"Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to 
figure out how to walk through this world together."
                                                        ~Jacqueline Woodsen

 

Wheel of a Deal Wednesday

The Spokesperson E-Newsletter
Facilitator Virtual Scavenger Hunt


Hello facilitator friends!

Tomorrow is World Day for Cultural  Diversity.  Truth be told, I didn't even know this was a thing until this year.  So I decided to celebrate in style!  I'm hosting the very first Facilitator Virtual Scavenger Hunt tomorrow!  I hope you will j oin me and facilitators all around the world as we explore how to build out team building events online.  The last few weeks I've been busy building out Virtual Scavenger Hunts for a few clients that include Icebreakers, Team Building Activities and lots of debriefing.  Many of the activities I've shared in my Virtual Team Building Zoom sessions are the activities I've incorporated into these hunts.  Team activities like Word Circles and Puzzle Slides have been included, and I've also had groups deciphering Morse Code to then search Google Earth for specific coordinates to find a unique rooftop for a clue.  I make sure we incorporate debriefing activities and movement activities throughout the hunt to ensure it wasn't just a Team Bonding experience, that there is true experiential learning and fun along the way. I still facilitate the process with the group so it isn't too unlike what I would do if we were all in the same room.  There's adventure, problem-solving, process, communication skills and other directly relatable, transferable learning back to the real world.  

Now I want to teach you how to do this yourself!  Join me and facilitators all around the world as we explore how to build out team building events online.  The  Facilitator Virtual Scavenger Hunt is tomorrow, May 21,  at 3:00pm MST / 5:00pm ET.    In true experiential fashion, you will first participate in the scavenger hunt as a participant.  Then we will dissect the hunt process and I'll show you the 'back end' of the event.  The hunt itself takes about 60-70 minutes to complete, then I anticipate another 30-45ish minutes to show you the back end.  (I know this is a long time to be in an online meeting, but I promise you it will be worth it.)

The fee for participation in this event will be $20 per person.  You will first purchase the Facilitator Virtual Scavenger Hunt registration from our website, then we will send you the registration information.  We will not be sharing the recording of this session publicly, so the only way to access the content is though this process.  We will share the recording with those that register, even if you cannot attend the live event.   Registration will close at 12:00pm MST on May 21, so register early to avoid missing out!  This allows for a small buffer to make sure everyone gets their registration confirmation from us.

I have one person in particular to thank for being an excellent role model for me in the Scavenger Hunt world, Dave Blum.  Dr Clue as he is commonly referred to, has built out over 150 in-person Scavenger Hunts all over the world.  Dave and I met at a conference over a decade ago, and we have stayed in touch over the years.  He has also built out a few Virtual Scavenger Hunts.  Please check his site out!
New podcast debuting next week!

ANNOUNCEMENT!  I also have a fun announcement  to make....  My good friend and colleague Christ Cavert and I have been working behind the scenes the last few months on a new PODCAST!  We've used this odd time in history with social distancing to record multiple episodes of a new weekly podcast we're calling, Ask Michelle & Chris About Team Building .  This weekly podcast will field questions from team builders all over the world.   Between the two of us, we have over 50 years of combined team building and training experience and have written over 20 publications. We both have traveled the world to help team builders get better at what they do best - lead powerful team building programs. I'm so excited!  We will be launching next week, and we will have a place for you to submit any question you want to ask us. Stay tuned for more information on where you can access this podcast.

HANDOUT ALERT!  If you are new to this newsletter and want to watch the recordings from the past three Zoom sessions on Virtual Team Building Games, you can find them on our YouTube Channel.  Feel free to hit the 'subscribe' button so you get a notification whenever we upload a new video!  Here is a link to the free downloadable handouts that accompany the workshops, including the most recent session on Virtual Team Building Activities - Part 3.  Feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested.  

Best wishes to you and your loved ones to be healthy, safe and to be virtually connected.  

Have fun out there, 
Michelle        
Michelle Cummings
Owner/Trainer/Big Wheel
Training Wheels  

Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer
Personify Leadership
www.PersonifyLeadership.com
Important Training Wheels Info

Wheel of a Deal:  On Sale this Week...

50 Ways To Use Your Noodle
by Chris Cavert & Sam Sikes

The "Noodle book" is a combination of adapted activities and newly created activities that use the foam pool noodle as a prop. None of the activities is meant to do in the water. Approximately half of the book contains icebreaker and energizer games and the other half contains problem-solving activities.

FAQ: Noodles? No water?? Chris and Sam joined talents to publish this book. It seems that many camps would use noodles as a part of their swimming pool programs, but then they would have to store them away in the Fall and Winter seasons. These things can take up a lot of room. Chris and Sam put together the book so that anyone, anywhere would be able to use their noodles year-round. Besides, the things are addictively fun!

Regular:  $19.99  On Sale:  $17.99

Click here to purchase  o r for more information.
Cup It Up
Delivering fun activities that promote positive behaviors, the activities in this book were designed to promote conversations and questions about keeping our cup filled with knowledge and awareness. These teambuilding activities simply use the famous red plastic cup, normally used at parties, to help promote trust, commitment, collaboration, accountability and communication. This book helps a leader, trainer, teacher or facilitator to add more activities into their tool belt to help guide teams to higher success. The book will guide you in how to run and facilitate the activities. Each activity comes with suggested questions to help you bring deeper and meaningful conversations when facilitating. Also included are variations that you can change to activity to bring different results. We hope that you will continue to be inspired by the Red Plastic Cup. Not only for parties and play but also to encourage, to teach and to help others grow and learn for themselves.

Regular:  $19.99  On Sale:  $16.99

  Click here to purchase or for a write up and video on one of the games from this book.
Portable Team Building Activities
by Chris Cavert
Games, Initiatives, and Team Challenges for Any Space
  
By Chris Cavert and Friends

An evocative list-FUN, choice of challenge, discussion, compassion, self-efficacy, respect, acceptance, integrity, discovery, teamwork-all integral parts of experiential/adventure education. Did you notice the bold first word in this magic list? Fortunately, Chris Cavert, is a dedicated FUN magnet, and your welcoming guide to active participation (from the Foreword by Karl Rohnke).
This book is filled with a variety of teambuilding activities with a range of challenge levels.These activities can be used with middle and high school students, college students, and adult groups of all ages and backgrounds. Most of the challenges require easy-to-find props and equipment, others require some extra effort before you play. All the activities can be resources to add to powerful and positive pro-social development programs.


Regularly  $34.99   On Sale: $29.99

Click here to order or for more information
Experiential Facilitation 101 Class

Our Experiential Facilitation 101 training is an introductory class for the team building facilitator.  This three-day training provides an important first step in building the foundational skills necessary to lead experiential programs.  
 
 
Date:  July 7-9, 2020
Date:  October 6-8, 2020
Date:  December 15-17, 2020
Location:  Hampton Inn, Littleton, CO
Time:  9:00am-4:30pm,  Breakfast & Lunch included!
Price:  Regularly $975
Includes instruction manual and $50 credit towards Training Wheels gear.

Certification in this class:  $3500, July 7-10, October 6-9 and December 15-18.
Social Media Sites
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Make sure to 'Like' us on Facebook!  We post coupons, activity ideas and other fun things each week.  You can also interact with other Facilitators!
 
Connect with me on Linked In!  
Training Wheels Linked In Company Profile:  Training Wheels Group LLC
Personify Leadership Linked In Company Profile:   Personify Leadership
 
Follow me on Twitter!  @TrainingWheels1     @PersonifyLeader   @MichelleCSocial
Where In the World is Michelle?
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops where Michelle is presenting:  
biking backpackers
Want to participate in one of Michelle's workshops?  Is she near you?  Piggy back a training for your organization when she is traveling near you.  Here's a link to our event calendar as well.

All In-Person Programs Cancelled or Postponed through the first of July.

May 17-20, Virtual AWAG Conference, Munich, Germany

May 21, Virtual Client Program


May 26, Virtual  Client Program

May 27, Virtual Client Program, Moose Jaw, Saskachewan

June 2,  Virtual  Client Program

June 23, Virtual Keynote for a Youth Event

July 7-9, Experiential Facilitation 101 class, Littleton, CO