High 5 Adventure - The Podcast

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

Newer facilitators (understandably) rely on bags full of props when facilitating programs....I certainly did. In this episode Phil and Ryan discuss; - the value of enhancing your facilitation skills - the importance of avoiding becoming too reliant on props - using props in deeper ways Tinker Book - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/high-5-products/products/tinker-building-purposeful-experiences-from-classic-adventure-activities Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Song - Future is Now by FLYIN

Poor gear storage can lead to; - Replacing damaged gear - Lack of professionalism - Participants who are now less likely to climb In this episode Phil shares his recommendations for gear storage. 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

Summer Camp Training season recently wrapped up for our training team. In this episode, Phil shares his 5 big takeaways. - Practice makes progress - Belay stance is so important - Lighter belayer/heavier climber - Prior knowledge isn't always a good thing - Where is the gear? Link to Tinker - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/high-5-products/products/tinker-building-purposeful-experiences-from-classic-adventure-activities Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Song - Future is Now by FLYIN

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

Parachute Cords (aka P-cords) are an essential feature of a ropes course, as they are what you use to set your ropes up and take them down at the end of the day. They can also be the MOST ANNOYING part of facilitating on a course as they can get tangled in everything they touch, and can also be the reason for having to perform a gear retrieval. In this episode, Phil and Rich discuss all things parachute cord on your course! Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Song - Be My Parachute by Basixx, Mia Pfirrman

As a full-time adventure education trainer, travel is a part of the work.  Traveling can be full of great experiences but it also features a lot of time in cars and hotels. In this episode, Phil details 2 of those car/hotel experiences and also shares a recent mistake and reminder that he had during this summer travel season. Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Song - Memorabilia by Phello

Do you feel anxious before facilitating programs? Our training team collectively says an emphatic yes! This episode is a re-release of a conversation we recorded a couple of years ago, sharing our anxiety experiences and giving some tips on how we overcome them. Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Song - Anxiety by Mindme

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

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

What contributes to a psychologically UNSAFE learning environment? In this episode (Part 2) Phil, Lisa and Romy discuss; - The power of evaluative words - Mining for opposite experiences - Making yourself equally accessible to all participants - Our own psychological safety - Managing participants that negatively impact the psychological safety of the group Connect with Romy - romy@romy-alexandra.com Learn more about Romy - http://www.romy-alexandra.com/

How can we create psychologically safe learning environments for our participants? In Part 1 of this 2 part episode, Phil, Lisa Hunt and Romy Alexandra discuss; - What is a psychologically safe learning environment? - How, using 4 animals, you can identify the needs of your group - Role-modeling vulnerability and asking for feedback during a program. Connect with Romy - romy@romy-alexandra.com Learn more about Romy - http://www.romy-alexandra.com/

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.

This phrase describes both our work as Experiential educators but it is also a large part of Bryn's pathway in this industry. In this episode, Bryn Lottig (co-founder of Kikori) talks to Phil about; - The transformational power of working in the outdoors and its effects on her - The need for this educational pedagogy to be taken seriously  - The best advice she has recieved in her career so far Connect with Bryn - bryn@kikoriapp.com  Learn more about Kikori - https://www.kikoriapp.com/  

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 is a short update episode to let you know that VPP will be on the road! Phil will be bringing his microphones with him this busy training season to learn more about the life of a trainer and to interact with the diversity of people he meets along the way. If you would like to submit questions he should ask folks on his journey, you can submit them via instagram - @verticalplaypen. Have a great spring and summer everyone!

Josh Nadzam (Co-founder of On The Move Art Studio) joins Phil to discuss; - Discovering the power of facilitation - Growing as a facilitator - Facilitating dialogue sessions and why it is so novel Learn more about Josh - https://www.joshnadzam.com/ Learn more about On the Move - https://www.onthemoveartstudio.org/home.html Email Josh - joshnadzam@gmail.com 

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/

Myriam Hadnes (workshops.work) joins Phil to discuss; - The importance of leaders role modeling vulnerability - The work before the work, assessing the needs of your clients - Why doing things you have never done before can enhance your facilitation skills Connect with Myriam - myriam@workshops.work Learn more about Myriam's work - http://workshops.work/

The training team gather to discuss; - Facilitating a 1-day challenge course experience - Facilitating a multi-day challenge course experience - Advice on challenge course programming 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