DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO GO OVER THE EDGE?
Calling all thrill-seekers and change-makers to step up and take the challenge—literally. This event offers participants the unique opportunity to rappel seven stories down the Delphia House Apartment building, all while supporting the missions of Children's Aid Society & Affordable Housing Advocates.
EVENT DATE: October 3, 2025
LOCATION: Delphia House
Apartments, 350 E. Philadelphia St., York, PA 17403
How do I participate?
- SIGN UP NOW to become an Participant
- Easily set up your personal fundraising page
- Reach the $1000 fundraising minimum!
- Experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rappel
For more information, send us an email at oteinfo@cassd.org or give us a call at 717-846-5139 ext 125.
ABOUT Children's Aid Society and Affordable Housing Advocates:
Children’s Aid Society (CAS) began in 1913 as a mission of the Southern Pennsylvania District Church of the Brethren. The original mission was to aid abandoned, orphaned, and neglected children and CAS sheltered children in foster families and at the children’s home in Carlisle for more than 40 years. For the past 40 years and today our mission has been to empower children and their families to build stronger, healthier lives. We envision a world where all children are safe and feel loved.
Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA), founded in 1971, has been committed to creating stable, sustainable housing solutions for individuals and families in York. We believe that housing is more than just a roof over your head—it’s the foundation for opportunity, security, and a better quality of life. Our work empowers individuals by providing affordable housing and life-enhancing services. Through rental and homeownership opportunities, we support over 600 residents across 395 housing units, striving to expand homeownership and economic mobility.
For more information about us, please visit out websites:
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Volunteers
We are in need of MANY volunteers to make this a successful event. Below is more information on how many volunteers based on having two rope stations. There are also some detailed notes on what will be asked for specific volunteer duties. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions please reach out to Amanda at azeager@cassd.org.
Non-Profit Volunteer Positions: Participant Rappel Day (Based on two rappelling stations) | |
Registration | 2-3 |
Staging | 1 |
Guides: Registration to Staging and Staging to Training/Roof | 2-5 (depending on layout) |
Landing Zone - Gear Runners | 2-4 (depending on distance from landing zone to Staging) |
Roof Top Security @ entrance | 1 |
Roof Top Radio | 1 |
Landing Zone Announcer/ EMCEE | 2 |
Floater | 1-2 |
*Ropes Volunteers | 10 -12 for both Media and Event Day** (1st day is training) |
REGISTRATION AREA VOLUNTEERS (2+ PEOPLE)
Duties:
- Use the master schedule to determine which participants will be arriving for which registration time. Ensure they are at the correct registration time and check them off as they register
- Check to see if they have signed the electronic waiver in advance of arrival. (If completed, the participants’ name will be highlighted on the event schedule)
- If name is not highlighted on schedule, have them complete a paper participant waiver and bring it with them to staging
- Provide them with a wrist band (if this is the method for waiver identification)
- Provide each participant with a name tag that is clearly visible. Place name tag on their upper arm. This way the harness will not cover the tag.
- Collect all droppable items from participants including phones, keys, coins, etc.
- Send participants to Staging as they arrive.
- People will come late (and early) but do your best to keep them in
their designated groups.
- The goal is to move participants through the process efficiently and quickly if participants come too early, i.e. more than 45 minutes, ask them to return at their designated registration time
STAGING AREA VOLUNTEER (1 EVENT VOLUNTEER)
Duties:
- Ask each participant to double-check their pockets and provide a safe place for these valuables to be stored until after the event.
- Manage GoPro use & charging
- Duties as assigned on-site by Over The Edge Staging Manager
GUIDES (2-5 PEOPLE)
Duties:
- Assigned to lead participant groups through different stages of the event
- Registration to staging; brings groups of 2-6 to staging and returns to registration to wait for next group.
- Staging to Training (roof); brings groups of 2-6 to the roof, returns to staging to wait for next group
- All media personnel must always have a designated non-profit volunteer with them.
LANDING ZONE (2 PEOPLE)
Duties:
- Meet rappelers at ground exclusion zone to guide them back to Staging to remove gear;
- OR meet rappelers at ground exclusion zone to take off their gear and run it back to the staging room.
ROOF TOP SECURITY (1 PERSON)
Duties:
- High level volunteer to be stationed at the last access point to the roof to ensure that only waiver volunteers and participants can access the roof.
- It is very important for this person be assertive and confident in stopping anyone trying to gain access to the roof that should not be there.
ROOF TOP RADIO PERSON (1 PERSON)
Duties:
- Volunteer stationed on the roof to let announcer know who is rappelling, when they go over and what rope they are on
- Organize participants away from the edge and ensure there is an order to who is next in line
- Communicate with the Announcer/MC who is going over and who is next
- OTE Techs will not be able to radio down to the announcer
ANNOUNCER/EMCEE (1 PERSON)
Duties:
- It is your job is to let spectators know who is rappelling and on what rope
- Have one person monitor the radio and communicate with the Roof Top Radio Volunteer on who is going over and who is “on deck”
- Announce who is currently rappelling and who will be rappelling next
- Add info about the nonprofit, person rappelling or how to participate next year
FLOATER (1 PERSON) EXTRA, IF AVAILABLE, TO ASSIST OTHER STAFF
ROPE VOLUNTEER DUTIES & RESPONSIBILTIES (10-12 Rope Volunteers Needed)
- Roof: Support Site Safety Supervisor at main rappel, help load participants and coach them over the edge
- Training: Support Training Manager in training all participants before they go over the edge
- Staging: Support Staging Manager, help get participants into gear and ready to go on the roof
- Landing Zone: Belay ropes and assist participants when they finish their rappel
MUST BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL OF THESE:
- Watch a 1-hour online video before the event (if first time as Ropes Volunteer)
- Attend a 3-hour training session on VIP Day (if first time as Ropes Volunteer)
- Volunteer all day on event day
- Rope volunteers will get to rappel the building as part of their training; time/weather permitting.
