High 5 Adventure - The Podcast

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