COPE / Climbing Committee Status

Report to NCAC Camping Committee, 2012-05-15

1. BLUF
• COPE/Climbing Program on track for Fall 2012
• Goshen appears go to go for summer.
• Most elements ready to use

2. Aligning Program to NCAC Strategic Plan
• Maintain facilities in optimum condition.
• Establish team to continually maintain COPE course
• All elements in use, high and low
• Facilities that exceed expectations and requirements
• Bring existing elements to optimal condition (Whale Watch, Mohawk Walk)
• Sunset elements that cannot be supported (e.g., Zip line)
• Relocate elements to achieve efficiency (long term)
• Continually monitor success models of other offerers, adopt components that apply
• Income generating programs
• Units want COPE/Climbing with competent and trained staff, organized activities, available facilities with challenging elements.
• Competition comes from Camp Highroad and George Mason (COPE), Del-Mar-Va (Climbing), supporting Scout units and non-Scouting
• Engage more volunteers
• Create "pipeline" for creating climbing and COPE instructors and volunteers
• Develop cadre of volunteers to provide touch-labor to COPE course
• Maintain pool of competent, enthusiastic, motivated instructors capable of providing climbing program and COPE to units
• Continue reach-back to Scouting alumni (reuse success and avoid stepping twice on the same land mine
• Develop quality programs
  • Goal: Units Council-wide include COPE and Climbing programs in their annual plans; Council has capacity to meet the demand.

3. Status

• June 2-8: 2 to NCS for COPE Director + 1 for recertification
• June 17/24: work days at CWBS
• August 24-26: COPE Instructor class
• COPE for units at CWBS offered throughout season ; Sep, Oct, Nov & Mar, Apr, May
• Support for Goshen summer camp programs appears sufficient
• CWBS staff are well positioned to manage scheduling

4. Challenges

• COPE course needs continual touch labor. Goshen needs being defined.
• Budget for COPE program is not defined
• Climbing program not defined (working)
• Must formally charter/define COPE/Climbing committee
• Deconflict use of CWBS course with other programs (e.g, shooting sports)

5. Need help with:

• Need input from units on expectations of COPE/Climbing program
• Need all Districts to have advocates for COPE / Climbing programs
• Sh/Could Fall/Spring COPE/Climbing program at Goshen be pursued?