Mt. Sima put their Monkido Aerial Adventure Course on display for local media Wednesday afternoon.

The adventure park is one half of the WildPlay Elements Park; the other is the 1.5-

kilometre long ZOOM zipline.

The adventure park will open June 1 while the zipline will be open two weeks later on June 15.

The course consists of a series of suspended obstacle games featuring ladders, cargo nets, rope swings, tightropes, swinging logs, wobbly bridges, ziplines and other aerial surprises.

The Elements Park is one of four products Mt. Sima will be launching this summer.

The Monkido course will open June 1. On June 15 the Panoramic Chairlift rides and zipline will make their debut. In Mid-July, the downhill bike park will open.

Mt. Sima recently received an additional $1.3 million to continue its development as a year round facility.

Mt. Sima is projecting to bring in over $1.3 million in summer revenue operations by 2015.

The adventure park is one of six in Canada, with other operations in Kelowna, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, West Shore Victoria and Whister, B.C.

Craig Hougen, president of the Great Northern Ski Society, said there are "something like 8,000 of these parks in France. They are all over Europe and used to offset summer losses.”

The hope is that the new summer products will draw people to Whitehorse and cause them to stay.

"Products like this draw people to the destination,” said Neil Hartling, chair of the Tourism Industry Association of Yukon.

"We're very excited to see this unfold.”

"Our iconic products will help enhance the tourism landscape in Whitehorse and give our vistors another experience in our city and reason to stay another day,” said Hougen in a press release.

"Our facilities will also continue to contribute to local development and provide numerous recreation opportunities for all age groups.”

The Monkido course is an impressive treetop adventure circuit. Built near the base of Mt. Sima and extending into the trees, the course offers a beautiful view of the surrounding scenery.

There are four levels to the park, each of which progresses in difficulty and height.

After a training session, the participants begin on a green course, before making their way through the increasingly challenging blue, red and black courses.

At any point, guides are present to help or let someone off the course.

In all, a full day at the park will last around two to two and a half hours.

Hougen said they are implementing the same pricing used in the parks down south, where a day's pass cost $42.99 for those 12 and up.

Children between the ages of seven and 12 pay $22.99.

It is recommended that participants be at least seven years of age so they are able to comprehend all elements of the course.

Hougen said the excitement of the adventure park would entice visitors to come back repeatedly.

"You feel like you've accomplished something when you're done,” he said. "It's something you want to do again. It's empowering.”

Future operation of the park will run from May to mid-October.

Darielle Talarico, chair with the Yukon Chamber of Commerce said the new developments at Mt. Sima serve as a platform for other businesses, while also attracting more people to the area.

The adventure park will employ 20 people and Paolo Gallina, Marketing and Communications Manager at Mt. Sima, said many of the applicants have been from local residents or university students returning to Whitehorse for the summer.

Hougen said as a winter only operation, Mt. Sima would always lose money.

He said the society started discussing opening summer business to offset the losses two years ago.

"It's a great investment in the community, in sport and recreation,” he said. "In three

years we'll break even.”

With the course now just 29 days from opening, final touches are being made to the park with everything progressing as scheduled.

"Construction of our new infrastructure will be completed in the next few weeks, when will begin training our new staff,” said Parker Hickey, General Manager of Mt. Sima.

"June 1st is our official opening date for our summer operations and we encourage all Yukoners to come and check out what we have to offer.”