Wisconsin by birth.
I can’t say for SOTA as I don’t do that one myself. POTA is pretty easy. Register on pota.app, then take your radio to a registered park and make some contacts. Definitely easier if you have HF privileges, but possible on VHF if you are near enough to a major city. SOTA might be more possible on VHF due to the presumed elevation involved.
Parks on the Air or Summits on the Air really helps with this. A standard exchange is usually used so no need to think of what to say.
I wonder if Delta Chat would work for you.