February 16th - 17th, 2006

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Presented by The Adventure Learning Center at Eagle Village - Hersey, Michigan

Tentative Conference Schedule


Thursday, February 16, 2006
8:30-9:30 Registration & Refreshments
9:30-10:00 Welcome/Logistics
10:00-12:00 Open Forum
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:30 Workshop Session I
2:45-4:15 Workshop Session II
4:30-6:00 Workshop Session III
6:15-7:15 Dinner
7:30-9:00 Keynote Address: Brooke Moran
9:00 Evening Entertainment

• Climbing
• Headlamp Climbing & Tower Rappeling (Lights Out)
• The Barn (Game Room with Billiards Tables, Fooseball, Etc.)
• Arena Overhaul Tour
• 2006 Winter Olympic Games on Big Screen
• Coffee & Socializing

Friday, February 17, 2006
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-10:30 Workshop Session IV
10:45-11:15 Closing & Dismissal
11:15-12:00 Coffee & Cards

• Fill your travel mug and do final contact exchanges before heading home!

Keynote Speaker

Brooke Moran, Western State College of Colorado

Brooke Moran is a professor at Western State College of Colorado, a graduate advisor for Prescott College’s Master of Arts Program, and often instructs for NOLS during the summers. Her studies at the University of New Hampshire and Harvard have been in outdoor education, experiential education, and teacher education. Though, the majority of her most educational experiences have resulted from teaching and instructing, traveling abroad, being a member of expeditions, and through her relationships. Her overarching goal when working with students is to provide challenging and educative opportunities wherein students can cultivate their critical thinking abilities. She recently returned from an expedition to Aconcagua (A-con-cog-wa) in Argentina where she, her husband, and eight students educated park rangers and international climbers about Leave No Trace ethics and specifically the use of RESTOP bags for packing out human waste.

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Fostering Opportunities for Maximum Impact:

________Edgework and Critical Thinking________

Keynote Address

Experiential Education boasts many valuable theories, including the idea of comfort zones, edgework, critical thinking, and Dewey’s conception of educative experiences. In her keynote address, Brooke will present an integrated model to help guide educators in providing students educational opportunities that last beyond the programming experience. Brooke will start by giving definitions and follow with an explanation of the model, employing examples and stories.

Workshop Descriptions - 2006

All 90 Minutes in Length
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Increasing the Effectiveness of our
Learning Environments through Critical Thinking –
Denise Mitten, Ferris State University

Our experiences and brain research confirms the importance of the learning environment. In fact decisions that are made about the learning process ought to be based on whether or not they will provide the optimum opportunity for students to learn successfully. Learning environments include the affective environment as well as program components. We’ll examine both as we keep in mind that as we ask such questions as: Do we want clients to get out of their comfort zones or to expand their comfort zones? As educators, what do we gain by using challenge? An understanding of responsible risk and challenge in learning is emphasized.

Uncovering the Best Practices for
Training New Challenge Course Facilitators –
Tim Rhodes, Experiential Systems, Inc.

This highly interactive session will explore best practices in training new challenge course facilitators. During the session two experiential tools for fostering interactive discussion will be introduced and used. An update of where the ACCT is with setting current certification standards will also be discussed.

Keeping Up and Keeping Fresh –

Thomas A. Raskauskas, M.D., Synergy Medical Education Alliance

1. Identify hurdles that interfere with our ability to “stay current”.
2. Identify change in the generational culture of our clients.
3. Recognize the difficulties in making changes in our lives.
4. Develop a plan to keep ourselves energized.

Adapting Activities for Substance Abuse Specific Topics –

Ken Kochenderfer, Wolverine Human Services, The Pioneer Adventure Program

Demonstrating how you can use your current activities with a specific focus on substance abuse. Reviewing variation techniques and adaptation for the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

The Power of Stories… –
Sally Sanford, ALC

Increase impact and passion by utilizing the power of stories… Come and explore the use of stories, readings, and quotations as part of group programming. Step outside your box!

A Research Approach to Programming –

Tonya McLeod, ALC

Jack Cairy, On Belay Adventures

Does your program promote positive change in your clients? Join us to learn about a research-based model that works, effective assessment tools, and how to use research to validate and market your programs.

Creating a Warm Welcome –
Al Weinberg, Spring Hill Camps

Come learn a few tips to ensure you operation is user friendly and customer serving. We will review ideas on how to create a warm welcome, the right questions to ask, the road blocks that can get in the way, and principles of implementation that produce positive results.

Teaching Character through Experiential Education –
Rob Schumacker, Central Michigan University

Doni Schumacker & Glenn Thelen, Alma Public Schools

Teaching elementary children character through the use of experiential/adventure based activities. Learn how to adapt activities you already know to frame them to teach the six pillars of character. Discussion on how to process these activities for young elementary school children.

Why this Stuff Works! Because it’s What We Were Made For –
Teresa Mora, Eagle Village, Inc.

Finding inherent reasons for the efficacy of experiential or activity-based learning on peak growth experiences. As a base for our analysis we will use a group-generated list of critical elements of optimum growth experiences, personal professional history, and research in group functioning. This information will lead to the introduction of a model for how experiential learning is a freeze-frame or microcosm of how human beings were intended to live for optimum development and community. We will then review how these elements can be infused, or sabotaged, in any level of human interaction or system (family, church, business, classroom.)

How to Achieve MAXimum IMPACT through CO-facilitation –
Susan Kramer & Joseph Bagby, Nokomis Challenge Center

Co-facilitating an experiential activity can provide several key benefits to both leaders and the group. Unfortunately, this relationship can also create stress that takes away from the therapeutic experience. Workshop participants will reflect how their personal leadership style affects a co-leading relationship. Based on this reflection, participants will identify what they bring to the co-instructing relationship. Important topics such as experience, feedback, personality, and expectations will lead participants to create a “blueprint” for themselves in working with others. This information provides the foundation in maximizing the benefits of both leaders in the group experience. Creating “synergy” between two leaders is an art. This workshop will be reflective, engaging, and active as participants find a balance between activity and processing.

Experiencing Missions Abroad –

Jessie Torsky, T Dixon, Christina Seybert, Jason Bennett, ALC

Sharing experiences from around the world, driven by a passion for people that calls you beyond yourself. Four staff from the Adventure Learning Center will be sharing different experiences of their individual mission trips abroad through stories, slide shows, and more. Discussion on how experiential education impacted people around the world and how it has potential to do even more.

Finding TEAM in High Adventure –
Jason Bennett, ALC

An in depth look at the quandry of TEAM in high adventure. Discussion of successful teambuilding dynamics, necessity for their integration into high adventure, and designing/implementating such aspects. Interactively review new techniques within the field, discuss their effectiveness, and foster new approaches to our programming.

Directors Round Table Discussion –
Steve Seager, State of Michigan

As leaders in this field it is rare to sit without those we are leading. This is an opportunity to do just that and have an open discussion focused on the questions you bring to the table. Concerns in the field, specifics about practices and procedures, nuts and bolts…the discussion will go where the participants take it. Please, directors only!