Vertical Playpen

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 - [email protected]

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

In this episode, Phil and Rich provide advice on how to present at conferences. They discuss the process of preparing and submitting a presentation, including choosing a title and solving a problem. They also emphasize the importance of co-presenting and structuring workshops with experiential activities. They suggest submitting workshop ideas multiple times and highlight the benefits of presenting at smaller conferences for emerging professionals. They also discuss the challenges of presenting to a large audience and the value of vulnerability in presenting. They encourage listeners to practice and test their workshops with smaller groups and provide actionable steps for developing workshop ideas. Takeaways;

• Everyone has something to present on at conferences.
• Choose a title that solves a problem and grabs the audiences attention.
• You don't need to have the full workshop figured out before submitting.
• Consider co-presenting for your first few workshops.
• Practice and test your workshops with smaller groups before presenting to a large audience.

VOTE FOR VERTICAL PLAYPEN - https://www.facebook.com/groups/outdoormediaawards/permalink/1023821898848554/

Submit a workshop for the High 5 Symposium -

TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL, PLEASE INCLUDE: Workshop Title - Be captivating in a few words! Workshop Description - Craft a compelling 50-word summary. Audience - Identify who will benefit from your workshop. Outcomes - Outline what attendees will gain or achieve. Short Bio - Introduce yourself in 30 words or less. High-Resolution Photo/Headshot - Put a face to your name! All workshop sessions are 90 minutes. Email your proposal to [email protected] with "2024 Symposium Presentation" in the subject line. Submission Deadline: February 9, 2024.

Let us know what you would like us to discuss in future episodes.

Email - [email protected]

Instagram - @verticalplaypen

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com

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

Jan Keck joins Phil to discuss how he was introduced to the world of Experiential Learning, what he has learned over the last year about virtual facilitation and how to ask deep and meaningful questions.

Learn more about Jan - jankeck.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 - [email protected]

Music and sound effects - epidemicsound.com