What Is Project C.O.P.E.?

C.O.P.E. is an acronym for Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. It is comprised by a series of outdoor challenges, beginning with basic group initiative games and progressing to more complicated low-course and high-course activities. Some of these events involve a group effort, whereas others challenge the individual. Participants climb, swing, balance, jump, and rappel as well as think through solutions to a variety of challenges. Most participants find that they can do much more than they initially thought that they could. Participation at each event is entirely voluntary.

The course consists of two parts:

Low C.O.P.E.

This portion contains activities that can only be completed through teamwork. The low course activities are designed around an imaginary scenario and may include certain handicaps or setbacks that help teach the importance of acceptance, patience, and dedication in challenging situations. The course also promotes teams and individuals to look at problems from many perspective. Low C.O.P.E. helps build leadership, trust and self-confidence.

High C.O.P.E.

Once the low course is completed, team members graduate to the challenging and exciting High C.O.P.E. The high course is designed to enhance the individual, especially in the areas of self-confidence and self-actualization. The activities of the high course take place on specially designed and built structures, and include the Burma Bridge, Balance Beam, Two Wire Traverse, Multi Line, Skywalk, HeeBee GeeBee, Vertical Playground, Cargo Net, Centipede, Giant's Ladder, Rappelling Wall, Confidence Pole and our 300' zip Line.

Objectives to top

A Project C.O.P.E. course provides an opportunity for each participant to achieve success as an individual and as a member of a patrol or team. The activities are not designed to be competitive or to be races against time. Team members cooperate to achieve goals upon which they have agreed. The course is designed to foster personal growth among both youth and adult groups. Eight major goals are associated with Project C.O.P.E. activities:

Communication
Planning
Teamwork
Trust
Leadership development
Decision making
Problem solving
Self-esteem

Why consider C.O.P.E.? to top

We know you have many choices when it comes to choosing activities that can improve team effectiveness. Here a just a few reasons why COPE may be the right choice for your team.

Emphasizes the importance of working together without creating the win-lose dichotomy of team sports.
Rejuvenates employees' minds and bodies - while your staff enjoys a day communing with nature.
Encourages involvement from all members - not just those comfortable sharing ideas in a group setting.
Helps participants develop and reinforce skills needed to overcome real world Problems.

C.O.P.E. is a flexible experience that can be custom designed specifically for your group. Course length can be from a few hours to several days. This program provides a vehicle for groups to challenge themselves to reach personal and team goals. C.O.P.E. is designed to breakdown barriers between individuals and create an atmosphere of shared leadership and problem solving.

Who benefits from taking C.O.P.E.? to top

Youth Groups
Church Groups
Sports Teams
Fire, Police and Sheriff Departments
School Systems
Corporations
Small and Large Businesses
Chambers of Commerce
Colleges
or any other group of people that want to work better together!

Guidelines and Requirements to top

The Boy Scouts of America guidelines for camp usage will be in effect at all times. All local council regulations apply.
No Alcoholic beverages. No Drugs. Anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted to participate in COPE.
No Smoking on the course. Smoking on camp grounds is only allowed at the main Wakonda parking lot in the designated smoking area.
Minimum age requirements is 13 years old.
Personal health forms must be completed for all participants, and parent or guardian permission to treat minors must be given.
All participants must sign hold harmless agreements.
Health and accident insurance is a unit, organization, individual or parental responsibility and is not provided by the Hawkeye Area Council.
Non BSA groups must provide a certificate of liability insurance with policy limits of at least two million dollars, naming the Hawkeye Area Council and Boy Scouts of America as a co-insured.

Safety to top

Project C.O.P.E. standards are stringent so that the experience will be both safe and successful. Our C.O.P.E. facility is inspected at least twice annually by trained Scouters, once by a regional inspection team and once by a council inspection team. It is also regularly inspected by an Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) certified company that builds high courses. All ropes and equipment are inspected regularly and meet Boy Scout and ACCT standards.

Project C.O.P.E. directors are trained through a week-long training at a Boy Scout National Camping School. A currently certified Hawkeye Area Council Project C.O.P.E. director must be on site whenever the C.O.P.E. course is in operation.