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The Ridge Teams & High Ropes Course

The mission of the Ridge Teams course is to develop, enhance, and promote group unity through experiential education. The Ridge is committed to emphasizing leadership development, communication and support.

General Information

The Ridge is a top-notch facility featuring ten teambuilding elements and eventually a climbing tower with a 300 foot zip line, and a 17-element, two story tall high ropes course. The course is operated year round by the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Department and is located in the heavily wooded Northcroft Park at 1365 S. Ridge Road, Lake Forest, Illinois. The Ridge staff will customize any program to meet the needs of your group.

Who We Are…

• Professionally trained facilitators
• Wilderness Education Association Members
• Wilderness First Responder Certified
• American Red Cross - First Aid / CPR / AED Certified
• Association of Challenge Course Technology Trained
• Association of Experiential Education Members

What We Do…

• Facilitate teambuilding & highropes experiences
• Climbing & belaying classes
• Adventure programs
• Train highropes and teams course facilitators

New!

The Flying Squirrel We have added the first of hopefully many high rope elements to The Ridge Teams Course. During this element a participant (the flying squirrel) is tied into a full body harness. The other end of the rope is attached to a group of participants. The group hoists the "flying squirrel" 38 feet into the air. Next the group slowly lowers the flying squirrel down to the ground. This element shows that it takes a group to achieve certain tasks. It is a fun and exciting activity to add to The Ridge Teams Course.

Meet our Staff

Edward Gudas, Ridge Coordinator, B.S. in Outdoor Recreation Programming from Southern Illinois University, M.S. in Outdoor Recreation Administration from Aurora University, leads summer adventure day camp, indoor/outdoor rock climbing, canoeing and kayaking, caving, hiking and backpacking, teams and highropes course facilitator, and accomplished outdoorsman. He can be reached at 847-615-4386, or e-mail at: gudase@cityoflakeforest.com.

Argy Pantagas, Ridge Facilitator, facilitates youth, adult, and special needs groups, currently teaching 4th grade science at North Chicago Middle School.

A teams course is a series of mental challenges and physical obstacles that help to build:

Trust
Support
Integrity
Self Awareness
Communication
Group Acceptance
Group Cooperation
Personal Confidence
Problem Solving Skills
Leadership Development

Pricing Information

We will cater our program to your group whether it is a:

• youth group looking to build camaraderie for a service project
• a corporation that needs help opening up communication lines
• a scout troop that needs to find senior scout qualities within their troop
• a running club that has some new members
• an activity that will be a fun way to get to know one another
• a coach looking for leadership development in his/her team

In order for the experience to be most effective, each group must be split up into no more the 15 participants each.

Prices per 15 person group on the Ridge teams course are as follows:

The price includes discussion of group goals with leader prior to the teambuilding event, use of equipment, facility rental, four hours of professional facilitation, a token on the day of the program and a two week follow up consultation to check on the progress of the group. 

Team Building Packets

Team Building Packets Ridge Team Building Packet (33k - 5 pages)
Corporate Team Building Packet (31k - 5 pages)

Some of our satisfied clients. . .