The course consists of two parts:

LOW C.O.P.E. : This portion contains activities that only can be completed through teamwork, in both leadership, trust, and self-confidence.  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.

HIGH C.O.P.E. :  Once the low course is completed, team members graduate to the challenging and exciting "High COPE."  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, Gaints Ladder, Rappel Tower, Confidence Pole and our 300' zip Line.

What makes COPE special?

1. It has challenges but is not an obstacle course.- Traditional obstacle courses emphasize physical performance and exclude non-athletes from success. COPE encourages "personal best" performance from each individual while increasing their awareness of their physical self.

2. It can be a thrilling experience but it is not a "thrill ride" - Although elements of COPE may seem like "thrill rides" , the difference is that the participants must invest personal effort, responsibility and commitment to reach each level. They must decide for themselves how far they go and when, or if, to take the next step.

3. Safety is every ones responsibility- Staff and participants are actively involved in maintaining a safe program. Emotional as well as physical well being of everyone is ensured by using safety skills and understanding risk.

4. Each experience is customized for the group/individual. - Since one of the goals of the program to enhance self-esteem, the experience must be challenging but not futile. Each group also has its own goals and objectives which can be best met by careful selection of challenges.

5. The staff "facilitates", the group "leads" -The staff sets-up the program, ensures safety, presents the challenges and facilitates the group/individual processing of the experience, but does not give "answers". The group must solve problems and make decision themselves.

While each Project COPE course is unique and each person who experiences it has individual objectives, the Project COPE program emphasizes seven major goals.

1. Teamwork - Teamwork is the key that allows a group to meet a COPE challenge successfully. The COPE experience makes it clear that each individual can accomplish more as a member of a team than going it alone.
    
2. Communication - Project COPE encourages real learning of critical listening and discussion skills important for any group attempting to accomplish difficult tasks.
3. Trust - Participants completing difficult tasks on a COPE course develop trust in COPE staff members, the safety of the course, each other and themselves.
4. Leadership - Leadership is given and assumed naturally, and can be expressed in many ways. Team members attempting to solve problems on a COPE course have many opportunities to develop and exercise leadership skills.
5. Decision Making- Project COPE requires groups to make decisions by developing one or more solutions to a problem, considering the available resources and alternatives, and evaluating the possible results.
6. Problem Solving - Project Cope challenges groups and individuals to develop solutions to interesting problems. Participants can the test their solutions and evaluate the results.
7. Self-Esteem - Meeting the challenges of a COPE course allows individuals and groups to develop self-esteem and encourages them to adopt challenging attainable goals.

Why Consider COPE ?

More than a office softball team...
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.

What types of groups might benefit from COPE ?

Who runs COPE ?

COPE is a program of the Camping Division of the BSA. Each COPE course is run locally by the area BSA Council, under the rules and regulations set by National BSA. Councils which operate a COPE course must designate a COPE Director to supervise the administration, safety and operation of the program. Each COPE director must be certified by National by successfully completing the approved training for this position. The training is available through the BSA National Camping Schools or Regional COPE training programs.

Your Groups COPE Experience

COPE is a flexible experience that can be custom designed specifically for your group. Course length can be from a few hours to several days. The experience takes place at Camp Wakonda near Central City, Iowa.  This program provides a vehicle for groups to challenge themselves to reach personal and team goals. COPE is designed to breakdown barriers between individuals and create an atmosphere of shared leadership and problem solving.

History and Background
The 1979 Dalajamb International Encampment in Sweden provided a number of challenging events of great interest to Scouts from the United States. Foremost among them was the pioneering course constructed by a group of veteran Swedish Scouts. This course was laid out in a heavily wooded area and utilized terrain elevations as part of the design. Bridges were built across ravines of varying widths and depths. Zip lines hung for traversing the ravines, and novel constructions were used for climbing.

  Guidelines and requirements for COPE.

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 Only smoking allowed on camp grounds will be the parking lot.   Minimum age requirements are 12 years old for Low Course
13 years old for High Course.   Personal health forms must be completed for all participants, and parents or guardian permission to treat minors must be given.  All participants also 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 one million dollars, naming the Hawkeye Area Council and Boy Scouts of America as a co-insured.