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Date: 4/21/2021
RUSSELL – The Woronoco Heights Outdoor Adventures (WHOA) is soaring to new heights with the reopening of its 60-foot-tall climbing and rappelling tower April 24.
WHOA, located at the Horace A. Moses Scout Reservation in Russell, offers the community an opportunity to learn new outdoor skills and test their abilities through various adventure courses.
The tower allows participants to test their nerves and challenge their fear of heights, said WHOA’s Mike Kirby. This is one of the tallest climbing towers in the northeast. Kirby stated that one participant who reached the top jokingly proclaimed that they could see their house.
Whether you’re a veteran climber or a first-timer, WHO staff are specially trained and certified in climbing and will be on-hand to assist.
With safety being their primary concern, the WHOA climbing staff will outfit participants with helmets, gloves, and harnesses. Additionally, each climber will have their own dedicated staff member to belay them on their journey to the top and their rappel back down to the ground.
The WHOA Bouldering Wall is a smaller version of the tower for younger participants, or anyone who wants to challenge their balancing skills by scrambling along the 40 feet of “rock” wall without setting foot on the ground.
"If heights are not your ‘thing,’ we are introducing a brand new program, Automotive Systems and Fundamentals,” WHOA Director Mia Santos-Izyk said in a written statement.
This new adventure will keep the WHOA participant’s feet firmly on the ground and introduce them to the powers of the internal combustion engine and the vehicles powered by them. This “how-to” program will provide information on various vehicle situations, how to fix them and how to avoid them.
WHOA will offer more than a dozen activities on April 24, including fishing.
WHOA’s fishing staff will be on hand with their fishing tackle to help participants in the camp’s 80-acre lake. Guests may also try their metalworking skills at the blacksmith shop. WHOA’s “Forged In Fire” TV show personality Dana Dupui, will be there to guide people in making useful creations for the home.
Santos-Izyk stated with few activities available to residents because of COVID-19, WHOA has provided safe ways to have fun. The March 20 event had record-breaking attendance figures and the April 24 WHOA looks to be very busy as well.
Space is limited and those wishing to attend will need to sign up. The registration cost for all activities is $10 per person, regardless of age. The program is open from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Participants must pre-register and pre-pay online at wmascouting.org/WHOA202104 . No walk-ins or on-site registrations are allowed.