(1) ONB providers may allow children to climb natural features, including trees and boulders.

(2) Before allowing children to climb natural features, ONB providers must use and apply the benefit-risk assessments described in WAC 110-302-0315(3) and 110-302-0471 to determine the appropriate methods to remove or mitigate the possibility of injury.

(3) To prevent injury to children, ONB providers must comply with the requirements described in this subsection.

(a) Staff members must remove hazardous objects and mitigate hazards whenever possible from the surrounding area where children might fall. This includes, but is not limited to, removing rocks and covering sharp edges or potentially harmful protrusions including harmful protrusions or branches that may extend from trees or stumps.

(b) Before a child or children climb on trees, ONB providers must inspect the trees for weak or loose branches or other potential hazards.

(c) ONB staff members must provide active supervision and be able to provide immediate assistance to any climbing child. To ensure adequate supervision and after conducting the risk assessments described in WAC 110-302-0471, it may be necessary for ONB programs to limit the number of children climbing at one time.

(d) At all times, a staff member must be within reach of the midriff of a child who is climbing a natural feature 30 inches above the ground. A climbing child must not be allowed to climb out of reach of staff.

(4) For school-age children and activities that involve climbing natural features or challenge courses 48 inches or higher from the ground, ONB programs must comply with the requirements described in the American National Standard Institute/Association for Challenge Course Technology (ANSI/ACCT) Challenge Course Standards (https://www.acctinfo.org/page/ANSIACCTStandards). ONB program staff that provide climbing and challenge course activities must possess a valid and current Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) Practitioner Certification.