Project C.O.P.E. at Camp Birch for Scouting and non-scouting, Non-Profit Organizations Issued in January 2009, Tecumseh Council, BSA Welcome to the Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience (C.O.P.E.) program for Tecumseh Council. This information packet will provide the basic information needed to request and prepare for a COPE weekend event at Camp Birch. C.O.P.E. is an excellent program for teenage youth and adults. High COPE (sometimes referred to as the ropes course) is more of an individual challenge, like climbing. Low COPE is a great tool for team building and challenges that focus on group cooperation, planning and communication. Low COPE and combined low and high COPE events can be tailored to your unit s goals and objectives. The minimum age to participate in COPE is 13 years old. Contents: I. Project C.O.P.E. Introduction II. Participation Paperwork III. Scheduling a COPE Weekend Event IV. Forms
What Is Project COPE? I. Project C.O.P.E. Introduction Since its founding in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has offered its members an outdoor program stressing personal fitness. Project COPE is an acronym for Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. It comprises a series of outdoor challenges, beginning with basic group initiative games and progressing to more complicated low-course and highcourse activities. Some of these events involve a group effort, whereas others test individual skills and agility. 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. Objectives Before implementing a course, the council should determine what it seeks to accomplish. Eight major goals are commonly associated with Project COPE activities: 1. Communication 2. Planning 3. Teamwork 4. Trust 5. Leadership development 6. Decision making 7. Problem solving 8. Self-confidence Participants are challenged to develop team goals. After each activity a reflection is accomplished through nondirective questioning that encourages participants to analyze how they did as a group and as individuals, how they could do better in future endeavors including life skills, and how the learning applies to school, jobs, and their future life. Safety National promotion of Project COPE enables the Boy Scouts of America to establish standards designed to meet Scouting's needs and concerns for safety within a strong network. Each COPE facility is inspected at least twice annually once by a regional inspection team and once by a council inspection team. The safety of Scouts, leaders, and staff is imperative. Mere concern about safety is not sufficient. This concern must be demonstrated by a director and staff members who are knowledgeable and personally skilled in the respective course activities, who are effective teachers, and who are constantly alert to safety procedures and participant needs. Prospective staff members must be carefully screened. A qualified staff must be assembled with enough members to ensure that continuation of the program does not depend on one or two people. Standards for Project COPE are stringent so that the experience will be both safe and successful. Project COPE directors are trained through weeklong training at a National Camping School or at Philmont Scout Ranch during the annual Boy Scouting conferences. A currently trained Project COPE director must be on site whenever the COPE course is being operated. Over a period of at least three days, COPE directors are empowered to train COPE instructors who are at least 18 years of age. A Project COPE director may also supervise a climbing tower, but is not authorized to train climbing instructors.
II. Weekend COPE Participation Paperwork Each organization must have proof of insurance. Scouts and registered leaders in Tecumseh Council are insured through council. Other scout organizations should also be covered through their councils. Many non-scout organizations, such as church youth groups, carry insurance. Non-scout organizations must show proof of $1 Million insurance. This may sometimes be waived if the 1) organization, 2) each participant and 3) each youth participant s parent, sign a hold-harmless agreement. Each participant must bring the following: 1. Medical Information / Informed Consent or Class I, II or III Scout Medical Form 2. Signed BSA Hold Harmless/Release Agreement Non-Scouting Organizations (only): Hold Harmless/Release Agreement for non-scout Organizations III. Scheduling an Event Each unit should contact the COPE Committee Chairman (Rich Diesslin, 937-429-0139, rldes@aol.com) to schedule their event. Three weeks notice is preferred to schedule an event. Scheduling is subject to the availability of qualified instructors. The COPE Committee chair will have one week to confirm your event. The minimum number of participants for a COPE weekend event is 10. On occasion, groups may be combined in order to better utilize the facility. Units may request Low COPE only, High COPE only or Low and High COPE combined events.
Camp Birch Program Facilities COPE 2008-2009 Low COPE High COPE Low and High COPE COPE and Climbing Weekend*** IV. Forms See the attached forms. Season* Price Per Person Comments March - December March - December March - December March - December $15 - Scout $20 - Non-Profit $30 - Business** $25 - Scout $40 - Non-Profit $50 - Business** $35 - Scout $50 - Non-Profit $70 - Business** $45 - Scout $70 - Non-Profit $100 - Business** The Low COPE area must be facilitated by certified, council approved instructors. Reservations may be made by contacting Rich Diesslin, COPE Director, at 429-0139. Participants must be 13 years or older and the group size must be between 10 and 45. A $50 prepaid minimum applies. Other dates and weekdays may be arranged, contact Rich for more details. Morning or afternoon sessions are available. Rain-outs will be refunded. The High COPE area must be facilitated by certified, council approved instructors with a Director on-site. Reservations may be made by contacting Rich Diesslin, at 429-0139. Participants must be 13 years or older and the group size must be between 10 and 30. A $100 prepaid minimum applies. Other dates and weekdays may be arranged, contact Rich for more details. Morning or afternoon sessions are available. Rain-outs will be refunded. Reservations may be made by contacting Rich Diesslin, at 429-0139. Participants must be 13 years or older and the group size must be between 10 and 30. A $100 prepaid minimum applies. Reservations may be made by contacting Rich Diesslin, at 429-0139. Participants must be 13 years or older and the group size must be between 10 and 30. A $100 prepaid minimum applies. *= Troop/Group COPE. Some blackout dates will apply. **= Businesses that participate in Friends of Scouting may be eligible for a discount. Call for details. ***= Limited time offer. Good for reservations made by 12/31/2008
MEDICAL INFORMATION/INFORMED CONSENT Name (First) (Middle initial) (Last) Telephone (Home) (Work) Personal physician Phone In case of emergency, please contact Phone Special dietary considerations List known allergies List required medications If you are allergic to bee stings, do you have a bee sting kit? Do you wear contact lenses? Are you pregnant? Have you had or do you now have (circle if yes): Heart attack Diabetes Asthma Angina Epilepsy Chest pains Drug reactions High blood pressure Heart murmur If you answered yes to any of the above, explain and include date Do you have any other medical conditions that we should be aware of? I am not under the influence of any chemical substance, including alcohol. Understanding that any physical activity involves a risk of injury, I understand that my participation in the Tecumseh Council Project COPE program is entirely voluntary. I release Tecumseh Council, its employees, and staff from any claims or liability arising out of my participation. This release does not, however, apply to any harm caused by negligence or willful misconduct of Tecumseh Council or its employees. Name (Please print.) Course/company Participant's signature* Date *If the participant is under age 18, his or her parent or guardian must also sign below: Parent s or guardian's signature Date
Part C Parental Informed Consent and Hold Harmless/Release Agreement I understand that participation in Scouting activities involves a certain degree of risk. I have carefully considered the risk involved and have given consent for myself or my child to participate in these activities. I understand that participation in these activities is entirely voluntary and requires participants to abide by applicable rules and standards of conduct. I release the Boy Scouts of America, the local council, the activity coordinators, and all employees, volunteers, related parties, or other organizations associated with the activity from any and all claims or liability arising out of this participation. I approve the sharing of the information on this form with BSA volunteers and professionals who need to know of medical situations that might require special consideration for the safe conducting of Scouting activities. In case of an emergency involving me or my child, I understand that every effort will be made to contact the individual listed as the emergency contact person. In the event that this person cannot be reached, permission is hereby given to the medical provider selected by the adult leader in charge to secure proper treatment, including hospitalization, anesthesia, surgery, or injections of medication for me or my child. Medical providers are authorized to disclose to the adult in charge examination findings, test results, and treatment provided for purposes of medical evaluation of the participant, follow-up and communication with the participant s parents or guardian, and/or determination of the participant s ability to continue in the program activities. Without restrictions. With special considerations or restrictions (list) Talent Release Form I hereby assign and grant to the local council and the Boy Scouts of America the right and permission to use and publish the photographs/film/videotapes/electronic representations and/or sound recordings made of me or my child by the Boy Scouts of America, and I hereby release the Boy Scouts of America from any and all liability from such use and publication. I hereby authorize the reproduction, sale, copyright, exhibit, broadcast, electronic storage, and/or distribution of said photographs/ film/videotapes/electronic representations and/or sound recordings without limitation at the discretion of the Boy Scouts of America, and I specifically waive any right to any compensation I may have for any of the foregoing. Yes No I understand that, if any information I/we have provided is found to be inaccurate, it may limit and/or eliminate the opportunity for participation in any event or activity. Participant s name Participant s signature Parent/guardian s signature (if under the age of 18) Date Attach copy of insurance card (front and back) here. If required by your state, use the space provided here for notarization. Boy Scouts of America 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane P.O. Box 152079 Irving, Texas 75015-2079 http://www.scouting.org 34605 7 30176 34605 2 2008 Printing Part C Last name: DOB:
HOLD HARMLESS/RELEASE AGREEMENT for non-scout Organizations (organization) shall indemnify, hold free and harmless, assume liability for, and defend the Tecumseh Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, and its chartered affiliates, agents, servants, employees, officers, and directors from any and all costs and expenses including but not limited to attorneys' fees, reasonable investigative and discovery costs, court costs, and all other sums that the Boy Scouts of America, its chartered affiliates, agents, servants, employees, officers, and directors may pay or become obligated to pay on account of any, all and every demand for claim or assertion of liability, or any claim or action founded thereon, arising or alleged to have arisen out of (organization's) use of real or personal property belonging to the Boy Scouts of America, its chartered affiliates, agents, servants, employees, officers, and directors, or by any action or omission by (organization), its members, agents, servants, employees, officers, or directors. Property and period to be used (Organization) By (Title) (Date)