Vertical Playpen

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-act...

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...

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 m...

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 Dre...

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 - htt...

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/ Mus...

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 h...

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. Kyoob - https://store.high5adventure.org/products/kyoob?_pos=1&_sid=15975c890&_ss=r Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Intro/Outro song - Future is Now by FLYIN Bridge music - This is...

When you experience 40 years of adventure programming you accumulate many impactful moments with special individuals. In part 2 of our conversation with Doug, we hear about; - Creating ropes course elements and well known activities with Karl Rohnke - Polar dips in honor of beloved facilitators - Mountaineering experiences that test abilities to recognize risk and acknowledge struggle. Ubuntu Card...

There are so many opportunities within the 4 walls of the classroom for experiential learning. That is the overarching message behind this episode. Guest Host, Rich Keegan, sits down with Doug Cramphin, longtime facilitator and educator to discuss; - Bringing adventure and experiential education into the classroom - Using experiential education to teach about the civil war. Tinker Book - https://s...

When was the last time you attended a professional training? Recently, Tom Leahy (Leahy & Associates) joined us at High 5 for a Level 2 Training led by Phil and during the week they found time to discuss; - His start in the industry and those that inspired him. - An alternative perspective on comfort zones. - Advice for those wanting a career in adventure education. Connect with Tom - tom@leahy-in...

Facilitation has the possibility of opening doors to global travel and connections. In this episode, Steve Ockerbloom sits down with guest host Rich Keegan to discuss; - His memorable experiences facilitation around the world - Advice for professionals wanting to expand their facilitation work - His thoughts on the industry at large. Connect with Steve - info@creativehorizonstraining.com Music and...

How do we lead people of all generations more effectively? This is one of the questions Jerrod Murr tackles in his soon to be released new book - From 8 Track to Emoji - The Secret To Cross Generational Leadership In this episode Jerrod joins Phil to discuss; - How love and passion informs his work - What brought him into the experiential learning world - The genesis of the book and what we can le...

Do you operate an adventure program in a school? Are you interested in beginning one? Mark Friedrich (Milburn High School) joins Phil to discuss; - Running an Adventure Program in a school - How to manage short class times (43mins) - His 8 week curriculum - Methods to incorporate the larger school community into the program Want to reach out to Mark, heres how; Email - mark.friedrich@millburn.org...

Phil, Sam and Jamie sit around a table at High 5 HQ and answer questions about themselves and play "This or That". Ubuntu Cards - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/high-5-products/products/ubuntu-cards Submit any questions you have to either; - Instagram - @verticalplaypen - Email - podcast@high5adventure.org Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Intro/Outro song - Future is Now b...

Do you find learning names challenging? Especially when you are leading a 1-day program? In this "Listener Question" episode, Phil gives 2 ideas on how he learns names during shorter programs. Adventure Basics Training  - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/multi-day-workshops-and-trainings/products/adventure-basics-level-1-training?_ga=2.88191451.15375352.1662925267-1772421505.1613053803...

Do you struggle with encouraging reluctant participants to participate? In this Listener Question episode, Phil addresses this topic and discusses; - Creating Engaging agendas - Being aware of activity types - Giving participants purposeful roles Spot markers - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/props-throwables/products/spot-markers Reach out to Phil either via Instagram - @verticalplay...

Join Phil and Rich as they travel together for a training. So many great conversations go unrecorded when traveling for work so in this episode we had a microphone ready as we discussed; - Best and Worst Traveling stories - A couple of canadian misadventures - The luxuries of airtravel 30 years ago Reach out to Phil either via Instagram - @verticalplaypen email - podcast@high5adventure.org Music a...

Are you looking for a career in the adventure industry? One of the main driving reasons for creating the podcast was to highlight the many ways that people have found careers in the adventure industry. This summer Phil wrote an article for Adventure Park Insider (API) titled "Mapping Career Paths". In this episode Phil reads the article while using the voices of those professionals featured in the...

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 effe...

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-ex...

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-experienc...

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://high5ad...

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 par...