Treasure State Baptist Associati

Treasure State Baptist Association

ROCK WALL PROTOCOLS

I. PURPOSE & OVERVIEW

The TSBA purchased the Rock Wall as a “tool to engage our communities with the Gospel. It provides a fun activity that will most certainly draw a crowd and it offers a unique opportunity to meet new people in a public setting, but each church must be intentional in their evangelisitic efforts for it to be effective. Please consider prayerfully how this ministry tool can be used by your church to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Whether it is for relationship building, promoting faith opportunities your church provides, supporting VBS, or just giving a simple witness of God’s grace, the Rock Wall will allow you to connect with a wide variety of people who may have never even considered your church or any other church for that matter.

Therefore, seize this moment to be a godly witness and influence, and traine your workers to be aware of the impression they will have on their community. Your actions and attitudes will communicate that a life with Jesus is fun, fulfilling, and worth having! So, develop an intentional evangelistic strategy that allows your church people to interact with the community. We pray that God will allow you divine appointments.

Please follow all the usage and safety protocols. Several of these steps require planning so make sure you complete each step. Finally have fun and be safe!

II. USAGE PROTOCOLS

In order to reserve the Rock Wall for your church’s event, the following steps must be completed. The Rock Wall calendar, application, and protocols can be accessed online at www.treasurestateba.org. Click the “Resourcing: tab on left side of main page.

1. Calendar: Check the Rock Wall Calendar to see if it is availableyou’re your event. You may call the TSBA office to inquire about a date, but until the application is complete you date is not secured.

2. Application: Complete the Rock Wall Application and promptly return with the $100 usage fee. This covers annual maintenance and insurance. Once your application and fee are processed, you will be contacted with a confirmation of your event date. If you are using the Rock Wall for more than one day there will be a $25 fee for each additional day of use.

3. Training: The person designated from your church to be responsible for the Rock Wall must be trained in the set up and usage of the Rock Wall before you church’s event. This training can be received at other TSBA events by individuals the TSBA appoints as official trainers. This requires planning! Contact the TSBA office for details.

4. Insurance: The TSBA has purchased insurance that covers damage to the Rock Wall and for liability purposes. However, our insurance carrier will only insure participants that are 14 or older. Therefore, if you desire to use the Rock Wall for children younger than 14 years of age (and most will), you must contact your church’s insurance company and add the Rock Wall as a “rider” to your current insurance policy. That annual fee from your insurance provider will cover each time you use the Rock Wall in that year. This requires planning! The TSBA also requires each participant to complete a waiver and liability form by a parent or legal guardian.

3. Transportation & Security: It is the responsibility of each church to transport the Rock Wall to their event and to insure it is kept in a secure location. If no other church is using the Rock Wall immediately after your event, it must be transported back to Townsend for storage at Steve Fowler’s home within 2 days of your event. However, if another church is signed up after your event, the new user can contact you and assume responsibility for the Rock Wall at your location. The new user can return the wall as indicated above or the next user can make the same arrangements with them. The Rock wall comes with a 2 5/16 ball insert. It is required you pull the rock Wall with no small than a ½ ton truck and recommended a ¾ ton truck be used.

III. OPERATING THE ROCK WALL

1. Operations Manual: When you receive the Rock Wall, read the manual carefully before you use it. Make all safety checks before usage. Since the Rock Wall may be transferred from church to church make sure you complete both the daily and the weekly inspections. If you find any deficiencies that cannot be fixed do not sue the Rock Wall

a. Setting up the wall (p. 17-18)

b. Taking down the wall (p. 20)

c. Inspections (p. 21-22)

d. Preventative Maintenance Checklist (p, 25)

5. Safety & Training: The Rock Wall is a strenuous physical activity and this apparatus does come with the risk of injury. Therefore it is imperative that all protocols and procedures are followed strictly. Safety must be a priority. There is nothing that will hinder your witness more than carelessness.

a. The Rock Wall requires a minimum of 2 trained adults for use, but we recommend 3-5 for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

1. “Climbing Coaches” 1-3 adults. Read about the auto belay system (p. 12-13) and Required Personnel (p. 16)

a. The climbing coaches keep their attention on the climbers at all times. They coach! They make sure climbers are securely fastened to and the clip in locked into the harness.

b. They can belay the ropes if needed to help climbers descend, but encourage climbers to push away gently with their feet and allow the auto belay system to work.

2. “Crowd Control” 1-2 adults. They do all of the following:

a. Maintain a 10’ perimeter from the climbing wall

b. Maintain the line/order of climbers to reduce friction and stress among participants

c. Make sure Liability Release forms are signed by a parent or legal guardian. If they are not available to sign, then those under 18 may not climb

d. Ensure harnesses are properly worn and tightly secured. This prevents injury!

e. Be a good will ambassador for your church and for Christ!

b. Rock Wall Guidelines

1. The Rock Wall can hold 3 climbers at a time. The center climb is the easiest. The one of the left is a moderate climb. The one of the right is very hard and very few will get past halfway. Climbers need to be given choice of difficulty. It will be up to the Climbing Coaches to determine how much time each climber needs or chances they get, depending on crowd size.

2. The Rock Wall is intended for those between 45 lbs and 250 lbs. Those under 45 lbs may climb, but the auto belay system will not allow them to descend without help. A belay is needed. Those over 250 lbs should not climb the wall.

3. The Rock Wall should not be used when winds are 35 mph or stronger

4. The front tank should be filled with water to provide tongue weight for the Rock Wall

5. The Rock Wall should not be used as a fundraiser for your church

6. The Rock Wall cannot be loaned to other churches or organizations outside TSBA. Any church in the TSBA can use it at a community event, but they must be responsible for the Usage, Transportation, Security, and Safety of the Rock Wall

IV. RELEASE FORM

WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND DISCLAIMER: I, the parent or legal guardian of the participants, acknowledge that participation in this event involves the risk of injury. I further acknowledge that this event is primarily administered by volunteers. In consideration for accepting the registration for the participants listed and for permitting voluntary participation of the said individuals in this activity, I hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless, the event staff, its sponsoring organization, its employees, volunteers, and other representatives from any claims arising out of or related to any physical injury that may occur to the said individuals while participating in this event.

Participant Name: _____________________________________

Authorized Signature: ___________________________________

Revised 5/5/2010