, we can diversify and accommodate more people on-site for the day.
Lunch? Groups can choose between bringing their own bagged lunch or purchasing a meal from Oswegatchie. If your group is here for a short trip, the bagged lunch is better. You save a ton of time. If you are doing an overnight stay, Oswegatchie can provide meals.
Rain Day? The ropes course is available rain or shine. We do have to shut down in high winds and lightning. If lightning occurs, we are required to keep all guests under cover for 30 minutes after the last detected lightning. At high ropes, we wait in our ropes course pavilion. If it's at low ropes, we can go back into the main camp and use our buildings there.
Clothing? We require pants or longer shorts. Cotton is better than nylon or polyester. Real shoes or sneakers are required. "Crocs" and "Hey Dudes" are not proper footwear. It's typically colder here than in lower elevations, so having layers with them or proper seasonal clothes is important.
What if someone in the group does not want to participate in an activity? We operate in a "challenge by choice" situation. If someone in your group opts out of a component, that is fine. Our staff will coach them through it, as every experience and person is unique.
Who trains the staff? We train staff in-house and use an outside agency for higher-level training and certifications.
Is your course inspected? Our course is inspected annually by both the NYS DOL and an accredited ropes course inspection service.
Any age or weight requirements? Each participant will be assessed individually to ensure that harnesses fit properly and will perform activities. We offer 3 harness sizes to accommodate most able-bodied individuals.
Bug Spray and Sun Screen? Bug spray in the Spring is recommended. Sunscreen is less important because we are in the forest most of the time. Oswegatchie can not provide these to guests, but guests can bring their own.
Do you have birthday parties? Our ropes course is intentionally for educational purposes. Our staff debriefs each experience as a coach would to get the most out of the experience. If a group comes mentally prepared for a learning experience, we can work with that.
What if we have fewer than 12 people? Groups smaller than 12 can use the ropes course, but we still charge the minimum of 12 people.
How do I book a group, and what are the rates? Contact our office at (315) 346-1222 and talk to Robin.
How many participants does the ropes course have each year? Oswegatchie serves approximately 3,000 participants in ropes activities each year, with 1,000 of these coming from our summer camp program.
Typical Schedule for a Day on Ropes Course? A ropes course day is 3 hours of low ropes and 3 hours of high ropes. Depending on when your group arrives and when you need to depart, we can adjust accordingly. Our staff will keep your group moving along. We will maximize your time on-site depending on your needs.
What is the ideal group size? 60 people are the largest number for our ropes course.
What if I have more than 60 people? Larger groups will split up over multiple days, or if part of your group prefers alternative activities, such as hiking, boating, outdoor survival, or environmental education, we can diversify and accommodate more people on-site for the day.
Lunch? Groups can choose between bringing their own bagged lunch or purchasing a meal from Oswegatchie. If your group is here for a short trip, the bagged lunch is better. You save a ton of time. If you are doing an overnight stay, Oswegatchie can provide meals.
Rain Day? The ropes course is available rain or shine. We do have to shut down in high winds and lightning. If lightning occurs, we are required to keep all guests under cover for 30 minutes after the last detected lightning. At high ropes, we wait in our ropes course pavilion. If it's at low ropes, we can go back into the main camp and use our buildings there.
Clothing? We require pants or longer shorts. Cotton is better than nylon or polyester. Real shoes or sneakers are required. "Crocs" and "Hey Dudes" are not proper footwear. It's typically colder here than in lower elevations, so having layers with them or proper seasonal clothes is important.
What if someone in the group does not want to participate in an activity? We operate in a "challenge by choice" situation. If someone in your group opts out of a component, that is fine. Our staff will coach them through it, as every experience and person is unique.
Who trains the staff? We train staff in-house and use an outside agency for higher-level training and certifications.
Is your course inspected? Our course is inspected annually by both the NYS DOL and an accredited ropes course inspection service.
Any age or weight requirements? Each participant will be assessed individually to ensure that harnesses fit properly and will perform activities. We offer 3 harness sizes to accommodate most able-bodied individuals.
Bug Spray and Sun Screen? Bug spray in the Spring is recommended. Sunscreen is less important because we are in the forest most of the time. Oswegatchie can not provide these to guests, but guests can bring their own.
Do you have birthday parties? Our ropes course is intentionally for educational purposes. Our staff debriefs each experience as a coach would to get the most out of the experience. If a group comes mentally prepared for a learning experience, we can work with that.
