COPE stands for Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. It comprises group initiative games, low course (12 feet and under), and high course activities (about 30-40 feet high). Some of the activities involve a group challenge while others test individual skills and agility. Participants climb, jump, balance, swing, and find many solutions to a variety of activities. Group activities are ideal for emphasizing the patrol method and developing leadership skills. The activities are not designed to be competitive or to be a race against time. More important goals such as leadership, trust, teamwork, self-esteem, problem solving, communication, and decision making are emphasized.

Goals
Adventure programs of any kind have a greater purpose than just having fun. They are designed to present a quality educational experience for every individual within a group. There are seven major goals/objectives that are commonly associated with the adventure program known as Project COPE. These goals/objectives are listed below with a brief description:

	LEADERSHIP - Leadership is sometimes appointed, elected, or just naturally given and assumed. Leadership can be exhibited by loud commands, softly spoken suggestions, shared participation, or no actions at all. A COPE Course provides numerous opportunities for leadership to be displayed and challenged. Learning the skills of leadership is one of the anticipated outcomes of Project COPE.
	PROBLEM SOLVING - Problem Solving is done by the group and individual participants at each element. The group or individual then has the opportunity to test its solutions and evaluate the results.
	COMMUNICATION - Communication is important to any group attempting to accomplish a difficult task. A tremendous amount of communication is exhibited in many ways on a COPE Course.
	SELF-ESTEEM - Self-Esteem is developed by successfully accomplishing a task as set forth by the instructor. This happens both on an individual and team basis.
	TRUST - Trust in the instructors, the safety of the course, each other, and themselves must be developed to successfully solve difficult tasks. Trust will be challenged many times while during a COPE experience.
	DECISION MAKING - Decision Making requires the group to develop a solution, think through the probable results, and evaluate the results in terms of the resources available and required. Several possible solutions can be evaluated until the decision is made as to which is the best solution.
	TEAMWORK - Teamwork is the key to everything on a COPE Course. By using teamwork the group achieves a successful (and sometime unsuccessful) conclusion to a variety of problems. During the period in which a group is on the course, it will become abundantly clear that no individual can "do it" alone, it requires a complete group effort.

At this time the course guidelines, rules, etc. are explained as well as a brief explanation of the concept of "Challenge by Choice." A number of Initiative Games are presented to the group to teach the basics of "Spotting." Spotting is used throughout the course (particularly the Low Course) to protect the head, neck, back, and shoulder areas from injury.

Once the Low Course is entered, the group is presented with an initial theme for the entire course. An example would be: "The group is in search of the lost artifact which explains why green Jell-O has small air bubbles suspended in it." This theme is designed to give the group a purpose for the course. The theme is then combined with scenarios for each element. For example: The group is not presented with just a "a grid to go through," they are presented with "a large spider's web to pass through in order to enter the Jell-O factory which may have clues as to where the artifact may be found. The web is very sensitive to anything that touches it. However the group must pass through the web in order to continue through the cave that leads to the Jell-O factory's hidden entrance."

After the "Briefing" is completed, the group attempts the element while keeping in mind the safety precautions, element objectives, and limitations placed upon the group or individuals. "Spotting" is used extensively throughout the Low Course and is mandatory on all elements for every participant. The "Spotters" are allowed to break the group and individual limitations for each element while they are spotting. For Example: When a participant is going through the "Spiders Web" they must have a sufficient number of Spotters to protect them as they go through. Therefore, two participants may go to the other side of the element in order to spot the individual going through the element. These Spotters may not touch the individual going through the Spiders Web unless the individual becomes unbalanced and requires assistance for safety purposes.

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Once the entire element is completed, a "Debrief" takes place. In the Debrief the group sits down to discuss what happened at the last element/activity (or number of elements/activities). The Debrief is the most important part of the COPE experience, it is where the real learning takes place. A Debrief may take many forms and can be pursued in a variety of ways. Most importantly is that each person in the group gets a chance to express their opinions, concerns, or comments about the element/activity

The High Course

It is important to note that no group is permitted to use the High Course area without at least six (6) hours of Low Course work and two hours of High Course Training. The High Course Training consists of knot tying, proper safety procedures, equipment use guidelines, "Belay" training, and much more.

The High Course is more individualized, but does require the assistance of the other group members to "Belay" the individual on the High Course element. The High Course can be very exciting and frightening at the same time, you can call it the ultimate "Self-Esteem Builder." It is the "Belayers" job to make sure that the individual on the element does not fall. This is accomplished through use of a Dynamic rope, this means that the rope gives a little, creating a comfortable fall rather than a sudden jerk with other types of "Static" ropes. There are also two additional safety lines (called Rabbit Ears) that attach the participant, via a harness, to safety cables located above the participant.

Each element has one "Belay Team." A Belay Team is made up of one main Belayer, a Back-up Belayer, and one Bucket Person. These teams are closely watched by a COPE Staff member to ensure that all safety and belaying guidelines are followed correctly. The entire High Course is watched by a COPE Director and at least two Instructors, one of which is always perched high to come to the aid of any participant which may have problems.

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 everyone's 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 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.

COPE Photo Album

The backside of the KSR climbing and rappelling cower; Also shown is the wire "Grapevine" to traverse to the "Zip-line".