By Adela Piper
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March 31, 2025
NEGAUNEE, Mich., March 21, 2025 - Forest Flyers Ninja Academy, the Upper Peninsula’s first Ninja Warrior-style obstacle gym, will officially open its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, March 24, at 10:30 AM at 400 US Route 41, Suite 106, Negaunee, Michigan 49866. The event will bring together the gym’s co-founders, local dignitaries, community leaders and fitness enthusiasts to celebrate the launch of this new facility. Forest Flyers Ninja is a fully equipped indoor ninja gym dedicated to inspiring children ages three to seventeen of all abilities, backgrounds, and mindsets to lead active and healthy lifestyles. The academy offers a fun, safe and challenging environment where kids can develop physical skills, build self-confidence and form friendships. In classes designed for preschool, elementary, teen, and homeschool groups, kids will swing, jump, roll, balance, and tackle obstacles such as warped walls, angled steps, and rings, all while building discipline and focus. Classes will be held once a week for 40 to 50 minutes, grouped by age, in designated zones tailored to different skill levels. Ninjas progress through a six-level curriculum, maintaining a maximum 10:1 student-to-instructor ratio. The academy will also provide space rentals for private parties. “We moved to the Upper Peninsula from downstate in 2021 and have loved becoming part of this community,” said Jason Piper, co-founder of Forest Flyers Ninja Academy. “Ninja Warrior has long been a part of our lives—from watching American Ninja Warrior Jr. to building a course for our kids in our basement. We’ve seen firsthand how it impacts both physical and mental health. With long winters in the U.P., there’s a growing need for indoor activities that empower our youth, and Forest Flyers Ninja aims to meet that need.” “Forest Flyers Ninja is about teaching children to face life’s obstacles and challenges with courage, determination, resilience, and grit—both in the gym and in life,” said Adela Piper, co-founder of Forest Flyers Ninja Academy. “What started as a simple idea that wouldn’t quit has turned into months of planning, researching, building and hard work, and now we’re ready to open and grow our ninja crew. From our family to yours, we can't wait to share this new adventure with our beloved U.P. community.” "We’re thrilled to support Forest Flyers Ninja Academy in celebrating their grand opening with a ribbon cutting," said Lauren Rotundo, Small Business Promotions Specialist at the Lake Superior Community Partnership. "Negaunee has gained significant momentum in recent years, with innovative businesses like this driving continued growth." Monday’s ribbon-cutting will be conducted by the Lake Superior Community Partnership and attended by local officials, stakeholders and the Forest Flyers Ninja Academy co-founders. ###