Camp Sancta Maria Opens New High Ropes Course Built by Challenge Design Innovations

Camp Sancta Maria in Gaylord, Michigan, has a new high ropes course.

And we’re proud to share that Challenge Design Innovations built it.

The new course was recently featured in Detroit Catholic in an article about the camp’s latest outdoor adventure project. The course replaces the camp’s former ropes course, which was badly damaged during a 2025 ice storm. The new course was completed in time for the 2026 camping season and is part of a larger renovation project at the 96-acre camp property.

The course is named the St. Pier Giorgio Frassati Ropes Course, honoring a saint known for his love of adventure, friendship, faith, and the outdoors. The article explains that the course connects with Frassati’s well-known phrase, “Verso l’Alto,” which means “To the Heights.”

That name fits.

A high ropes course asks campers to climb. To trust. To try something that might feel a little bigger than they are at first.

And then take the next step anyway.

According to the article, the new modular ropes course can hold up to 16 campers at one time. It joins other outdoor features at Camp Sancta Maria, including a climbing tower, zip line, rock wall, lake, horseback riding, hiking trails, waterfront activities, and more.

For Camp Sancta Maria, this project was not just about replacing what was lost in the storm.

It was about restoring a key part of the camp experience.

The camp has served young people since 1933. For generations, campers have come there for time outside, time with friends, time in faith, and time away from the noise of everyday life. The new ropes course gives them another place to grow through challenge, courage, and shared experience.

That’s the kind of project we love to be part of.

At Challenge Design Innovations, we design and build challenge courses, high ropes courses, zip lines, aerial adventure parks, climbing towers, and related outdoor adventure structures for camps, schools, universities, retreat centers, parks, and other organizations.

Every site is different.

Every group has different goals.

And every course needs to fit the people who will use it.

For Camp Sancta Maria, the goal was clear: rebuild an important part of camp life and create something that could serve campers for years to come.

We’re grateful CDI had the chance to help bring this new high ropes course to life.

You can read the full Detroit Catholic article here: https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/camp-sancta-maria-unveils-new-high-ropes-course-named-after-st-pier-giorgio-frassati

It is also available on AOL: https://www.aol.com/articles/ropes-course-debuts-camp-sancta-080208129.html?

FAQ

Who built the new Camp Sancta Maria high ropes course?

Challenge Design Innovations built the new St. Pier Giorgio Frassati Ropes Course at Camp Sancta Maria in Gaylord, Michigan.

Why did Camp Sancta Maria need a new ropes course?

The camp’s former ropes course was damaged during a 2025 ice storm, so the camp replaced it with a new modular high ropes course.

How many campers can use the new course at one time?

According to Detroit Catholic, the new modular ropes course can accommodate up to 16 campers at the same time.

What types of courses does Challenge Design Innovations build?

Challenge Design Innovations builds high ropes courses, challenge courses, aerial adventure parks, zip lines, climbing towers, and custom outdoor adventure structures.