Project COPE

Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience, or C.O.P.E.,

is the challenge course program of the Boy Scouts of America.  It is a series of physical, mental and emotional challenges facilitated by a trained staff directed at enhancing personal growth.
The recognized goals of the program are: 

• 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.
• Communication - Project COPE encourages real learning of critical listening and discussion skills important for any group attempting to accomplish difficult tasks.

• Trust - Participants completing difficult tasks on a COPE course develop trust in COPE staff members, the safety of the course, each other and themselves.
• 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.
• 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.
• Problem Solving - Project COPE challenges groups and individuals to develop solutions to interesting problems.  Participants can then test their solutions and evaluate the results.
• 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.