"Great atmosphere and really fun yet relevant learning experience"
- BOT Nelson 2007

Notices

Debriefing and Facilitation Skills Workshops coming up!

- 1 August 2008

Mario Bilodeau - On the Tip of the Toes Foundation

- 11 March 2008

8.30am - 12.30 pm

$40 enrolment ($20 students) - enrol online

Venue: 'Our City' - cnr Worcester Boulevard and Oxford Terrace

Recommendation...
Mario Bilodeau was last in New Zealand in January 2006 where he presented at the 4th International Adventure Therapy Conference in Rotorua. His presentation made a huge impact on those who heard about his work with young people living with cancer. The movies profiled the expeditions involving climbing in remote regions, canoeing between lakes and snow mobileing, and interviewed a number of the young people participating. The vulnerability and strength of these incredible young people was very obvious and illustrated powerfully the value of these adventure therapy experiences. http://www.pointe-des-pieds.com/nousen.asp

Content includes:
• On the Tip of the Toes Foundation – programme history and objectives, movie footage, medical risk management, outcomes, obstacles and successes
• Social service programme that works with First Nation/Indigenous communities across the province of Quebec in Canada
• INAQ Social Cooperative programme developed with graduate students from the University of Quebec to offer adventure therapy experiences to community and educational organisations that work with troubled youth and youth in need.
• The trial of an Adventure Therapy programme in a drug and substance abuse centre that is now part of regular treatment
• A Family adventure therapy programme with a residential facility for troubled youth.

This workshop is a one off opportunity to hear Mario speak about his experiences in this project and in a range of other innovative and exciting projects. He is in New Zealand on sabbatical leave and will only be speaking on this one occasion in Christchurch. Recommended for professionals working with resilient young men and women including alternative education teachers, mental health staff, school counsellors, social workers, secondary teachers, youth workers, outdoor educators, Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB’s), caregivers, and tutors etc.

Bag of Tricks Idea:

- 1 December 2007

On one particular day we were spending the day climbing at local crag, exploring a range of grade 13-16 climbs. One young man was clearly hesitant and discouraged all morning, starting several climbs but only ever getting 1-2m off ground before suddenly becoming very anxious and retreating off the climb. Later in the day we noticed that once again he chose a belayer and attempted a climb. This time however he carried on and worked his way up the climb, all of our group watching as this significant achievement unfolded. Finally he reached the top, and we were all surprised when he stood up, facing away from us up into the surrounding mountains with arms held high and shouted to the sky…..”My balloon is F%$#%^en enormous!!!”

To make sense of this outburst we need to wind back the clock a little. Earlier in the day as a part of our front loading for the climbing day I had facilitated a session on trust. I began talking about trust while blowing puffs into a balloon, asking the young people if they could think how what I am doing could be like trust…. Answers emerged like……”it builds slowly like a balloon”, ….”it’s a slow process”, ….”its hard sometimes”….. At this time I had a pin hidden away and without announcing it popped the balloon…bang!! I then picked up a piece off the ground and begin attempting to blow it up again.. of course unsuccessfully. Again I asked, “How is this like trust?”……and they relied…..”Trust can blow up”…, “it is fragile”,… “once broken you can’t just start again”,…. “You only get one chance sometimes”. We continued talking about how often the biggest temptation is to play a trick on someone while they are trusting you, give them a bit of a fright, have a bit of a laugh,….. but then that is like popping the balloon….they will probably never trust you again. We finished by looking ahead to the rock climbing day and the importance of building their “trust balloon” with each other.

Hence…… my balloon is F%$#%^en enormous!!!”

(Note: This is an object lesson I have been using for many years, and I’m not sure if I saw someone do it or if I made it up myself…..if anyone has any information about its original source I’d love to hear from you, Chris Jansen)

Website Launch

- 1 December 2007

Singapore Principals Alternative Education Study Tour

- 1 November 2007

Project Adventure hosted a unique range of learning opportunities including input from Service Managers from the Ministry of Education, Secondary school principals and staff, Psychologists from Group Special Education, District Truancy Services, Researchers from University of Canterbury and teachers from 5 different alternative education providers. A major highlight of the week was each of the principals spending a full day as an active participant at a range of community based Alternative Education school, meeting the students who are succeeding brilliantly in this environment. Feedback from the Principals included;

· A lot to mull over and take away, we would like to bring our guiding principles with Alternative Education into the mainstream to further reduce school leavers in Singapore

· Highlight was the interactions with people who are actively involved in working with 'at-risk' students,

· We were impressed with the providers commitment and passion, very generous and honest with their sharing...

· Content and selection of programme was so well customised it met all our needs, the choice and sequence of the speakers coordinated well with our visits to the Alternative Education schools,

· Superb facilitation, there was a balance of views providing depth and breadth which provoked thinking and reflection.

· The tour was the best I have ever experienced, fantastic accommodation, food, travel arrangement and liaison.

Visit to USA