Vertical Playpen

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Education
**Vertical Playpen**

Want to learn more about Adventure and Experiential Education? Then this podcast is for you!

Listeners of this podcast will get;

– Adventure Programming Theory
– Facilitation Tips
– Activity Ideas
– Industry Career Advice
– Interviews from Industry Professionals

High 5 Adventure Learning Center is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to helping individuals, teams, schools, communities and businesses improve the way they live, learn and work together. Connect with us at high5adventure.org

Latest Episodes:

Training In England - Part 2 | Steve Woods Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

Here is part 2 of the conversation between Phil and Steve Woods. In this episode the following was discussed;

- How long trainings should last

- Thoughts on protecting the trainees

- How to assess trainee competency

- Facilitated programming vs commercialism

- Measuring program success

- The British belay technique with a catchy name.

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

Intro music - I've Found My Way by Hallman Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

Training in England - Part 1 | Steve Woods Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

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

Intro music - I've Found My Way by Hallman Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

Activity Repetition Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

What are the pros and cons to repeating activities?

How do you handle participants who have experienced the activities before?

These questions (and more) and discussed in this episode and Phil, Lisa, Chris and Jim discuss activity repetition.

Tinker Book - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/books-digital-resources/products/tinker-building-purposeful-experiences-from-classic-adventure-activities

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

Activity Modifications | Jeff Dutko Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

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

Hiring Summer Camp Staff | Greg Stoutzenberger Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

Hiring staff for summer camp can be a constant struggle. New thoughts and strategies should be considered.

Phil and Greg (formally of the Mayhew program) sit down to discuss their thoughts on;

- Creating a culture that encourages staff retention

- Training staff

- Staff hiring pitfalls

*This was originally recorded in the winter of 2019*

Connect with Greg - gregorystoutzenberger@gmail.com

Learn more about the Mayhew Program -https://www.mayhew.org/

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Intro music - I've Found My Way by Hallman

How to End a Workshop Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

How do you end your program, training or workshop?

The Training Team (Phil, Rich, Chris and Lisa) discuss how they end a program or workshop with a group.

Saying goodbye, closing activities and when to reflect with the group.

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

How to Start a Workshop Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

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

Brain Chemistry and Play Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

Play brings us joy and is an essential component of experiential learning. In this episode Phil discusses the 4 primary neurochemicals that elicit happiness; Endorphins, Dopamine, Serotonin and Oxytocin, as well as activities that you can use with your participants to help participants experience them.

Disclaimer: Phil is not a neuroscientist.

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

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Intro music - Future is Now by FLYIN

Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

Outro music - Hold My Hand by They Dream By Day

Pond Traverse Problem Solving Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

If you were not limited by time, what problem solving activity would you like to lead?

Today's featured activity with no time constraints - The Pond Traverse

The traverse is an activity featured in High 5's Edge of Leadership summer program that really embodies the concept of problem solving.

Phil is joined by Anne Louise Wagner, and 2 past participants, Martha Lavigne from Keene High School and her former student Meagan McLaughlin to discuss their shared experiences.

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

Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com

Intro music - Future is Now by FLYIN

Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

Outro music - Hold My Hand by They Dream By Day

Hanne Bailey - High 5 - Trainer Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

Hanne joins Phil to discuss;

- Her road to working at High 5

- Training philosophy and what she says at the start of a workshop

- How ducks are cute

Be sure to stick around to the end for a great fish joke.