
Vertical Playpen
Want to learn more about Adventure and Experiential Education? Then this podcast is for you!
Listeners of this podcast will get;
- Adventure Programming Theory
- Facilitation Tips
- Activity Ideas
- Industry Career Advice
- Interviews from Industry Professionals
High 5 Adventure Learning Center is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to helping individuals, teams, schools, communities and businesses improve the way they live, learn and work together. Connect with us at high5adventure.org
Latest episodes

Oct 4, 2022 • 30min
From 8 Track to Emoji | Jerrod Murr
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 learn from reading it Find more about Jerrod and the book - jerrodmurr.co Learn about Paradigm Shift - paradigmshiftleadership.com Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Intro/Outro song - Future is Now by FLYIN

Sep 27, 2022 • 31min
Back to School, Back to Adventure | Mark Friedrich
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 Twitter: @AdventureEdGuy Instagram: adventure.ed.guy TikTok: @adventureedguy Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzNKXdBkHSqe6UqaBXwObzg Ubuntu Cards - https://store.high5adventure.org/collections/facilitation-tools/products/ubuntu-cards Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Intro/Outro song - Future is Now by FLYIN Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

Sep 20, 2022 • 19min
Questions About You and This or That
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 by FLYIN Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

Sep 13, 2022 • 18min
How To Learn Names
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 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 by FLYIN Bridge music - This is the Right Time by Orjan Karlsson

Sep 6, 2022 • 16min
How to Encourage Participation
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 - @verticalplaypen email - podcast@high5adventure.org Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Intro/Outro song - Future is Now by FLYIN

Aug 30, 2022 • 22min
Traveling Stories with Trainers Traveling
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 and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Intro/Outro song - Future is Now by FLYIN

Aug 23, 2022 • 21min
Careers in Adventure
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 article. Subscribe to API - https://adventureparkinsider.com/subscribe-to-the-adventure-park-insider-magazine/ Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Intro/Outro song - Future is Now by FLYIN Article song - At First Light by Gavin Luke

Aug 16, 2022 • 8min
High 5's Got Talent?
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

Aug 9, 2022 • 38min
Facilitation Pitfall - Props
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

Aug 2, 2022 • 16min
How To Store Your Gear
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