Enjoy adventures in the heart of nature

In the world of leisure parks, it's rare to find a man as passionate and determined as Eric Grognet. After a rich career as head of communications for 20 years at Air France, Eric Grognet decided to take on a brand new challenge, helping to shape the landscape of human-scale theme parks in and around the Oise region. He is now continuing the adventure with his son Jacob at his side...

JacobEric Grognet's son and manager of the Parc Aventures de l'Etang des Loups in Saint-Leu-d'Esserent, welcomed us to tell us all about this open-air leisure park!

A family story

It is with Sherwood ParcThe adventure began 17 years ago at Viarmes in the Val d'Oise. With over 150,000 visitors a year, Sherwood Parc is now France's largest adventure park. Buoyed by this resounding success, Eric Grognet, along with his son Jacob, decided to create another entertainment gem: the Parc des Loups.

Nestled in the heart of the Saint-Leu-d'Esserent leisure centreThis small leisure park in a forest setting is made up of an adventure course and a tree adventure parkperfectly represents the passion of its creators for outdoor entertainment.

Leisure or attraction?

Unlike the rides and roller coasters of amusement parks, leisure parks are places where the participant is activeIn other words, it needs jumping, climbing, running... or simply walking.

An Explor Games®

Imagine yourself immersed in an outdoor adventure gameexploring real film sets and solve riddles as you stroll through the countryside. This is exactly what Explor Games^®A unique activity in the Parc des Loups. Designed to appeal to children by reminding them of the atmosphere of video games, this interactive adventure offers so much more: a fun way to explore nature.

Explor Games^® of the Parc des Loups is an immersive experience which takes participants on a captivating expedition through the Nywënn's imaginary forest. Equipped with a geolocated tablet, players embark on an exciting quest to discover the secrets of this mysterious forest and save the world from the domination of the Dark Elves.

With eight challenging puzzles to solveAs part of a new challenge, participants will find themselves immersed in a fantastic universe, combining the magic of nature with the challenges of adventure. Each riddle they solve brings them a little closer to the final victory, while encouraging them to explore their real environment.

The geolocated tablet is the central tool of Explor Games^®. It allows participants to answer riddles, scan QR codes hidden in the forest and even offer augmented reality sequences. Thanks to this technology, children are immersed in an enchanting world while remaining connected to reality. The fun aspect of video games blends harmoniously with the exploration of nature.

Explor Games^® encourages participants to actively roam, observe their environment, solve puzzles and work together as a team. As the adventure unfolds, they will explore an imposing castle, inspect strange menhirs and even, for the most intrepid, unravel the mysteries of a gloomy cemetery!

While having fun, children - and older children too - develop their problem-solving, communication and collaboration skills. As well as the fun and excitement of the game, the Explor Games^® also offers an educational dimension. Children will be encouraged to observe and interact with the various natural elements of the forest, stimulating their curiosity, their learning and their desire to learn more about the world around them. This unique experience turns a simple family walk into an exciting and rewarding adventure.

An accrobranche

A French invention

Do you still have a thirst for adventure and acrobatics? Discover the world from a height by setting off on an assault on one of the six courses on the Parc des Loups tree climbing course! Did you know that the activity known as "accrobranche" actually involves climbing trees, and that it should be called a "high wire acrobatic course"? And, above all, that this activity is a French inventionwhich has since been exported all over the world? The first acrobatic tree park was in fact created in 1995 by a former soldier at Serre-Chevalier in the Hautes-Alpes!

Preserving trees

One of the most interesting aspects of creating an accrobranche park is choosing the trees best suited to the activity.. Jacob Grognet stresses the importance of selecting the right types of tree to ensure both the safety of participants and the preservation of the environment. "We have chosen mainly oaks and chestnutsThis is because they are robust and resistant trees, well anchored and capable of supporting platforms. What's more, they are abundant in this region, which reduces our impact on the local ecosystem.he explains.

To maintain the health of our trees and ensure their longevity, a number of measures have been taken. forestry experts were consulted during the construction of the park. Special measures have been taken to avoid damaging trees during the installation of platforms and obstacles. "We use fixing systems that do not damage trees and allow them to grow naturally. Fixing systems are also constantly evolving. Today, we use straps that hold the platforms perfectly in place while respecting the health of the trees. In the future, we'll be using an innovative, even more eco-responsible tree fixing system developed by the company "Le Clouwhich gently accompanies the evolution of the tree. The safety of participants is paramount, but we also want to preserve the beauty and integrity of the trees. "says Jacob Grognet.

The park is maintained all year round, particularly during the winter, and regularly calls on outside service providers: builders of new courses, pruners, phytosanitary experts who come to check the health of the trees...

A 150-metre zip line!

Today, the Parc des Loups welcomes visitors of all ages, offering them an unforgettable experience. a memorable treetop experienceand even above the water because one of the routes includes a fly over the pond on an impressive 150-metre zip line!

Thanks to the enthusiasm of the Grognet family, this leisure park has become a place where adventure lovers and nature enthusiasts can come together and reconnect with the environment around them. "We even had a 90-year-old customer come along with his grandchildren, laughs Jacob Grognet, just goes to show that there's no age limit for climbing trees!.

Are you tempted? The Parc des Loups accrobranche and Explor'Games are accessible from the Saint-Leu-d'Esserent leisure centre, which also offers swimming and water sports (canoeing, kayaking and pedal boats).

Emmanuel Latouche – The Editor

Video interview with Jacob