Tucked in behind an aging barn off the Barters Island Road in Boothbay is the Baldwin Center high adventure ropes course, an elaborate maze of ropes, cables and wood. Ten years ago when the facility was built, it was a state of the art ropes course. Today, it still serves the Boothbay peninsula well, inspiring confidence in youth, one adventure at a time.
The Baldwin Center is part of Boothbay YMCA’s extended campus, located near their day camp, Camp Knickerbocker. It is located on the right hand side of Barters Island Road, just after Camp Knickerbocker and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
The facility is named in memory of Jon Baldwin, whose two sons were campers and councilors at Camp Knickerbocker. The Baldwin family were long time supporters of the YMCA. In 2001, the Jackson Homestead property was purchased and the Baldwin Center built a year later, in 2002. The property has a long history of commercial ice harvesting.
Heading up the program is Whitney Hurley, who has come full circle. When the facility opened 10 years ago she was a day camper. Today she is in charge of the ropes course as a second year councilor. “It’s kind of nice to come back and work here,” she said.
Baldwin Center is open to the public two mornings a week, and other times by appointment. The cost is $10 per person per hour, with group rates available. Public climbing is scheduled on Tuesday and Thursdays from 9-11 a.m. weather permitting. Participants must sign up at least 24 hours in advance at the Boothbay YMCA.
“I’m totally flexible,” Hurley said of opening the course on weekends for groups. If it fits her schedule, she’ll be there, she said. To make group reservations, contact Karen Greenleaf at kgreenleaf@brymca.org, or 633-2855.
Day campers make good use of the facility. The self-set goal based program, builds confidence and fosters team building and trusting. A long grassy knoll serves as a launching pad into the program with team building games.
Tucked into the woods, in view of scenic Knickerbocker Lake is a series of low level ropes obstacles, including some that are wheelchair accessible. The elements are designed to challenge agility, physical coordination and problem solving skills. The elements include a spider’s web; a six foot wall; nitro crossing, swinging log; the whale balancing table; trust fall; plus a maze of numerous cables stretched between trees that encourage partner cooperation.
“Sometimes we make them complete the maze blindfolded. The message is we (participants) can do anything,” said YMCA Executive Director Andy Hamblett.
The crowning glories of the facility are the high elements, located 30 plus feet above the ground. “The tower format was a new design at the time it was built,” Hamblett said. “It keeps things centralized. It’s great for groups and team building. What makes the towers great is it visibility. It has seven primary elements.
There are two climbing walls, one straight up with various hand and foot holds, and a second with two overhangs, making it more challenging. There is a wire tight rope (Burma bridge); long beam; giant ladder that requires two people as the “rungs” progressively get further and further apart; a two line bridge, a short wall; vertical play pen; and zip line that will put butterflies in the stomach of the most experienced climbers.
The highest level of safety is stressed throughout the course, with all participants wearing harnesses and helmets. All participants are on belay on the high elements. Spotters are used on the low elements.
The Baldwin Center provides all participants with the unique opportunity to explore and put into practice essential life skills and enhance self-esteem through problem solving, decision making, goal setting and communication development. The program is “goal oriented,” Hamblett said. Participants set a goal before climbing of what they hope to accomplish. “We encourage them to go beyond their comfort level.”
