The Way We Were - The Way We Can Be: Reconnecting With Ourselves
Participants will explore through right brain expressive means who they were as children, who they are today, and the who they can create or re-create in the future. This is a journey to reconnect with ourselves.  The facilitator intends this session for anyone who believes that something may be missing in their lives or whose vocation, primary activities or relationships are not congruent with their passions or where or who they want to be. After an introduction to the session during which the facilitator will provide a brief overview and group members will engage in an acquaintance exercise, participants will create three interpretations of themselves: (1) who they were as children in the purest, true sense, (2) who they currently are, and (3) who they truly want to be in the future. The facilitator will provide a variety of methods/modes of expression from which groups members will choose. After each of the three iterations, participants will process within small groups their expressive works with targeted exploratory questions. (Note: If fewer than 15 attend, they may process in a large group format.) The session will culminate with participants setting goals and making public commitments to create a different, more pure and "true to self" reality for themselves. Targeted skills that could be acquired: (1) Self-assessment/Self-awareness (2) Using non-verbal methods to foster awareness, growth and change (3) Reconnecting with our truths integrating all dimensions of the human being as an essential aspect of experiential education. Topics could include, but should not be limited to: creativity, yoga, meditation, martial arts, personal wellness, prayer, and other practices that involve a synthesis of spirituality, mindfulness and bodywork.

Situational Awareness And Self Defense
Common sense guidelines for situational awareness and self defense workshop.  With so much on our plate and consumed by technology, many of us travel about without being aware of our surroundings. Situational Awareness (SA) is 98% of staying safe and accomplishing our daily chores. For the 2% where there may be a physical confrontation, some common sense tools and techniques will often suffice to extract a person from harm.

Open To Outcome Processing
This workshop is hands on learning. We will discuss the need for "Action to Reflection" in all experiential settings. During the workshop you will learn 5 questions developed by Micah Jacobson and Mari Ruddy in their book Open to Outcome. These questions can help take your processing to the next level. This session will be HIGH energy and FUN! Be ready to experience, sing, recite, and play.  We will explore Open to Outcome a book by Micah Jacobson and Mari Ruddy. We will work through their workshop outlined in the back of the book, pages 88-99. We will do activities and learn the 5 questions outlined in the book. b. Three tangible skills that the attendees will gain. 1. The participant will learn the 5 questions involved in the Open to Outcome processing. 2. The participant will understand the need to assist groups and individuals to process their experiences. 3. The participant will practice the processing technique during the workshop session.

Safe Silence
"We need silence in our lives. We even desire it. But when we enter into silence we encounter a lot of inner noises, often so disturbing that a busy and distracting life seems preferable to a time of silence" quoted from Robert Mullholland. My hope during this time is to trade busyness for a safe silence and encourage you in this method of growth. This session will be partially based on Mark Yanconelli's book Downtime, as well as personal experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to engage themselves in planned meaningful downtime. We will eschew noise and busyness and pursue a "safe" time of quiet. Activities will include; writing with different mediums, observing nature and using verbal plus nonverbal directions. One of the goals for the individuals in attendance will be to focus thoughts. Also I would like them to be able to leave with another way of using experiential education with those we work with; an understanding of the importance of quiet times and how to encourage others into this time. a. They will gain skills to help quiet their mind b. They will know what it takes to create a downtime environment c. They can take what they did and share it with others.

Get Caged
Come Get Caged with Us! This workshop will introduce you to various activities using the cage ball as the primary prop. A highly interactive workshop with a variety of applications for all populations. Come play with us.  This workshop will introduce you to both coopertive and competitive games using the cage ball. We have had these huge props in our programs for years but forgotten how fun they can be. This workshop will allow participants to 1. experience different applications and activities using the cageball. 2. discuss variations to activities and their uses with different populations. 3. identify safety concerns and learning outcomes to each activity. Come check it out and Get Caged!

Standards Of Excellence - Ground And Low Initiatives
In this workshop, we will present our ideas of the Standards of Excellence for all the stages of a low challenge course program, to inlude: pre-event, course intro, introducing the initiative, observation during the initiative, debriefing and post-event.  In this workshop, you will visit the Standards of Excellence as compiled by Dr. Jon Johnson. The discussion will revolve around the Pre-event briefing and any special focus information, the course intro, event intro and the debriefing. you should walk away with tips for what to look for in each of these areas for any type of client that you work with.

Accessing And Processing Affect
Much of what is expected and driven in treatment today is Cognitive Behavioral changes in our clients/students/participants. As important as these changes are, and need to occur, it is when we access and process the affective wounds/conflicts that the people we serve are more ready to make substantial Cognitive Behavioral changes. This session will focus on specific techniques of accessing and processing affective states, as well as, recognizing safety limits and applications of such techniques.  In this session we will look at Affect and how it is different from Cognition. In addition we will look at how Affect influences both Behavior and Cognition. Participants in this session will learn: (1) Safety/Ethical perameters for doing such work for the population they serve and themselves. (2) Identification of of Affective states. (3) Processing Affective states with the target population. There will also be discussion regarding application to different types of settings.

Different Perspectives On Challenge Course Training And Certification
Brenda Reed from Rope Works and Micah Henderson from Adventure Experiences discuss various client perspectives with respect to approaches in Challenge Course Trainings and Certification. The intent of this workshop is to provide clarity to practicioners about different training techniques and Industry Standards.  The intent of this workshop is to provide clarity to practicioners about different training techniques and Industry Standards. 1. Participants will gain a new perspective about using decision making skills to deal with different training techniques. 2. Facilitators who have experienced judgement about Challenge Course practices may have an opportunity to validate their different perspectives and styles. 3. Having two different Trainer/Testers in the same workshop will provide clarity on Vendor decisions and highlight consistencies within our region.

"Climb On!"
Come and explore creative rock climbing! We hope to share some of the possibilities climbing can have with group as well as within a counseling session.  This is a workshop meant to share the way that we have integrated rock climbing into our purposeful environment. In our work at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, we are continually trying to reach new goals with our residents through relationships and challenges. Climbing easily goes beyond a personal, physical sport to stretch people of all ages on social and emotional levels. We want to explore unique ways to develop relationships with individuals and create 'safe' groups with climbing. We also want to talk about the possibilities of rock climbing within a professional counseling session and the details of this particular facilitation role. If you want to climb, belay or talk about integration and challenges, please come and join us!

Follow The Clues To A Scavenger Hunt
Come to experience different types of scavenger hunts while creating some of your own. You will follow clues as a team to create the tasks in the most creative manner possible. Come to learn how to use scavenger hunts with all ages.  Participants will work in teams to gather items and perform tasks from a specified list. They will also design some of their own scavenger hunts to share with the group. We will discuss how to facilitate scavenger hunts and how to debrief the activity with all ages. Skills to be learned: teamwork, creativity, following rules.

BUNKO-Fun for All Ages
Have you ever played Bunko? It's fun, energizing, cooperative and did I mention it's FUN!! Come and learn how to play Bunko with all ages. There will be prizes and FUN!!  Participants will learn the rules of Bunko along with the equipment needed. We will play several games of Bunko and discuss the application of the game with all ages of people. We will discuss how to incorporate the game into camp and school settings. We will also discuss the processing that is used before and after the games. Skills to be learned: teamwork, sharing, following rules.

Facilitating Angels
Angels? Who are they? Where can we encounter them? What have they to do with facilitating ROPES? The presenter facilitates the facilitator participants through a series of internal and external experiences with the intent to discover answers to these questions and many more. This session experience is ideal for facilitators who desire to know and enjoy deeper, more joyful, and ramped up gratifying experiences for her/himself and most certainly for their participants.  This session is designed to engage participants in a way that we will see and learn to know Angels, to honor their presence and power, and to receive and use their powerful energies. We will learn the appropriate use of these energies and how to apply them when facilitating groups. We will learn techniques for receiving, recognizing, and honoring this energy when IT is called upon. This session will promote awareness of how this energy applies to ALL ROPES events and circumstances. Practical application includes using well known ROPES initiatives to illustrate these energy dynamics. This session is fun, light hearted, and enlightened.

Experiential Activities & The Brain
Got Big Booty on the brain? Terrific! Learn how this and many other experiential games and initiatives help with brain organization, development, and function.  The purpose of this workshop is to give participants a new perspective on how experiential activities, and specifically rhythmic activities, help to improve the organization, functioning, and development of the brain. Participants will first gain a basic understanding of the sequential development of the brain and how experience impacts this development. We will then discuss and practice using tools we already have with the intent of creating activities that positively impact the organization and function of the brain. Emphasis will be placed on patterned, repetitive, rhythmic activities. This information will be useful for organizing and developing programs & experiences, sequencing activities, and marketing yourself and /or your program. The presentation will be a combination of lecture, group games, and co-creation.

Experiential, Brain Friendly Strategies To Build A Classroom Community And Enhance Learning
Experiential, Brain Friendly Strategies to Build a Classroom Community and Enhance Learning Educators are faced with the challenge of meeting the needs of a broad range of learning styles in their classrooms. Come learn practical ways to engage and motivate students, inspire a sense of discovery, desire to learn, and create a positive and supportive learning community. We will explore the impact of brain-based research on teaching and learning. Participants will engage in a variety of active learning approaches to differentiate instruction, build community and enhance learning outcomes. These methods empower students to take more responsibility for their learning, help encourage experimentation and creativity while helping them practice important social and emotional skills. Join in this fun and interactive workshop and leave with useful activities, strategies, and new perspectives on experiential education and differentiated lesson planning.

Rock n Roll Outdoor Cooking
Afraid it's too much work? Don't let the image of cranking for hours fool you. Homemade ice cream today is nothing more than a few ingredients and a zip lock baggie or empty coffee can away.  Home-made ice cream is always the most refreshing dessert, and making it outdoors provides both recreation and a cool, memorable treat. It also creates lifetime memories of fun.

Teachable Moments: Creating Lasting Lessons Through Engaging Processing Tools & Technology
Processing or reflection brings learning to life. It helps learners make connections between educational experiences and real life situations and creates pathways to future learning. Educators recognize the value of reflection and processing, but often find that facilitating it is one of the most challenging aspects of group work and teaching. This interactive workshop focuses on providing you with a variety of innovative reflection tools and approaches that will dramatically improve your ability to turn teachable moments into profound personal insights and lasting lessons. Liven up the traditional sharing circle with active new ways to engage groups in dialogue. Learn ways to use metaphor to create meaning. Come and experiment with an interesting array of methods that meet a wide range of learning styles. Leave with new processing tools, activities and ideas to add to your facilitation repertoire.

Narrative Influenced Adventure Therapy
The workshop will interweave principles of narrative therapy with adventure based practices. Presenters will invite attendees to participate in a prepared experiential activity then open space for attendees to share their own favorite games or activities. The presenters will then facilitate conversations about ways to conceptualize these activities with an approach that complements clinical theory.   The workshop will interweave principles of narrative therapy with adventure based practices. After providing an overview of narrative therapy principles, the presenters will discuss parallels in adventure based programming. This will create an opportunity for attendees to conceptualize experiential activities using a clinical frame of reference. Presenters will invite attendees to participate in a prepared experiential activity then open space for attendees to share their own favorite games or activities. Once completing each activity, the presenters will facilitate a conversation about ways to interpret the experience with an approach that complements clinical theory. Three tangible skills that attendees will gain are the ability to converse about adventure therapy influenced by narrative principles, identify opportunities to incorporate clinical theory in their own experienced-based work, and facilitate new games introduced by the presenters and other attendees.

Emotions & Experiential Learning
Findings will be shared from an exploratory study on the unique attributes of experiential learning methodology as a way to teach emotion regulation and risk-taking skills. The dynamics and importance of emotion process measures will be illustrated and discussed as well.  Multiple lines of recent research are now focusing on how maturation of decision-making impacts risk-taking, and more specifically, what role emotion regulation plays (Weinberger et al., 2005; Steinberg, 2007). Rather than avoiding risk factors, a call is made for strength and skills-based approaches to risk-taking interventions. Experiential learning is a unique, under studied, and under used methodology in terms of teaching about emotions and risk-taking. The current session shares partial results from an exploratory study assessing an emotion regulation intervention. Twenty-eight emerging adults received emotion and risk-taking curricula. Experimental group participants (n = 13) participated in 2 experiential learning sessions. Process measures were used to assess the emotional impact of 6 high and low element activities. Many experimental group participants had difficulty with identifying their emotions, but post-intervention, reported a greater sense of emotional aware ness. The importance and future use of emotion regulation/risk-taking interventions and process measures will be explored. Participants will: 1) Learn about the specific attributes that make experiential learning a unique pedagogy for emotion regulation curricula/interventions. 2) understand the importance of process measures for debriefings and program improvement 3) be able to use experiential learning techniques to teach emotion regulation skills.

Writing For Wisdom
Not journaling, but mining the subconscious. Entering a time and space that we do not normally delve. Bring your writing utensils. Come experience a world within your being that is tapped when we allow ourselves freedom, space and time.  The group that gathers will quickly become a writing group. We will write together three or four times. Each will have the opportunity to read their writings. We will learn about the value of writing versus talking as a debriefing tool. We will take with us skills and tools to offer writing as a possibility for enhancing our experiential programs.

Make Your Classroom A Place Kids Want To Be
Come meet with Pete and Noel to learn and share activities, puzzles,games and philosophy with the goal of making your classroom be the one where kids are at home and happy.  We will share with you dozens of quick, easy and inexpensive activities that engage students and their brains! We will also share our beliefs about what makes a classroom inviting and how to draw students into a fellowship of learning. Participants, especially experienced educators, will be asked to share their wealth of knowledge as well.