International Staff Symposium
Making Connections
October 18-21, 2003
Workshop Descriptions & Outcomes
Outward Bound Canada is proud to have hosted a successful 2nd International Staff Symposium. A total of forty delegates attended from around the
world and twenty-four schools were represented. Ninety OBC staff attended, as well as sixteen Integrated Semester Program students. Close to 150
delegates came together to make this event a great success. Delegates contributed a great deal of enthusiasm, insight and creativity to create a rich
learning environment. The theme, “Making Connections”, was a guiding principle throughout the Symposium. Delegates left with a renewed understanding
and appreciation for their role in the international community.
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Playing With The Current Facilitation Through Asking Staff Devel., Emotional Intel. and OB Equipment Matters Teamwork & Teamplay Raccoon Circles Processing and Debriefing Reality TV and Outward Bound Leadership at The Edge Kurt Hahn's Legacy Intercultural Diversity in Programs What a Norwegian Education Offers OB The Truth of the Heart |
Changing Lives of Urban Youth Developing A Sense of Place Safety First Instructors Out of Comfort Zones Making Connections—Using Connections True Colours Winter Programming OB New Zealand Humanure System Connecting with Courage Programming: Early Adolescent Boys Risk Management OBC: Integrated Semester Program |
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Playing With The Current: Programming for your Students' Biorhythms Is your success by design or by default? Using our shared experience as field staff, we will explore how the role of our student’s biorhythms (our natural energy roller coasters) affects our ability to program peak learning experiences.
Facilitation Through Asking—The Value of Questions! Through role-plays and feedback scenarios participants will have a chance to explore how they currently use questions. We will then look at different types of questions and in what context and situations each are best used. Do you dare enter such a questionable space? Click here for more informationSee the Outward Bound Global Facilitation Shared Resources Website
Integrating Staff Development, Emotional Intelligence and Outward Bound This session will aim to familiarize participants with key Emotional Intelligence Competencies and then explore through an open dialogue which ones best link to the competencies we require as OB Field Staff. From there our focus will turn to brainstorming ideas on how staff training can be designed to help enhance these competencies. For those interested in assessing their Emotional Intelligence Competencies, Allan Cameron will be able to administer the EQi inventory at the Symposium including a feedback session (that can be arranged in person at the Symposium or afterwards by phone).
Equipment Matters—For Everyone, To Everyone Join Colin for a discussion on the equipment and the systems that make Outward Bound Canada (Eastern Programs) work. Come to have a look at the systems, trouble shoot and share the ideas from your schools. Let’s benefit from each other’s systems and solutions.
Teamwork and Teamplay A workshop based on the title of the best selling adventure-based book by Jim Cain, appropriate for all levels of experience. This presentation is intended to acquaint the audience with a variety of new, ground level, portable challenge and adventure-based educational activities that can be used to build confidence, cooperation, teamwork, creativity, trust, communication, decision making and problem solving skills within groups.
Raccoon Circles Learn how to use 4.6 meters of tubular climbing webbing for more than 100 activities. The perfect lightweight 'multi-tool' for wilderness programs with an adventure-based learning, teambuilding or group unity component.
Techniques for Processing and Debriefing Experience a variety of processing techniques that explore various learning styles, multiple intelligences, and activity levels.
Reality Bound: Reality TV and Outward Bound The trend in reality TV has exposed the public to everything from contrived romance to extreme outdoor adventure, but where does truth stop and editing begin? In this session we will examine the idea of reality TV and talk about the impact a camera crew can have on the OB experience. We’ll also discuss the media’s role in processing the experience on trail and communicating it to the outside world. We’ll look at clips from the TVOntario series VOX, and discuss the presenter’s experience managing a camera crew on a 42-day multi-element youth leadership course.
Leadership at The Edge This highly riveting and engaging story of Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic Expedition is told with the use of actual photographic slides from the 634 day long adventure. It helps to set the stage for any organization where demonstrating leadership and teamwork is paramount – especially for organizations and industries that are facing conditions of adversity, uncertainty and change. Audience members gain important insights regarding which critical leadership behaviours distinguish those groups and individuals that thrive in conditions of adversity from those that do not and participants leave feeling inspired and motivated to achieve their objectives. This workshop will introduce delegates to Leadership At the Edge’s Ten Key Leadership and Teamwork Strategies for succeeding in challenging times. It will create a framework for additional discussions and provide a common experience and language for you as a group of delegates. The workshop also tells an entertaining and memorable story that you will never forget.
Kurt Hahn’s Legacy: How Can We Expand and Strengthen It? Round Square Schools, such as Gordonstoun and Lakefield College, The International Award for Young People (The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award), Outward Bound, and The United World Colleges are four of Kurt Hahn’s inspirations that have flowered wonderfully over the last half-century or more. This workshop will start with a multi-media overview of the history and purpose of each of these four organizations. It will show how all of them are designed to educate young, and in the case of Outward Bound not so young, people for life, by providing opportunities for: Personal development through challenge and adventure; Establishing self-worth through craftsmanship and mastery; Showing compassion through skillful and caring service to others; Developing understanding of others through personal interaction. This video will show these connections and provide a basis for discussing ways in which Outward Bound could help and be helped by working in a more direct and cooperative way with the 47 Round Square Schools, the 10 United World Colleges, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award/International Award for Young People that operates in 59 countries around the world. Workshop participants, in small groups, will identify areas of strength or particular challenge to Outward Bound. This, in turn, will lead to the creation a list of initiatives that could benefit one or more of these organizations. Participants through the video production, small group discussion and interactive dialogue with the presenter will gain an understanding of the history, purpose and shared philosophy of all four organizations, an appreciation of the major strengths and challenges faced by Outward Bound, and a realization of the potential benefits of increased cooperation with these organizations.
Exploring Intercultural Diversity in OBP Programs This workshop will be based on taking the content area of American “diversity” to broaden its approach to International, multicultural and multilingual programs. Ellen Harris will also explore adding experiential components to this content area, and the subject matter of Outward Bound Professional programs. Click here for more information
Call to action!
What a Norwegian Friluftsliv Education Has to Offer Outward Bound Bob wonders if we have not taken Nature out of adventure education. A friluftsliv, a Norwegian/Scandinavian tradition, has much to offer adventure education in terms of a perspective on risk that is compatible with teachings of place, heritage, craft, and nature lore, without losing the risk. An outdoor travel guide with an adventure inter- and intra personal relational focus can easily add the philosophical ideals and practical applications of friluftsliv to their practice in the field with minimal contradictions.
The Truth of the Heart: Career Management Advice For Living An Authentic Life You are role models for living a courageous, authentic life. As a result, you might have a heart-to-heart talk with someone in career transition. Or perhaps that person is you. Tips on how to manage your career, honour your calling and make a career transition with grace will be offered. Bring a notebook and pen!
Outward Bound Changing Lives of Urban Youth The three-hour workshop will focus primarily on the techniques, curriculum and knowledge of urban youth and urban public schools honed during the first six years of the Choices programs. Choices, created in 1997, serves Boston public middle school students (primarily sixth and seventh graders) and their teachers. Approximately 800 students participate in the core five-day expedition on Thompson Island and another 1600 in Outward Bound classes and one-day programs. The Choices program helps students develop the character traits and interpersonal skills needed for academic and social success. Upon completion of this workshop participants will have a deeper understanding of the needs of urban youth and the intricacies of developing an effective Outward Bound experience to meet these needs.
Developing A Sense of Place Often the uniqueness of the landscape may become forgotten and seen only as a venue where the adventure experience takes place. However, trip leaders can allow the land to play an integral role in the canoe or snowshoe trip by including natural and cultural history activities as a part of the experience. In this workshop Linda Leckie focuses on Algonquin Park and the cultural history of the area. Topics covered include: The Educational Role of Wilderness Travel and the Rationale for Natural and Cultural Interpretations, Activities and Resources.
Safety First: A Principle Based Approach to Challenge Course Rescue A principle-based approach to ropes course rescue provides the flexibility to solve problems in a way that reduces risk yet prepares the rescuer for escalation. A rescue protocol, broad base of knowledge and new skills and techniques presented will enable practitioners to respond effectively in countless situations. This workshop will introduce participants to a RESCUE PROTOCOL system, assist rescuers and trainers to differentiate between PRINCIPLES and TECHNIQUES. The results of recent drop tests undertaken by the presenter will be shared. Participants will be introduced to some of the presenter’s preferred rescue techniques.
Pushing Instructors Out of Their Comfort Zones: The workshop will explore the holistic method of dramaturgy through a series of interactive creative activities. 'Dramaturgy', a theatre term, involves the development of themes and is characterized by the intertwining of a wide variety of social, physical, creative, and reflective 'games' using 'the dramaturgy wave'. 'Dramaturgy' aims to enhance the challenge to participants (and instructors) in ways other than physical and is adapted during the course for the specific needs of the individuals and group. 'Dramaturgy' has implications for course design, program development and staff training, as it recognises the holistic and subjective nature of the outcomes of experiential education.
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Making Connections—Using Connections Modern communications, transport, the internet and 24/7 media have all contributed to making the world a "smaller place" over a very short period of history. Recent events like September 11, the war in Iraq and the threats of terrorism have reinforced how important it is for all people to have greater understanding of the world and their place in it. The OB International mission is "to help people discover their potential to care for themselves, others and the world around them through challenging experiences in unfamiliar settings." This workshop aims to explore a range of options to use our existing network of some 50 OB schools around the world in new and exciting ways to fulfill this mission. Tim has a number of suggestions and this interactive workshop will cover these as well as involving the group to explore and develop a range of new opportunities.
True Colours In this workshop you will discover more about yourself and your interactions with others. True Colours is an interactive personality assessment tool that aids in the understanding of interpersonal relationships. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Winter Programming Jesse Pierce will be presenting a slide show on Outward Bound Canada’s winter dog sledding program. Having worked winter courses since 1999, Jesse has collected pictures from four winters. Topics to be discussed include type of students and populations that attend winter courses, type of travel, the craft of dog sledding and winter travel. This slide show also highlights the Homeplace base camp located on Black Sturgeon Lake near Thunder Bay, Ontario. Come and meet, TJ, a retired sled dog.
Environmental Awareness and the Outward Bound New Zealand Humanure System This workshop focuses on the environmental education programming that occurs throughout OBNZ courses. OBNZ has created a human manure composting system to enable students to manage their own waste. Participants will take away games that incorporate environmental issues and a clear idea of ways in which they could incorporate a human manure system at their school.
Connecting with Courage This year the Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Centre celebrates 11 years of the Connecting with Courage program for 12 and 13 year old girls. The workshop will introduce the history and philosophy behind Connecting with Courage. Through hands-on activities and discussion you will identify some of the issues facing adolescent girls plus strategies for addressing them through outdoor programming.
Passages: Programming for Early Adolescent Boys This workshop will introduce participants to Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Centre’s Passages program which is designed for 12 and 13 year old boys. Through hands-on activities and discussion you will identify some of the issues facing young adolescent boys plus strategies for addressing them through outdoor programming.
Risk Management The Risk Management workshop will be an opportunity to understand the Guidelines that have been developed for conduct of Outward Bound International Safety Reviews. These guidelines have been tested in the past three years and were approved at the OBI AGM in 2002. The workshop will also examine a draft document on Self Assessment which encourages benchmarking of safety standards among the Outward Bound centers. This document is intended to assist in upgrading risk management planning and practice. Outline of Workshop:
Outward Bound Canada: Integrated Semester Program Join Sarah and the students of Outward Bound Canada’s award winning Integrated Semester Program. Take an intimate look at this program from its birth to successful implementation. |
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