Vertical Playpen

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-experiences-from-classic-adventure-activities Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Song - Future is Now by FLYIN

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://high5adventure.org/the-struggle-is-real/ - A Force to Be Reckoned With: The Helium Hoop - https://high5adventure.org/a-force-to-be-reckoned-with-the-helium-hoop/ Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Song - It's Real by Blake Everett

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 parachute cord on your course! Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Song - Be My Parachute by Basixx, Mia Pfirrman

As a full-time adventure education trainer, travel is a part of the work.  Traveling can be full of great experiences but it also features a lot of time in cars and hotels. In this episode, Phil details 2 of those car/hotel experiences and also shares a recent mistake and reminder that he had during this summer travel season. Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Song - Memorabilia by Phello

Do you feel anxious before facilitating programs? Our training team collectively says an emphatic yes! This episode is a re-release of a conversation we recorded a couple of years ago, sharing our anxiety experiences and giving some tips on how we overcome them. Music and Sound effects - epidemicsound.com Song - Anxiety by Mindme

Over the years, we all make mistakes.  However, we are often too embarrassed to bring them up because of the possibility of being negatively judged. It is through these mistakes though that we learn and by sharing them with others we can help prevent them from making the same ones. In this episode, Phil and Rich will be sharing some of the mistakes they have made over the years, with 2 main goals; - Help you learn from their mistakes - Role-model the vulnerability that comes from sharing those mistakes. If you would like to share a mistake you have made for the benefit of your fellow listener, consider letting us know either by; - Sending a message via Instagram - @verticalplaypen - Emailing podcast@high5adventure.org

How do you prepare to present at conferences? In this episode, Phil and Rich Keegan discuss; - How to come up with conference workshops - How to submit workshops - How to prepare for presenting the workshops Follow @verticalplaypen on Instagram Email questions or comments to podcast@high5adventure.org

What contributes to a psychologically UNSAFE learning environment? In this episode (Part 2) Phil, Lisa and Romy discuss; - The power of evaluative words - Mining for opposite experiences - Making yourself equally accessible to all participants - Our own psychological safety - Managing participants that negatively impact the psychological safety of the group Connect with Romy - romy@romy-alexandra.com Learn more about Romy - http://www.romy-alexandra.com/

How can we create psychologically safe learning environments for our participants? In Part 1 of this 2 part episode, Phil, Lisa Hunt and Romy Alexandra discuss; - What is a psychologically safe learning environment? - How, using 4 animals, you can identify the needs of your group - Role-modeling vulnerability and asking for feedback during a program. Connect with Romy - romy@romy-alexandra.com Learn more about Romy - http://www.romy-alexandra.com/

This episode, inspired by the Multi-stage fitness test (PACER or beep test), brings in Phil to become a guest facilitator for your program. Phil guides your participants through 3 different opening activities, providing you with framing ideas and reflection prompts.  Activity 1 - Jump In Jump Out - 3:00 - 12:40 Activity 2 - Alternative Introductions - 12:50 - 22:50 Activity 3 - The Wright Family Vacation - 23:00 - 27:10 Be sure to let us know if this type of episode is valuable and you would like to see more. Follow us @verticalplaypen on Instagram.