Vertical Playpen (High 5 Adventure Learning Center)

Ian talks to Phil about the joy of designing challenge courses, having a strong work ethic and eating too much Fish & Chips on the road.

Warm weather months often result in our calendars filling with programming which can lead to staff having low energy. The Training team (Phil, Chris, Lisa and Jim) talk about how they manage their energy levels during the busy training seasons and when the weather may not cooperate.

Join Phil in a conversation with Chris Wiley, from The Story School, as they delve into the world of Live Action Role-Playing (LARPing) and how Chris has seen growth in the campers that attend.

Chris passionately shares the many social and educational benefits hidden within this unique and immersive experience. From fostering creativity and problem-solving to building strong communities, LARPing has much to offer for both participants and educators.

Learn more about The Story School - https://www.thestoryschool.org/

Connect with Chris - cwiley@thestoryschool.org

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Phil chats with fellow facilitator and podcaster Leanne Hughes about how she began in facilitation, her advice for emerging professionals and how we describe the work we do; Facilitator vs Trainer vs Educator. 

Find Leanne's podcast by searching First Time Facilitator and find more information about her work on her website: www.leannehughes.com

Have you ever jumped into a role with limited experience and had to learn fast?

In this episode, Mike Nelson, formally of Camp Wicosuta, joins Phil and Lisa to discuss;

• Why summer camp?
• How he embraced learning and demonstrated humility in the new role
• What he wished he had known and questions to ask when running an adventure program
• Advice for new adventure program leads.

Connect with Mike - 23nelson@gmail.com 

Learn more about Camp Wicosuta - https://www.campwicosuta.com/

Music and sound effects - epidemic sound

Join us in the first installment of a captivating two-part interview with the visionary experiential educator, Vishwas Parchure. In this episode, we delve into the very essence of Vishwas' profound work in experiential education and facilitation, gaining insights into his motivations, career-defining moments, and unique perspectives on the art of facilitation.

Vishwas opens up about the driving force behind his commitment to experiential education, revealing the transformative impact it has on participants. Through heartfelt anecdotes, he shares the pivotal moments that have shaped his journey, shedding light on the profound personal experiences that fueled his passion for this remarkable field.

One of the thought-provoking topics discussed is the concept of reflection within experiential learning. Vishwas begins by emphasizing that genuine reflection is a journey owned by the participants, not the facilitator. 

As the conversation unfolds, Vishwas shares his belief that facilitation is an art that cannot be taught in the traditional sense and how he creates opportunities for his students to teach themselves.

Whether you're an educator, facilitator, or simply curious about the world of experiential education, this episode promises to ignite your curiosity and challenge your perceptions. Join us for an enriching exploration of Vishwas Parchure's transformative work, as we uncover the wisdom that has driven his impactful career. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we delve even deeper into his insights and experiences.

Watch his AEE Address - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXvXWRrMeg4

Learn more about the Experiential Leadership Institute - https://www.experiential.institute/

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

How do you prepare to present at conferences?

In this episode, Phil and Rich Keegan discuss;

- How to come up with conference workshops

- How to submit workshops

- How to prepare for presenting the workshops

Follow @verticalplaypen on Instagram

Email questions or comments to podcast@high5adventure.org

Scott Catucci (Associate Director - Outdoor Education / Student Development at Syracuse University) joins Phil to discuss;

- Volunteering for AEE

- Experiential Learning through music

- Esports and Video games relationship to experiential learning

Learn more about Syracuse's Recreation programs - https://www.syracuse.edu/life/recreation/

Connect with Scott - sacatucc@syr.edu

 

Alex and Kevin, Director of Training and Training Manager at Synergo, join Phil, while at the ACCT conference, for a conversation all about their passion for teaching others and challenge course programming. Check out more about Synergo at teamsynergo.com.

In this episode, Phil and Jim are joined by Adam Ames (Type A) to discuss his experience being trained by Jim, the impact it had on him and the visual art piece that resulted from their experiences.

Check out Type A's Team building (Align) here - typea.us/align

In this episode, Phil brings you insights from the recent Association for Challenge Course Technology conference. Here are his five key takeaways:

1. People from all over the world attended the conference, and the connections made are incredibly valuable.

2. Highlights from the 2 workshops that he presented.

3. What Portland was like?....spoiler...we never really left the conference area!

4. The importance of what makes a qualified course professional was discussed at length, emphasizing the need for a rigorous curriculum, experienced instructors and the need to share and collaborate.

5. We are excited to bring you interviews with some of the new folks we met at the conference.

Find out more about the KYOOB - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/high-5-products/products/kyoob

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Michelle joins Phil (while at the ACCT conference) to discuss how she got her start in experiential education, the importance of making connections and her parenting advice on coping with a world full of screens.

Find her website full of resources here: training-wheels.com

Join Phil and Lisa in this special episode as they address two intriguing questions from you, the podcast listeners.

In the first segment, they delve into the ways music can be used when facilitating group activities. They share ways that it has been successful and ways that should be avoided.

In the second part of the episode, the question focuses on unique locations that they have facilitated in; a wedding, an army base and snowy canadian mountains.

Submit your questions to be answered on a future episode;

Email - podcast@high5adventure.org

Instagram - @verticalplaypen

Music and Sound Effects - epidemicsound.com

Amy talks with Phil about her advice to students when embarking on a career in experiential education, thoughts on the future of the industry and also a couple of tips and insights on Climer Cards.

amy@climerconsulting.com

Join Phil and Rich as they travel together for a training. So many great conversations go unrecorded when traveling for work so in this episode we had a microphone ready as we discussed;

- Best and Worst Traveling stories

- A couple of canadian misadventures

- The luxuries of airtravel 30 years ago

Reach out to Phil either via Instagram - @verticalplaypen

email - podcast@high5adventure.org

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Intro/Outro song - Future is Now by FLYIN

Phil recently attempted to ski for the 1st time. In the process he reflected on 4 things that he noticed about being a new learner;

- Having patience for the speed of how you learn

- The more details shared the better

- The effect the environment has on your learning

- A word that should stay away from learning environments

Do connection activities actually help our participants connect?

This was the topic of discussion in this live recorded episode of the podcast.

It was recorded while attending the BOOST (Best Out-Of-School Time) 2022 Conference

The contributors in this conversation;

Phil Brown - @verticalplaypen

Sam Copland - scopland@high5adventure.org

Ian Hockley - ian@dylanswingsofchange.org

ElizaBeth Phillips - cerphillips@gmail.com

Peter Silvius - psilvius@seguin.k12.tx.us

Activities used were introduced to me by Jan Keck - you can find more about Jan here - https://www.jankeck.com/

This week's guest, Andrew Alexander King, is a surfer, climber and mountaineer who is currently attempting to be the 1st African American to summit the highest mountain and highest volcano on each continent, 14 in total.

We discuss how adventure became a part of his life, his thoughts on being a role model and mentor to younger climbers and surfers and what people can do to improve diversity in the outdoors.

Follow him on his journey via his instagram - @andrew_alexander_king

In this episode, members of the training team (Phil, Lisa, Chris and Rich) sit down to discuss an often used theme of this podcast - What is something you were taught that you now disagree with?

Topics covered;

• Everyone joining in
• Eye contact
• Activity Sequencing
• Do Low elements have much lead-in to High elements
• Group goals

Submit your questions to the team -

Email - podcast@high5adventure.org

Instagram - @verticalplaypen

Music and Sound Effects - epidemicsound.com

As facilitators, we often find ourselves planning and leading activities to engage our participants and help them achieve their goals. However, do we need to share the names of these activities with our participants? While it's important to provide clear instructions and objectives for each activity, the name of the activity itself is not always necessary.

So, what is the purpose of activity names? One might argue that activity names serve as a way to categorize and organize different types of activities. However, it's important to remember that not all activities need to fit neatly into certain thematic buckets.

In fact, sometimes activities that are seemingly unrelated can be just as effective in achieving a particular goal. For instance, a fun icebreaker game that has nothing to do with teamwork might actually help break down barriers and create a more relaxed and open atmosphere among participants.

Moreover, activities that are overly prescriptive can actually hinder creativity and limit the potential outcomes. Instead of feeling constrained by the name or description of an activity, facilitators can encourage participants to approach the task with an open mind and think outside the box.

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

High 5’s Annual Symposium is a great coming together of adventure professionals who love to have fun, share and learn. It’s a special 1-day event for our community to reconnect, re-energize, and re-engage with our learning and each other! We’ve lined up over 15 workshop sessions, each one offering timely topics, fresh ideas, and creative tools and activities that you can start using immediately in your classroom, challenge course program, workplace, camp, outdoor center - wherever adventure learning takes you. 

Register for the Symposium here - https://store.high5adventure.org/products/adventure-practitioners-symposium-1-day?utm_source=copyToPasteBoard&utm_medium=product-links&utm_content=web&_ga=2.255767051.2090452263.1678733796-1154500371.1670878511

Beth Wonson, Author of Mastering Feedback: Everything You've Never Been Told About Giving Feedback, discusses with our guest host, Lisa Hunt, all about how to give feedback, how to receive feedback and strategies that both work and also don't work.

Learn more about Navigating Challenging Dialogue here: ncdsolution.com

In this episode, Phil sits down with Mark Collard (playmeo.com) to discuss;

• His introduction to the world of adventure education
• How Playmeo came to be
• That adventure education is a methodology and not an educational subject
• His hopes for the future of the industry
• Several answers to increasingly bizarre "would you rather" questions

*Note - this is a re-production and edited version of a conversation recording in early 2019, back when I recorded episodes in my car.

Learn more about Mark and Playmeo - playmeo.com

Connect with Mark - hello@playmeo.com

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Gary Ware (Breakthroughplay.com) joins Phil to talk about;

- His 1st experiences of learning through play.

- How he brings meaning through play.

- What Improv can teach us about play and facilitating play

In this episode we take a deeper look into the field of Adventure Education and discuss;

- The definition of Adventure and Adventure Education

- Adventure Education outcomes

- Adventure Education processes

- The difference between Learning and Education

Brian (President and Founder of Adventureworks, and also the 2021 ACCT Critical Link Award Recipient), joins Phil to share;

- His introduction to the world of Adventure Programming

- His perspective on the growth of the industry and changes coming to ACCT

- Advice to emerging professionals in the industy

Find more at - adventureworks.org

In this episode, Phil is joined by Niels Damman, the Course Services Manager at Experiential Resources (ERI), to delve into the world of challenge course training. Niels brings his experience and expertise to shed light on the pros and potential hurdles associated with trainer credentialing in this field.

Challenge courses have gained immense popularity as powerful tools for team building, personal growth, and experiential learning. However, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of these courses requires skilled and knowledgeable trainers. Phil and Niels discuss the importance of trainer credentialing and how it contributes to maintaining high standards and professionalism within the industry.

They explore the numerous benefits of trainer credentialing, such as enhancing participant safety, ensuring consistent and quality experiences, and building trust with clients and participants. 

While trainer credentialing offers significant advantages, the conversation also delves into potential hurdles that may arise during the process. Phil and Niels discuss challenges such as establishing universally recognized standards, addressing the cost and accessibility of training programs, and navigating the evolving landscape of technology and innovation in experiential learning.

Join Phil and Niels as they engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the importance of challenge course training, the benefits of trainer credentialing, and the potential hurdles that the industry faces. Whether you're a professional in the field, an enthusiast, or simply curious about the world of experiential learning, this episode will provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of challenge course training.

Learn more about ERI - https://www.experientialresources.com/

Connect with Niels - niels@experientialresources.net

High 5 is Hiring - https://high5adventure.org/about-us/jobs/

Level 2 Training - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/multi-day-workshops-and-trainings/products/beyond-basics-level-2-training?_ga=2.4017907.256024607.1689279033-69781410.1683822041

Music and Sound Effects - epidemicsound.com

Hutch Hutchinson (Senior Lecturer at Boston University Questrom School of Business) shares his road to working in Experiential Education, his love of the AEE community and the history of Outdoor Education based on his dissertation "Crafting an Outdoor Classroom: The Nineteenth Century Roots of the Outdoor Education Movement".

Facilitation has the possibility of opening doors to global travel and connections.

In this episode, Steve Ockerbloom sits down with guest host Rich Keegan to discuss;

- His memorable experiences facilitation around the world

- Advice for professionals wanting to expand their facilitation work

- His thoughts on the industry at large.

Connect with Steve -info@creativehorizonstraining.com

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Intro/Outro song - Future is Now by FLYIN

Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

Todd talks to Phil about his thoughts on the changing challenge course industry, the many variations of coleslaw and adding hot sauce to salty foods.

Do you find learning names challenging? Especially when you are leading a 1-day program?

In this "Listener Question" episode, Phil gives 2 ideas on how he learns names during shorter programs.

Adventure Basics Training  - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/multi-day-workshops-and-trainings/products/adventure-basics-level-1-training?_ga=2.88191451.15375352.1662925267-1772421505.1613053803

Submit any questions you have to either;

- Instagram - @verticalplaypen

- Email - podcast@high5adventure.org

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Intro/Outro song - Future is Now by FLYIN

Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

Alicia talks with Phil about making Summer Camp a full-time career, the benefits of professional training and tiny tiny pocket horses.

Learn more about Fernwood Cove here: www.fernwoodcove.com

When you experience 40 years of adventure programming you accumulate many impactful moments with special individuals.

In part 2 of our conversation with Doug, we hear about;

- Creating ropes course elements and well known activities with Karl Rohnke

- Polar dips in honor of beloved facilitators

- Mountaineering experiences that test abilities to recognize risk and acknowledge struggle.

Ubuntu Cards - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/high-5-products/products/ubuntu-cards

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Intro/Outro song - Future is Now by FLYIN

Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

Chris sits down with Phil at the ACCT Conference to talk about his start in the industry, his advice for emerging professionals and the importance of making connections. Plus, a few dad jokes make their way into the conversation.

Chris, Lisa and Phil talk about High 5's ACCT certification process including how to prepare, why you might want a certification, what the process looks like, and common pitfalls we see as examiners. Chris also introduces the concept of Education - Preparation - Illumination - Certification.

When was the last time you attended a professional training?

Recently, Tom Leahy (Leahy & Associates) joined us at High 5 for a Level 2 Training led by Phil and during the week they found time to discuss;

- His start in the industry and those that inspired him.

- An alternative perspective on comfort zones.

- Advice for those wanting a career in adventure education.

Connect with Tom - tom@leahy-inc.com

ROAM Storage Case - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/equipment-storage/products/roam-adventure-co-rugged-casses

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Song - Future is Now by FLYIN

Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

Phil and Lisa discuss a question submitted by Meg Bolger.

"How do you teach a new facilitator to read your group?"

If you are planning on attending the ACCT conference in Cleveland (Feb 2022) then consider joining us for our pre-con "A Critical Look at Core Concepts".

In this episode, join Phil and Rich as they dive into a fascinating discussion on the causes and effective strategies to reduce that moment when participants freeze in the air on a ropes course. 

Drawing from their extensive experience in outdoor adventure and team-building activities, they explore the psychology behind this common challenge and offer practical tips to help facilitators navigate their participant's fear.

Strategies include;

• Framing the day and creating an atmosphere of choice
• Designing the program that scaffolds skill and challenge
• Allowing participants to be lowered at any point in the their climb

Submit your questions to;

email - podcast@high5adventure.org

instagram - @verticalplaypen

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Episode supported by Stickermule. Create your own custom stickers - https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers

In this episode, Phil sits down with JJ Stapleton from The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring to dive into the world of facilitating guides and the ripple effect of investing in employee training and development. Together, they explore the benefits of teaching facilitation techniques to guides and how it enhances the overall guest experience. Discover how investing in your team's growth can lead to a workforce that's not only highly skilled but also fiercely loyal. If you're interested in the secrets behind successful employee development and creating exceptional guest interactions, this podcast is a must-listen.

Learn more about The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring - https://sandyspringadventurepark.org/

Employment opportunities - https://sandyspringadventurepark.org/employment/

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Phil is joined by his hometown connection Andrew Jillings to talk about his journey in experiential education, the benefits of both experience and certifications, and his winter reading list.

Find out more about Hamilton College's Outdoor Leadership Program here: hamilton.edu/offices/adventure

HIGH 5 RETREAT EPISODE

In this episode of the podcast Phil and Rich host a game show "Two Truths, No Lies" for the High 5 staff as they make their way to this years all-staff retreat.

The task - listen to all 23 pairs of truths and try to guess which pair belongs to which High 5 staff member.

Start of the game - 3:25

For those listening who do not work at High 5, I both apologize and equally welcome you to enjoy listening to the varied and diverse experiences that are team share.

This episode also attempts to highlight 2 things;

• An example of an activity you can do with your intact teams
• That we are a fun (and interesting) bunch of humans!

GIVEAWAY - Play along at home and if you believe you know how 2+ correct pairings then message me on Instagram @verticalplaypen or email me and depending on how many you get correct you will be entered into a drawing to win a sticker pack!

Email - podcast@high5adventure.org

Instagram - @verticalplaypen

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Kirsten Locke (Koala Tree) joins Phil to discuss;

- Being an Arborist and the supportive world of arboriculture

- Living life adventurously and asking for help along the way

- Protecting your body using mobility and strength training

Learn more about Kirsten at her Instagram - @brave.roots

Learn more about Koala Tree - koalatree.ca

Jim continues his conversation with Phil talking about his thoughts regarding the future of Adventure Education, the most recent books he has read and how he would never turn down a conversation with a penguin.

Marty took some time after taking an ACCT Level 2 Certification Exam to chat with Phil about adaptive programming, the joy of "getting" to go to work instead of "having" to go to work and shares his challenges with operating a challenge course.

What are the differences between being a trainer in the US vs the UK?

This was a question submitted to me by one of our listeners, so we reached out to Steve Woods, the Technical Director at Vertex Instructor Training, which is based in England, to see what differences and what similarities there are between us.

This is a 2 part episode and in this part we discuss - 

- Training newer practitioners

- Growing in the industry thanks to influential facilitators

- What is the essential component of a successful training

Learn more about Vertex - https://www.vertex-training.co.uk/

Join the High 5 Training Team - https://high5adventure.org/job/full-time-adventure-educator-trainer/

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Micheal and Kyle (Social Play Club - thesocialplayclub.com) join Phil to share:

- Their introduction to creating immersive social experiences

- How they facilitate their social play club on Clubhouse

- Tips on facilitating when participants join midway through a program

- Their favorite activity to use in an audio-only setting

Tre Gammage joins Phil to discuss;

- His work with SEL and how he started in the education

- Why teaching educators about SEL is so important

tregammage.com

seleducators.com

Tom talks to Phil about his fundraising background, fly fishing and having conversations with ducks.

In this episode, we explore the art of balancing group dynamics and safety when belaying on a ropes course while also respecting the participants awareness of tasks that are purely for behavior management.

Notes from Lisa Hunt.  This exchange happened somewhere back around 2001, and I wrote it up shortly thereafter with Ken’s input:

The question of how to engage the most number of students at a time on a challenge course is one that is often raised in workshops.  A common approach is involving people (students) in the tasks of operations to “keep them busy.”  Years ago, my co-leader during a workshop differentiated  these tasks as “real jobs” and “fake jobs,” and challenged participants to consider the implications of both on student behavior and growth, as well as program quality over all.   

That co-leader is Ken Demas,  Veteran Physical Education teacher, former Project Adventure Trainer, coach, Board Chair at NYSAHPERD, Coordinator of Adventure and an Associate Prof. at Hofstra University  – an important mentor to me.  That conversation has come with me to so many subsequent workshops, and I wanted to go back to the source to hear more about Ken’s experience and thoughts.  He has generously expanded this question here: 

Fake Jobs—Real Jobs:

As you may recall, one of the things I did for about 16-17 years, was to act as a consultant for NY Insurance Reciprocal.  One of the adventure cases I reviewed involved too many spotters, not too few. In an effort to involve more students at low elements, teachers would over involve students in spotting jobs.  One case in particular occurred at the rear of the “Wall”. The teacher had used it as the culminating activity for the low element portion of the adventure unit. Because the entire class was involved, the teacher had placed 6 spotters at the ladder at the rear of the Wall.  When a student started to descend, she missed the step and fell backwards. Everyone was responsible and at the same time no one was responsible. No one moved. Too crowded?? Not engaged?? Not important enough??

Too many involved and therefore not a REAL JOB.  Students need to be invested in the job. See a real need for it.  Understand that what they are doing is important to the success and safety of the individual or individuals involve.  Too many spotters diminishes the significance of what they are doing.  

With this concept in mind, we fall into the same problem when we assemble a belay team.  A belayer, a back-up and when needed, an anchor should be more than adequate to manage a climber.  My least favorite bogus job is that of rope tender. I fully understand that it might look like a real job, but the kids know it is not.  Has anyone taught the rope handler how to coil the rope or flake it out so that when the climber descends it does not foul in the hands of the belayer?  Probably not. Couldn’t the back-up do this job if taught properly?

The use of the Australian Back-up Belay involve kids in Real Jobs.  The facilitator as a ropes course manager, can engage more students in a meaningful way.  Properly trained belayers can determine whether or not the need an anchor. What weight differential is needed?  How does their position, whether near or far, alter the shear on the belay system and therefore alter resistance.  Make the job more than that of a counter weight. When the manager has competently train belayers, they have the opportunity to open more activities and thus engage more students. 

A good technique I used, required that student to make journal entries right after completing a climb.  Belayers were also encouraged to make entries during class.

Course design should be considered.  I mixed Australian with traditional belays.  Grigri set-up with competent kids and teams and I would belay Pamper pole events.  I was always positioned to see and control whichever elements were being used. Some folks might find this overwhelming.  But, my department at the middle school found that it worked.

Note from Lisa:

Ken Demas passed away in May of 2017.  He was a “once in a lifetime” kind of mentor.  At his memorial service, I met so many people who saw him in that same light.  He is deeply missed, and his adventuresome spirit and his questions of me continue to help me grow. 

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

In this episode, Phil delves into the problem of ego in trainers and educators, where this might come from and the impact it can have on their ability to teach effectively. 

We also hear from High 5's Founding Director Jim Grout as he tells a story that highlights the problem that ego can have on those who teach.

Phil then explores the idea that simply having years of experience or putting in long hours does not necessarily result in competency.

In this episode of Trainer Tips, Phil and Rich spend 15 minutes discussing tips for managing the use of p-cords on challenge courses. Topics include, replacing the rope, stacking them out of the way and appropriate p-cord length.

Lisa talks to Phil about garden gnomes, her hopes for the future of this industry and our role in helping new facilitators. They also masterfully deal with a mid-interview interruption.

Justin chats with Rich Keegan, High 5 Trainer, about his start in adventure programming, his great work with Dylan's Wings of Change and his love of our Executive Director, Jim Grout.

Over the years, we all make mistakes. 

However, we are often too embarrassed to bring them up because of the possibility of being negatively judged.

It is through these mistakes though that we learn and by sharing them with others we can help prevent them from making the same ones.

In this episode, Phil and Rich will be sharing some of the mistakes they have made over the years, with 2 main goals;

- Help you learn from their mistakes

- Role-model the vulnerability that comes from sharing those mistakes.

If you would like to share a mistake you have made for the benefit of your fellow listener, consider letting us know either by;

- Sending a message via Instagram - @verticalplaypen

- Emailing podcast@high5adventure.org

In this episode Phil is joined by Matt Marcus, the Manager of Adventure Gear and Sales at Challenge Design Innovations. With a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for the adventure industry, Matt takes us on a journey through his career, volunteer work, and his thoughts on the future of adventure education.

One of the highlights of Matt's journey has been his involvement with the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT). We discuss his volunteer work with the ACCT, including his contributions as a board member. 

As we peer into the horizon, Matt shares his insightful predictions on the future of the adventure industry. He discusses emerging trends, technological advancements, and the evolving needs of adventure enthusiasts. 

We also explore Matt's belief in the importance of media training for adventure educators and facilitators. Recognizing the power of storytelling and effective communication, he discusses how media training can elevate the skills of those in the industry, enabling them to connect with participants on a deeper level and create impactful experiences.

Learn more about Challenge Design Innovations - https://challengedesign.com/

Connect with Matt - mmarcus@challengedesign.com

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Jeff and Arlette from the Gengras Center in West Hartford, CT sat down with their good friend and our Trainer Rich Keegan to talk and reminisce about their incredible work at Gengras and their experience using a challenge course and experiential education. 

Brett Johnson, the new owner of Ipswich Town Football Club, joins Phil to discuss why connecting with the supporters matters, qualities of good leadership that are important to him and how empowering your staff makes all the difference.

In 2005, Mr. Johnson founded and is the CEO of Benevolent Capital (www.benevolentcapital.com), a family office with investments in professional sports teams, real estate, private equity and venture capital.  The current portfolio includes Ipswich Town Football Club, Phoenix Rising FC, FC Helsingor, Tucson FC, USL Rhode Island, TerraCycle, Athletic Brewing, Oura Ring, Damon Motorcycles, Thrasio, NYC Office Suites, Octagon Partners, and ArcherDX (acquired by NASDAQ: NVTA).

This episode is an invitation to listen in on a conversation between Lisa Hunt (Manager of Team Development) and Ryan McCormick (Edge of Leadership Director) as they discuss;

- Problem Solving

- Activity Selection

- Advice for educators on how to adapt activities

Phil is joined by President Emeritus of the Global Organization of Tree Climbers, Harv Teitelbaum to discuss;

- What recreational tree climbing is and what it provides those who climb.

- What 1st drew him into the world of tree climbing and how you can find tree climbing trainers near you.

- The importance of educating our participants about trees and the natural world that we work in.

You can learn more about tree climbing by visiting their website - gotreeclimbing.org and/or by emailing them at info@gotreeclimbing.org

Do we adequately prepare our participants for struggle and frustration on the ropes course?

It's a challenge course, not a success course, after all.

In this episode, Phil, Lisa and Rich talk about facilitating struggle, share stories of struggle and give some activity ideas that you can use with your next group.

Referenced in this episode are 2 blog posts;

- The Struggle is Real - https://high5adventure.org/the-struggle-is-real/

- A Force to Be Reckoned With: The Helium Hoop - https://high5adventure.org/a-force-to-be-reckoned-with-the-helium-hoop/

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Song - It's Real by Blake Everett

Clint McCarthy (Associate Professor of Outdoor Education, SUNY Adirondack) chats with Chris Damboise about lessons learned as a younger professional, what students can expect when joining the SUNY program and the impact SUNY Adirondack aims to have in their community.

In this episode, the Training team discuss;

- Training and preparing your participants to belay

- Your role during this process

- Advice on ensuring you and your participants are ready to belay

How to contact us:

Phil Brown - pbrown@high5adventure.org OR @verticalplaypen on Instagram

Chris Damboise - cdamboise@high5adventure.org

Lisa Hunt - lhunt@high5adventure.org

Hanne Bailey - hbailey@high5adventure.org

Rich Keegan - rkeegan@high5adventure.org

Join the Training Team!! - https://high5adventure.org/job/full-time-adventure-educator-trainer/

This episode, inspired by the Multi-stage fitness test (PACER or beep test), brings in Phil to become a guest facilitator for your program.

Phil guides your participants through 3 different opening activities, providing you with framing ideas and reflection prompts. 

Activity 1 - Jump In Jump Out - 3:00 - 12:40

Activity 2 - Alternative Introductions - 12:50 - 22:50

Activity 3 - The Wright Family Vacation - 23:00 - 27:10

Be sure to let us know if this type of episode is valuable and you would like to see more.

Follow us @verticalplaypen on Instagram.

In this thought-provoking episode Phil and Lisa delve deep into the world of adventure education and one specific component: the concept of the unknown. Traditionally, adventure education often emphasizes keeping participants in the dark, shrouding activities in secrecy to create an element of surprise and uncertainty. However, we challenge this approach, arguing that it can have unintended consequences.

Join us as we explore the importance of maintaining a psychologically safe learning environment in adventure education. We discuss why withholding information and keeping participants in the dark may not always be the best strategy. We believe that pushing people into the unknown without adequate preparation can have adverse effects, potentially pushing them out of their comfort zones too soon, leading to discomfort, anxiety, and even negative learning experiences.

Whether you're an educator, adventure enthusiast, or simply curious about the dynamics of adventure education, this episode will provide valuable perspectives on how to create a more effective and psychologically safe learning environment. Join us for a candid conversation that challenges conventional wisdom and explores innovative ways to optimize adventure education for everyone involved.

Have a question for us?

Email - podcast@high5adventure.org

Instagram - @verticalplaypen

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Pam talks to Phil about the joys of living in Vermont, a challenging air travel experience and the Great British Baking Show

In this episode, Chip Wood joins host Phil Brown and High 5's Executive Director, Jim Grout, to discuss;

- His background in child development and education

- The compatibility between his work, Adventure Education and Leadership Development

In this episode aimed answering your questions, Phil read out some of the podcast reviews and answered the following questions;

- Is there room for introverts in facilitation?

- How do you stay genuine in a "performancy" profession?

- What is your favorite icebreaker question?

- Best closing to a single day program?

- Most under-appreciated facilitator skill?

- What's something you are bad at and are working on improving?

- What's your process when you have a bad day?

Submit all future questions to - podcast@high5adventure.org

Mark Suroviec (WorkPlay Solutions) joins Phil to discuss;

- Finding joy in creating team experiences

- The right time to try a new activity

- Staying curious in our industry

Learn more about Mark - workplaysolutions.com

Listen to his podcast - WorkPlay Solutions Podcast

Connections before Content - Virtual Workshop - Thursday March 10th - 3:30 - 5:00pm EST

Register here - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/virtual-workshops

Coupon Code at Checkout - ConnectionsBOGO

The Training Team gather to discuss;

- What is Belaying?

- What does the word mean?

- What are the foundational principles of good belay?

- The recommended method of belaying?

- Trainer tips that help improve belayers techniques

Reach out the training team for more information on how to belay.

Instagram - @verticalplaypen

Join the Training Team!! - https://high5adventure.org/job/full-time-adventure-educator-trainer/

This episode has very little educational value, but should, at the very least, put a smile on your face!

You can be the judge of who in this episode has the talent.

Featured are;

- Ella singing "A little seed"

- Phil singing "Pure Imagination"

- Sam Hunt - instrumental performance

Ubuntu Cards - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/high-5-products/products/ubuntu-cards

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Song - Future is Now by FLYIN

How does the way we introduce ourselves to our participants impact them?

Lisa asks Phil; "Inspired by a recent episode on Ego, how does how we introduce ourselves to our groups help with the self efficacy model of role models?"

This leads to thoughts on;

• Unachievable targets
• Authenticity and vulnerability
• Being relatable
• Sharing the why and not the what

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

High 5’s Annual Symposium is a great coming together of adventure professionals who love to have fun, share and learn. It’s a special 1-day event for our community to reconnect, re-energize, and re-engage with our learning and each other! We’ve lined up over 15 workshop sessions, each one offering timely topics, fresh ideas, and creative tools and activities that you can start using immediately in your classroom, challenge course program, workplace, camp, outdoor center - wherever adventure learning takes you. 

Register for the Symposium here - https://store.high5adventure.org/products/adventure-practitioners-symposium-1-day?utm_source=copyToPasteBoard&utm_medium=product-links&utm_content=web&_ga=2.255767051.2090452263.1678733796-1154500371.1670878511

What do you do at the very start of your program, training or workshop?

In this episode members of our training team (Phil, Rich, Chris and Lisa) discuss how they begin a program or workshop with a group.

Activities that set the tone, strategies to connect with the group early on and coping with awkward silences.

Priya Parker Ted Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppfONdsOkWI

Donate here - https://high5adventure.org/donate/

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Intro music - I've Found My Way by Hallman

Outro music - Hold My Hand by They Dream By Day

The Training team (Chris, Lisa, Rich and Phil) discuss in great detail the importance of name games, when to use them and what their "go-to" activities are for learning participant names. This is in response to a question sent in by Megan Meinen of UVM. Thanks Megan for the great question!

Mistakes can occur in the work that we do and these can result in many different outcomes ranging from the more common; not meeting a group's needs, to the hopefully rare; physical injury. The Training team (Phil, Chris, Lisa and Jim) discuss mistakes they have made (real and/or perceived) in their careers and the significance of making them.

This question is a follow up from a previous episode; Tinker Talk - How We Learn Our Craft.

Andrew Florence (Director of Experiential Learning at Crossnore Communities for Children) joins Phil to discuss;

- Holiday Traditions and how he entered this industry

- Trauma Informed Facilitation and the bringing adventure and experiential programming to Crossnore

- The alchemy of facilitation and trying to find your voice in this industry

Learn more about Crossnore Communities for Children - https://www.crossnore.org/

Connect with Andrew - aflorence@crossnore.org

Join the Training Team!! - https://high5adventure.org/job/full-time-adventure-educator-trainer/

Sherry Bagley (AEE Executive Director) discusses her journey to leading AEE, all of the great ways to volunteer for the organization and the future of experiential education.

The upcoming AEE International Virtual Conference info can be found here: aee.org/2020-international-virtual-conference

Phil joins Phil to discuss qualities that he admires in leaders, why Soccer is truly the "beautiful game" and how it models leadership and life lessons.

Phil is the co-host of the How Soccer Explains Leadership podcast and you can find it anywhere podcasts are found as well as their website - howsoccerexplainsleadership.com

Jill Vialet (Founder of Playworks) joins Phil to discuss her new book; Why Play Works - Big Changes Start Small. In this conversation Jill shares;

- Her introduction to play and how she forged a career in this industry

- A story about a colleague interacting with a school that didn't have recess

- How the research supports the importance of play

- The activity that she often ends her programs with.

Find out more about Playworks - playworks.org

Find out more about Jill - jillvialet.com

What are some of the elements that are important to consider when modifying activities for your participants?

Guest Host Rich Keegan chats with his friend and past colleague Jeff Dutko to discuss this very topic.

Jeff has worked for many years at the Gengras Center - find more information here - https://www.gengrascenter.org/

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Intro music - I've Found My Way by Hallman

Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

How do we lead people of all generations more effectively?

This is one of the questions Jerrod Murr tackles in his soon to be released new book - From 8 Track to Emoji - The Secret To Cross Generational Leadership

In this episode Jerrod joins Phil to discuss;

- How love and passion informs his work

- What brought him into the experiential learning world

- The genesis of the book and what we can learn from reading it

Find more about Jerrod and the book - jerrodmurr.co

Learn about Paradigm Shift - paradigmshiftleadership.com

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Intro/Outro song - Future is Now by FLYIN

Joe Hirsch (Ted X Speaker and Author of "The Feedback Fix) joins Phil to discuss;

- The qualities of positive and negative feedback

- Moving from a feedback to a feedforward mindset

- The feedback wrap

- How we can empower our participants and colleagues using feedback

Connect with Joe - joe@joehirsch.me

Learn more about Joe's work - https://joehirsch.me/

In this thought-provoking episode, Phil and Lisa unravel the essence of achievement, a realm where goals are often set externally, driven by the expectations and judgments of others versus the realm of accomplishment, where individuals set their own goals based on personal growth and learning. By empowering ourselves to define success and progress on our own terms, we explore how accomplishment provides a more intrinsic and fulfilling motivation. 

Drawing connections to the field of adventure education, we explore how educators can inspire and guide learners to cultivate a healthy balance between achievement and accomplishment. We reflect on the importance of encouraging students to set their own goals, fostering a sense of ownership and agency in their learning journeys. 

What did this make you consider regarding the way you work with your participants?

Let us know either by email - podcast@high5adventure.org or via instagram - @verticalplaypen

NY Times essay - "What we lose when push our kids to 'Achieve'" by Adam Gopnik - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/opinion/youth-achievement-happiness.html

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Join Phil and Lisa in this insightful episode as we dive deep into the fascinating world of intrinsic motivation. We explore how motivation that arises naturally, rather than from external rewards, can be enhanced through various activities. We'll uncover the four key elements that play a pivotal role in boosting intrinsic motivation:

1. Challenge: Discover the importance of setting tasks that are just the right level of difficulty. Find out how striking the perfect balance between skill and challenge can ignite your inner drive.

2. Curiosity: Uncover the power of curiosity in fueling motivation. Learn how novel experiences and questions can stimulate your intrinsic desire to learn and explore.

3. Creativity: Explore how activities that encourage creativity can be a catalyst for motivation. We delve into the significance of having a voice in designing, executing, and solving tasks.

4. Choice: Understand the role of individual choice in intrinsic motivation. Whether it's a facilitator allowing for choices or activities naturally providing options, we explore how autonomy can empower motivation.

Tune in to gain valuable insights on harnessing your intrinsic motivation and applying these principles to various aspects of your life. Don't miss out on this episode that can transform the way you approach motivation and program design.

What topics would you like us to discuss? Let us know in the following ways;

Email - podcast@high5adventure.org

Instagram - @verticalplaypen

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com