The
Cody Education Center Development and Challenge Program values:
PEOPLE- the most valuable resource of any organization,
is often the least developed.
EXPERIMENTATION-by creating learning experiences
that involve participants physically and mentally the results are
more powerful and longer lasting.
SYNERGY- people achieve better and more sustainable
results collectively rather than individually.
SOCIETIES- everyone and everything is connected by
a network of systems, in which no one operates in isolation.
TIME-the development of effective and valuable teams
takes time, with the process being a journey, not merely a single
experience.
Program
Benefits for Groups
-Increased leadership skills
-Improved communication between team members.
-Greater respect for and valuing of diversity.
-Enhanced group goal setting and attainment.
-Encourage group planning and problem solving.
-Recognition of the value of peer support.
Description
For the Spring, Summer and Fall we use our Team Challenge courses
as the vehicle for individual and group development.
The two low ropes courses are set on our wooded site and provide a
safe and relaxing environment, allowing for concentration and activity
focus.
During the winter months we use our Indoor Initiatives Challenge program
to provide the same learning experiences, but within our fully heated
gym.
Our programs run over half, full or multi-day periods, but any length
program involves exposure to challenge activities only after comprehensive
preparation involving safety, ice breaking, task-focused games and
creating an environment for people to learn through experience.
Challenge
by Choice
The advantage of a Team Challenge course is that everyone can participate,
regardless of physical ability or athletic experience. There are no
failures on the program. Cody utilizes a “challenge by choice”
approach where each participant measures success by his or her own
standards and goals. If someone is afraid of heights, simply climbing
the two feet into a suspended cargo net can be a major source of accomplishment
and pride. If a person chooses not to attempt an event, facilitators
respect this decision and offer other ways for he person to participate
and contribute to the group effort, including spotting, time keeping
and giving verbal support.
Safety
Ropes and Team Challenge course elements provide very low actual risk,
but the perceived risk provides powerful experiences that can be used
to foster personal, organizational and professional growth. Our staff
regard the safety of participants as the highest priority and thoroughly
instruct group members to guidelines and safe practices, which they
monitor and reinforce throughout the day.
Quotes
“It was great! Now that we have been back to school, the relationships
between the students and staff are nothing short of powerful. The
connection we have is much different…. it’s solid! Although
our stay was brief, we received exactly what we came for…the
skills to be successful.”
Eric
Tracey, Assistant Principal
Peabody Veterans Memorial High School- Peabody Massachusetts
“From
my first contact with you, to our final wave goodbye, our interaction
was positive. Your staff is of the highest quality and their attention
to our requests and the professionalism that they displayed is outstanding.
All of us had a great time and were made to feel honored and special.
You can be sure we will return in the future. I will be delighted
to sing your praises.”
Pamela
Snitko, Assistant Principal
Great Brook School, 1999 NH Middle School of the Year
Antrim NH
Sequencing
"To experience is to cope, to learn and to integrate for future
performance"
All
the Team Development and Challenge Programs run by Cody introduce
experimental education in a series of progressive steps. Icebreakers
and name-learning activities introduce newly formed groups to each
other while setting a tone for the day for longer established groups.
Our facilitators will utilize "games” designed to reflect
your group's needs.
An
example would be strategically changing small group activities for
a school year group in order to break up or prevent cliques of students.
The
next move would be to introduce activities that create an environment
for risk-taking and learning as group members start working together
within team games and enjoy shared situation humor.
Only
after this culture for change has been created does the team start
to learn the techniques and attitude needed to take part in trust-based
activities, before moving onto the Team Challenge course.
Sample
Activities
EYES MOUTH AND HANDS
This involves the team reclaiming a lost item. The challenge arises
because the only person who can move to the object is blindfolded.
The rest of the group cannot move or speak (apart from one person
who can only see them and not the blindfolded person). This activity
requires the group to overcome frustrations, develop alternative
forms of communication and develop strategies to succeed.
PERSONAL
BEST
We use this as a great way to discover and share the true diversity
and worth of the individuals that make up your group. Individuals
share their proudest achievements with another group member, who
then reports what they have learnt to the rest of the group. By
allowing people to share what matters, and by creating a situation
where everyone’s accomplishment is recognized, the group learns
more about each other and what they have already achieved,
ALL
ABOARD
This simple task uses just a wooden platform two feet square and
6 inches off the floor. There is a lot of room for one person, and
it’s comfortable for two. The whole team needs to be supported
on the platform. They will need to plan, co-operate and support
each other to accomplish the task.
SPIDER'S
WEB
This web of ropes has openings of varying sizes, through which each
team member must pass or be passed. This activity requires planning
and foresight for success. It commonly generates discussion on issues
such as individual diversity and stereotyping, overcoming physical
contact taboos and maintaining positive attitude in the face of
adversity.
Higher Education
Our beautiful lakeside setting and variety of programs have made
us a regular location for many Higher Education training events.
Our role in RA, student leaders and team training often involves
the use of the Challenge Course. We focus heavily on decision making,
effective use of resources, communication skills and leadership
styles. The opportunity to remove students from the pressures and
expectations of campus life enhances the productivity of your training
and results in a strong team developed by common experience.
Sample Weekend
This is a basic schedule from which we help many groups
to customize their development program at Cody.
FRIDAY
EVENING
The group arrives on site and settles into cabins. After a short
welcome and safety introduction to the site they have free time
to enjoy pick up games, explore our wooded site and take in the
beautiful view of Lake Ossipee. An evening activity such as orienteering,
a campfire or a hockey tournament normally ensures a good nights
sleep.
SATURDAY
8 am Breakfast.
9
am Group participants and our facilitators meet and we begin a full
day Team development and Challenge Program. We start with introductions,
an agreement to focus on safety and peer support and large scale
group icebreakers.
As
the group focus increases we move to the Team Challenge course and
the events the groups attempts normally dominate the conversation
as we eat family-style for lunch.
12.30
pm Lunch.
1.30
pm We restart with more active and team-based games before returning
to the Challenge Course. By now the teams are working better together,
setting their own goals more, and debriefs are lasting longer as
participants feel more comfortable addressing issues.
4pm
An hour's free swim before dinner allows a chance for participants
to relax, chat to new friends or exchange experiences with old ones
before dinner.
6pm
Dinner.
7pm
Here the group has a chance to use the skills they developed during
the day in a team-based challenge such as a Scavenger or Treasure
Hunt, followed by a campfire. This allows time for people to reflect,
share and consider the developments both personal and group-based
they enjoyed over the day.
SUNDAY
8am
Breakfast.
9
am We open the boat pier for a day dedicated to relaxation and fun.
Participants
in the program can canoe, wind surf, sail or even water-ski under
the direction and supervision of our trained waterfront staff. The
rest of our grounds and land activities are of course open, as they
have been all weekend for basketball, tennis, baseball, soccer and
hockey.
Lunch
at 1pm is normally full of tired but happy faces as participants
look back on a fun but individually educating weekend before the
ride home.
Staff
We
have established a collection of staff who have developed into a
capable and popular facilitating team. Each one has excellent interpersonal
skills, and the experience to know when to provoke activity and
when to pause it. It is their gentle guiding input, ability to relate
to people of all ages and backgrounds and sense of humor that create
a fun and educational experience for Cody participants.
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