Sonoma Canopy Tours

 

Bruce Wohlert, director of Sonoma Canopy Tours gave an engaging presentation regarding this type of “eco-adventure-tourism” that is occurring in the Alliance Redwood Grove in Sonoma County.

 

The Alliance Redwood Grove, is a property of approximately 120 acres that is held by a group of churches. It has been used as a retreat center for many years. The concept of canopy touring, wherein participants use a zip lines, catwalks, rappelling, and general climbing to explore their environment, is relatively new. It has become a very popular activity at numerous destinations around the world. Sonoma Canopy Tours was conceived in 2008. It had its formal opening on July 1, 2010 and has exceeded projected expectations by nearly 500% in the past 4 years.

 

Designed to provide “a memory of a lifetime” the package includes riding on 7 zip lines, crossing 2 sky bridges, rappelling down a steep embankment, and climbing a spiral staircase up the trunk of a tree. Each group of 8 participants is guided by 2 well-trained guides who not only are knowledgeable in all aspects of the ecology of the “canopy” of the redwood forest, but also well-versed in safety for the participants, many of whom are engaging in a novel and new activity for them.

 

Sonoma Canopy Tours operates year-round; enjoying nature is equally exhilarating in sunny and warm times as well as in cold and damp times. Nature always has something to offer if you're willing to look.

 

Through a very active marketing program with numerous strategies, they have been able to create a business that has far exceeded their early estimations of what it would be doing after just 4 years in existence. They are also linked to the 450 bed capacity conference center at the Alliance Redwoods.

 

Sonoma Canopy Tours has had a sense of commitment to the community, and in the 6 years of their existence they have donated over $100,000 to youth activities in Sonoma County.

 

Photos of some of his presentation material can be found in the slide show, Sonoma Canopy Tours.

 

All Club members were encouraged to partake of this activity.

 

More information is available at www.sonomacanopytours.com .