Being a sponsor of two Navy Midshipwomen at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and having an outdoor enthusiast for a nephew, I’m always trying to find activities that are “out-of-the-box” that we can do together.

Terrapin Adventures is one of those rare places that create an environment that challenges one both physically and mentally. Located at Savage Mill in Savage, Maryland, Terrapin Adventures offers a variety of activities for individuals and groups. Surrounded in a wooded area attached to Savage Mill, there are four play stations with varying degrees of difficulty. 

Upon check-in an Adventure guide is assigned to your group and each person is outfitted with helmets, and climbing gear. Clear instruction is given on how to handle oneself around the challenges, and then your adventure begins. Given two hours to play on the challenge course gives you plenty of time to go through the experience with great fun and plenty of safety. There are four play stations at Terrapin Adventures: The Climbing Tower, The High Ropes Challenge Course, a Zip Line, and a Giant Swing.

The first station is the Climbing Tower that goes up 43 feet. There are 12 routes up and down the climbing tower, including a rock climbing wall, ropes, nets and tires to test your upper body strength. I decided to try to climb up the rope net, with my weak biceps, unsteady feet and fear of heights, I began to slowly climb the tower. Meanwhile, I watched the two Navy Midshipwomen climb the tower like monkeys. Feeling a little inadequate and plenty scared, I managed to reach the platform and pleaded with the girls to help me over the railing to safety.

Heading down was much easier as I chose to go through the net tube, while the girls decided to go through the snake gullet  (really don’t know what they call it, but that’s what it reminded me of.) 

The second station is the High Ropes Challenge Course. This three level course goes up to 40 feet and includes multiple balance challenges that are progressively more difficult the higher you go. I must confess, this course scared the dickens out of me as I really don’t like heights. Thankfully, they keep you well tied to the course with strong cables that are checked regularly for safety. Even though I knew I was tied in, and that the cables would catch me if I fell, just the thought of losing complete control of my body was something quite concerning to me. I gripped onto the pilings with a death grip, and it took much cajoling and convincing to get me to move along the course. I managed to get to the second level, but had absolutely NO interest in getting to the third level. I very quickly bailed, swearing that I would tackle it another day.

The other day came sooner than I had planned. My nephew came into town the next month, and what a better opportunity to show my nephew just how cool I really am and took him to Terrapin Adventures. This time I was determined to conquer the High Ropes Challenge Course. Of course, I was a little naive as little did I know that part of the course involved me jumping off a small platform and grabbing either a single hanging rope, or the rope net which was far beyond my reach. So there I was…with the desire, but not the gumption. For about ten minutes, I kept saying to myself – get ready, get set – JUMP ! My upper body would reach out, but my legs and feet were glued to the platform. They just wouldn’t move !

I finally made the leap of faith and sailed through the air, catching and clinging onto the single hanging rope with a life-saving grip. Phew ! Halfway there. Now I have to get over to the rope net to get the other platform. I had a really hard time letting go of that rope as I felt it was my lifeline. So the Adventure Guide took pity on me, and swung the rope net towards me so that I could grab it before releasing the single rope. Once I got on the main platform, I felt such exhilaration that I was able to conquer my fear of heights.

No..YOU Go First

I haven’t made it back to Terrapin Adventures since that time, but I think of it often and am ready to conquer the High Ropes Challenge Course again.