Iowa Challenge Training Consortium
2025 COPE & Climbing Training
Become a COPE/Climbing Facilitator in your local BSA Councils!
Mid-Iowa – Hawkeye Area – Northeast Iowa - Winnebago - Blackhawk - Mitigwa - Howard H Cherry - CS Klaus - Ingawanis - Canyon - Lowden
3 Training Modules:
• COPE & Climbing Foundation Training
• Fundamentals of COPE & Climbing
• Initiative Games
• Safety Measures
• Life Safety Systems
• Emergency Procedures
• Climbing Tower & Zip Line Operation
• April 11-13, 2025 at Canyon Camp or April 18-20,
2025 at Mitigwa Scout Reservation
• COPE Instructor Training
• Prerequisite: COPE & Climbing Foundation Training
• More initiative games
• High COPE & Tower Operation
• Low COPE
• Team-building
• May 2-4, 2025 at Howard H Cherry Scout Reservation
• Natural Rock Climbing Instructor Training
• Prerequisite: COPE & Climbing Foundation Training
• Climbing techniques
• Climbing classification
• Anchor systems
• Site selection and management
• Natural rock climbing programs at Backbone State
Park
• Climbing Merit Badge Clinic on Saturday: 8:00AM-5:00 PM September 27, 2025 at Backbone State Park
• September 26-28, 2025 at Camp CS Klaus
Youth and adult participants are welcome. Level of certification available varies according to age and demonstrated competence:
• Level II Instructors must be at least age 21
• Level I Instructors must be at least age 18
• Instructors in Training must be at least age 16
• Scouts age 14-15 are welcome to attend and participate in running programs, but cannot earn certification. Watch for registration details on the calendar page of your
council websites.
Contact for questions:
Mid-Iowa Council www.midiowacouncilbsa.org
COPE/Climbing Chair
Darren Geil darrenandr@aol.com
Hawkeye Area Council www.hawkeyebsa.org
COPE/Climbing Chair
Fred Ullrich phallrik@hotmail.com
Northeast Iowa Council www.scoutsiowa.org
COPE/Climbing Chair
Ben Smith bssmith1939@gmail.com
Winnebago Council www.winnebagobsa.org
COPE/Climbing Chair
Tim Bleadorn waverly.camper@gmail.com
Blackhawk Council https://blackhawkscouting.org/
COPE/Climbing Chairs
Nolan Halla & hallanolan677@gmail.com
Alex Kloepping alexkloepping@gmail.com
To Register, go to https://scoutingiowa.org/calendars/, navigate to April 11 or April 18 on the calendar, and click on the COPE & Climbing Training event.
Fees:
1st weekend only: $40
2nd weekend: $40
3rd weekend: $40
All 3 weekends: $100