QuickPost
-
-
Taking Play Serious
The topic of brain research is hot and as our field continues to grow, so does our need to validate the effectiveness of our programs on those they serve. Experiential programming, in most circumstances, offers participants the opportunity to learn through doing, or put differently, through playing. Though play is seemingly fun and engaging, does it serve a purpose? We seem to think so but, how do we prove it? Dr. Stuart Brown, a pioneer of research on play, is beginning to provide that research and says that play is more than just fun, that it's vital to human development and intelligence in children and, more interestingly, also in adults. Brown is providing scientific evidence that being playful, in a wide sense of the word, is critical to healthy human development and that the more play we experience, the better we socialize, adapt, solve problems and meet with success, sound Familiar?
-
Phonetically Speaking
Phonetically Speaking
A challenging hidden message and sequencing puzzle of fun.
Props: Index cards and a marker
You need to create the sound cards before hand. To begin you'll need to think about a message you want your group to figure out like, "Together everyone achieves more."
The next step is to divide each word into syllables or sounds like, to-geth-er. Finally, create an index card for each syllable or sound in the phrase. Instead of using the obvious to, geth and er, try something like two, geth and rrrrr.Group Size: It's important to think about your group size. Each participant should have one index card with one crazy sound. The phrase "Together everyone achieves more" can be split into 10-12 sounds.
Focus Areas: Problem Solving
Objective: The objective is for the group to place themselves in the correct sequence and figure out the hidden message.Guidelines:
1. Each participant is handed one index card with letters that can be sounded out printed on it.
2. Participants are asked to not share their card with anyone else. In fact, once participants look at their card, suggest they put in their pocket.
3. Participants may only share the sound the letters on their card make when sounded out. They may not say anything else.Facilitator Tips:
This can be a challenging activity. To create a greater chance of success, I have sometimes given out the cards in the correct sequence. This eliminates the sequencing objective but can still be quite funny and challenging.
-
Hulbert to High 5
We are often asked at conferences and in trainings how we ended up with such great jobs. Each one of us has a different story, a different path that has landed us at High 5 Adventure, but for 3 of us... that story has a similar sound. That path meandered through the same place, the Hulbert Outdoor Center.
Continue reading Hulbert to High 5.
-
Wake up!
Here in New England, it is not often that the first day of spring and the look out my window match up but it appears that Mother Nature and the Calendar have synchronized for us in 2010. While I may be speaking prematurely as far as the weather goes... Spring does mean something for all of you challenge course managers in the Northern regions: it's time to wake up your challenge course from its winter slumber. It's time to take a walk through the woods and see what surprises are in store for you after the winter storms dropped not only snow but also possibly limbs and trees. Here's a list of things to put onto your spring-cleaning to do list to make sure your challenge course is ready to go for that first program of year.
Continue reading Wake up!.
-
Lake George Video
This is a great little video of Lake George students who just finished up their Adventure Unit. Thanks Kyle.
-
High 5 Symposium 2010
It is a big year here at High 5. 2010 is our 10th year anniversary and a big part of the year long festivities is our Winter Symposium. The Symposium will be on March 6th, 2010. Put it in your calendar now, you don't want to miss out on this one!
-
High 5 Website Makeover!
High 5's website makeover gives us a New look, New features... AND a staff blog. Still to come is a new online store with our Challenge course products, adventure facilitator products and our books. Stay tuned!
When it has been too long since your last visit to us here in Vermont... you can make a virtual visit to our website for the latest news and information in the High 5 world.
Taking Play Serious