Bosque School Medical Reserve Corps

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Ever felt sick or were injured at school? Ever have to face the grumpy school nurse? Well, not at Bosque School in Albuquerque New Mexico! This is an amazing student led program, where all of the first responders for illness or injury are the students themselves. As members of the school’s Medical Reserve Corps, the students learn how to respond to medical incidents and emergencies and take the lead when something happens.

In this episode, we talk with Dan Shaw, teacher, first responder and faculty head of the MRC at Bosque School, as well as Maddison, Taylor & Abigail, three of the students who are part of the MRC program and first responders.

What better way to learn a unique and practical medical skill set than through real-world experiences.We take a look at how this unique program came about and how it’s been developed over the years to provide students with some amazing and challenging opportunities and experiences to develop an excellent skill-set and ability to respond and deal with a range of medical issues and emergencies.

This is true leadership in Experiential Education and one of the most impressive programs I’ve come across in a school. Whilst many schools profess they provide opportunities for leadership, this school actually does it in such a fantastic and meaningful way.

For more information on Bosque School’s program:

Bosque School MRC

https://www.bosqueschool.org/list-detail?pk=149439&fromId=245550

USA National MRC

https://www.phe.gov/about/oem/prep/Pages/mrc.aspx

Standard Diner ABQ

https://www.standarddiner.com/

This was the first diner I’ve been to in the US and it was nice. The frozen margarita with mint mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!

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Aspen High ExEd Program

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Have you ever wanted to start the school year by getting away somewhere, fun, challenging remote or culturally unique? No this is no holiday, this is the Aspen High School ExEd program, which provides students the opportunity to learn through experience right across the country.

In mixed year level groups, students get to choose from a huge range of options, from Hiking in the Tetons, to Biking in New Mexico, or perhaps a dive into the Cajun culture of Louisiana or some glitz and glamour of Fashion Design in LA!

There’s something for everyone in this fantastic practical and experiential education program, which has been running for over 50 years!

In this episode we talk with Brent Maiolo who is Chair of the ExEd program at Aspen High.

For more information on Aspen’s program:

Aspen High School ExEd

https://www.aspenk12.net/domain/131

Episode Corrections

Mt Kosciuszko is 2228 metres high, not 2227! Also, you multiply metres to get feet, not divide. Both entirely my mistakes as I can’t do good math! Or English it would seem.

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Howling Gibbon Outdoor Education

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Have you ever tried washing an Elephant at school? Explored a jungle and encountered a family of Gibbons? Well you can at The Howling Gibbon Outdoor Centre in Thailand

In this episode, we talk with Alex Moxon Founder and program Director of the Howling Gibbon Centre.

What better way to learn than to spend time in a rural centre in Thailand which combines, outdoor adventures with field studies and service learning. This centre runs a great range of interesting and diverse programs, with the service learning based upon the UN sustainability goals.

Alex is also the founder of Outdoortopia, an exciting experiential education blog and online community for teachers and other educators interested in creating change makers for a sustainable future.

For more information on the Howling Gibbon and Outdoortopia

Howling Gibbon

https://www.howlinggibbon.com/

Outdoortopia

https://www.outdoortopia.org/

UN Sustainable Development Goals

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300

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National Gallery London – Arts Education

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Want to lose yourself in centuries of political and religious conflict and dark mysteries locked in snapshots from the past? Then the National Gallery in London is just the place for you. With an enormous collection of stunning artworks spanning over half a millennia, this is an amazing experience. No matter how many times I’ve been there, I haven’t even scratched the surface of the passion, the love, the hatred, the rebellion, the political intrigue and the social and emotional commentary that’s behind the huge collection of art in the National Gallery.

In this episode, we talk with Caroline Smith, head of educational programs at the National Gallery and explore how they engage students in one of the most amazing galleries in the world.

From the early Renaissance to legendary artists such as Monet and Van Gough and stunning works which take up entire walls, this is something which will awe and inspire students in ways that the classroom can never replicate.

For more information on the educational programs at the National Gallery checkout:

National Gallery London

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/learning/teachers-and-schools

Best Coffee in London

Monmouth Coffee is well worth seeking out as you will struggle to get a decent coffee anywhere in the UK. However, the coffee here is amazing and some of the best coffee I’ve had in the world! Just go there and try it. You’ll know what I mean!

Our shops

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YMCA 4C Centre Christchurch

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Are you between 14-25 and have a problem you want to solve? Do you have lots of ideas, but just need the right space, equipment and support to turn those ideas into something cool?

In this episode, we talk with Andrew Moss, director of the YMCA 4C Centre, Christchurch.

The YMCA 4C Centre is a place where young entrepreneurs, inventors and problem solvers can go to build their solutions in a really cool and supportive environment.

From robotics, to 3D printing, to video and artistic pursuits, the 4C Centre is for everyone who are curious and want to build their skills in Communications, Creativity and Critical Thinking. It’s a wonderful place and space in Christchurch to take your ideas, take risks and turn them into something amazing.

For more information on the YMCA 4C Centre:

YMCA Christchurch

https://www.ymcachch.org.nz/4c/

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The Downtown School Seattle

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Want to have 3 classes a day and learn in the heart of a city and use everything around you as a lab?

The Downtown School in Seattle is a leading-edge school which uses Downtown Seattle as part of their integrated educational program. This is a grade 9 through 12 school. It’s a great example of a school that’s future focussed and enabling students to pursue their own interests and identity as part of their education.

More time in the classroom doesn’t equate to better learning outcomes and the Downtown school has built this into their overall program.

For more information on the Downtown School checkout:

Downtown School

https://www.downtownschoolseattle.org/

Lakeside School

https://www.lakesideschool.org/

The KEXP Gathering Space

https://www.kexp.org/visit/gathering-space/

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Christchurch City Council Learning Through Action Program

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How do you get students to buy into their role and responsibility in caring for the environment?

How do you use this to build a sense of community at the same time?

In this episode, we talk with Pete Johnson, from the Christchurch City Council in NZ who leads the environmental experiential education programs for schools.

We take a look at how these programs are aimed at all ages and build and grow on prior experience year after year to help students, not only understand the local environment and the challenges we face to care for that, but also taking real action to do something within the community.

For more information on Pete’s work and the great Learning Through Action programs on offer at the Christchurch City Council checkout:

Christchurch City Council

https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/learning-resources/learning-through-action/

Programs on Offer

https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/learning-resources/learning-through-action/list-of-programmes/

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Risk Management – Challenges & Opportunities

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Where do you start with Risk Management? With any experiential education, you have a professional responsibility to pro-actively manage risk. This is an ever-evolving and dynamic skill-set that you develop over the years through training and experience. It’s something we can never take for granted. We take a look at some of the challenges we face in managing risk and what can happen, when things don’t go to plan.

In this episode, we talk with Paul Tame, who is a leading risk management trainer with Xcursion Risk Management Training, Lead corporate management trainer for Zen Training & Senior lecturer at Western State Uni Colorado. We take a dive into risk management for experiential education and touch on a few challenges we all face when planning and running programs.

Often things look great on paper. However, how does that translate into the real world? With risk management for any sort of activity, it needs to be a living and breathing culture within your organisation and not just a bit of paperwork someone completed and then filed away.

For more information on Paul’s work and the organisations he’s worked with over the years, check out:

Zen For Business

https://www.zenforbusiness.net/

Xcursion Risk Management

https://training.xcursion.com.au/

Western State Uni

https://www.western.edu/

And Crested Butte a fun ski resort we’ve skied together at:

https://www.skicb.com/

For more information on Denali:

https://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm

https://www.weather.gov/afg/denaliclimbing

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St Paul’s School Entrepreneurship Program

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Want to learn how to be an entrepreneur? Often this sort of thing is left to chance, luck or sheer force of will. Why not avoid this and get started at school with some real-world problem solving, idea hacking and industry partnerships to help you build an entrepreneurial mindset and skill set whilst still at school

In this episode, we talk with Dr Paul Browning, Principal of St Paul’s School in Brisbane, Australia and Author of ‘Compelling Leadership and Principled.

In a rapidly changing world, we explore how St Paul’s has taken a proactive approach to teaching and learning and created an Entrepreneurial stream for their students to prepare them for an uncertain future.

From an in-depth educational review with input from leading educational minds such as Andy Hargraves & Pasi Sahlberg, to industry partnerships and a start-up fund, this school is on the leading edge of education today.

For more information on St Paul’s and their wonderful program:

Pathways

http://www.andyhargreaves.com/

https://pasisahlberg.com/

For more information on Dr Paul Browning and his books:

The Books

https://www.uqp.com.au/books/principled

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Season 2 Kickoff!

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I know it’s been a year longer than we had hoped, but now, despite the current global issues, which reminds me of the Billy Joel song, ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’, we’re back for season 2 of the Xperiential Education podcast!

This season, we cover all sorts of great programs from art, to science, to risk management, to outdoor ed, to a really wonderful student-led medical program and a few things in between. The depth and breadth of the podcast and our guests, highlights how important it is for students today to learn to be adaptable problem solvers.

Season 2 is brought to you by Xcursion Risk Management, for all of your risk management training and software needs for running great experiential education programs.

https://training.xcursion.com.au/

https://www.xcursion.com.au

For more info, guest suggestions and other feedback visit:

https://xperiential.education/

For cool blog articles about experiential education, outdoor education and risk management visit:

http://www.challengeexperiencegrowth.com/

For professional and business info visit:

http://www.davidgregory.com.au

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Australian Science & Mathematics School

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No uniforms, open plan learning and a wonderful happy school environment! I only wish I could have gone to the Australian Science & Mathematics School. Specifically designed to cater for students with an interest in Maths and Science, the non-selective government school based at Flinders University in Adelaide is a remarkable example of the future facing experiential education at its best.

This impressive campus and program is for years 10-12 and all education starts with a major social, health, technical, or world-wide problem. The challenge is to find solutions to these problems through the effective practical application of Science and Maths.

With self-directed learning a key component of the school, this was a highlight of my year being able to visit and see such an effective teaching and learning environment in action.

For more information about the Australian Science & Mathematics School:

https://www.asms.sa.edu.au

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/future-proof-promo/7562184

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V&A Museum London

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What happens when you collect a lot of random stuff? Well, if you only have a small house, you get called a hoarder. However, if you have massive amounts of money and can build an enormous building to put all your stuff in, then you’re called a philanthropist. Queen Victoria and her husband Albert, happened to be the latter. The V&A has an astounding collection of rare and unique artefacts from around the world.

In this episode, we talk with Adrian Deakes, Program Manager For Theatre & Performance for schools at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. We explore how the V&A leverages its collection and industry partnerships to bring some unique and valuable experiential learning to life for theatre students, including Shakespeare In A Suitcase, which is a super cool and challenging experience!

For more information about the V&A:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/videos/s/video-shakespeare-in-a-suitcase/

https://www.vam.ac.uk

https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/learn

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Antarctic Adventures

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What do you know about penguins? Well they get mad if you steal their fish… Thankfully, I wasn’t the one given the opportunity to go to Antarctica and lead a research base station.

In this episode, we talk with Noel Mifsud, Principal of Christian Brothers College in Adelaide, whose extra-ordinary career crosses between education and industry as opportunities have presented themselves. We look at how his experiences outside of education have helped him in his teaching and leadership throughout all his work.

We explore some of the interesting approaches he’s using in his own school to help prepare students for an unknown and uncertain future.

For more information about Noel & Christian Bros College:

http://www.cbc.sa.edu.au

http://www.antarctica.gov.au

http://www.antarctica.gov.au/living-and-working/stations/casey

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Clunes – Escape To The Country

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How do you like the sound of going away for eight weeks and living in a house with seven other people you might have never met before? No it’s not big brother. It’s Wesley College’s residential Yr 9 program called Clunes.

In this episode, we talk with Tim Nolan, Head of Student Welfare at Clunes. We look at how different this sort of program is and how their experiential learning approach covers their daily social lives, their academic work and their community involvement.

We explore some of the aspects of the co-ed program and see how this sort of challenging and supportive environment is helping students prepare for an uncertain future.

For more information about Clunes:

http://www.wesleycollege.net/Wesley-Life/Clunes/The-Clunes-Journey.aspx

http://visitclunes.com.au

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AFP & International Training

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How would you react when thrown in the deep end? Foreign country, different culture, different language and all you have to do is build an effective police force from scratch.

In this episode we talk with Rebecca Cameron, former Australian Federal Police officer who shares her experiences on building police force capacity in war ravaged East Timor. From basic police work and training in Australia, to a far more politically and culturally complex overseas policing with the United Nations International Police Force, this is a fascinating insight into how we can learn from and with other and build something from scratch.

We dive deeply into practical skills development in an occupation that relies on situational awareness, adaptability and problem solving skills.

For more information on the AFP and UNAMET:

https://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/our-work-overseas

https://unmit.unmissions.org

https://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1999/fa067_99.html

https://www.facebook.com/TheFigTreeForest/

 

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Bundanon Trust

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Where’s your creative space? Is it in a place filled with movement and noise, a quite retreat away from everything, or do you have random moments of creativity whilst out surfing?

In this episode, we talk with Mary Preece, Education Manager for Bundanon Trust, Arthur Boyd’s former property nestled on the banks of the Shoalhaven River. The Trust was set up after the famous artist donated the land and much of his private collection to the Australian people. We talk about various experiential education programs based around art and the environment which the Trust runs as part of its great educational work.

We also explore how spaces and environment impact on a student’s focus, feeling and expression. We recorded this podcast at a number  of locations around the property, which was a highlight for me, seeing inside the artist’s studio, just as he left it.

For more information on Bundanon Trust:

https://bundanon.com.au

https://bundanon.com.au/collection/

https://shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/Discover-Shoalhaven/Visitor-information

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GovHack & Problem Solving

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What better way to spend the weekend than to take some government data and hack it! No it’s not quite wikileaks! No breaking into filing cabinets we find at second hand furniture stores in Canberra! It’s a competition to see who can creatively use the masses of government datasets available to the public.

In this episode, we talk with Matt Purcell, Head of Digital Innovation at Canberra Grammar School and former ACT Director of GovHack in Canberra. We explore some of the ways GovHack came about, what it’s all about and how this sort of experience translates back into the digital classroom. We also explore the process of problem solving for students in the context of learning to code and creating effective partnerships between education and business.

It’s a fun and interesting look at some great challenges available for students, which connects them with government departments and wider tech industry players.

For more information on GovHack and stuff we talk about:

https://govhack.org

https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/hololens

https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/store/p/holoelements/9n9g3vlcbjj3

https://cgs.act.edu.au

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The Australian War Memorial

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There’s nothing more important than for us to understand and learn from the lessons of the past. The Australian War Memorial, built to commemorate the Great War and opened in 1941 in the midst of the Second World War, remains one of the most important and most visited sites in Australia.

In this episode, we talk with Dr Brendan Nelson, Director of The Australian War Memorial in Canberra. It’s a fascinating and moving insight into the great work that the War Memorial is doing to provide the next generation with a real understanding of the experience of war and honour those who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice to enable us to live in this great country, as we do today.

We explore some of the innovations which have brought exhibits and the educational experience of the War Memorial to life as well as hear an intimate story of love and loss which emerged from letters given to the War Memorial for preservation.

For more information on the Australian War Memorial:

https://www.awm.gov.au

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Tihoi Venture School

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What’s a great way to get boys to mature and take responsibility for themselves and the direction of their lives? Send them away to live in remote rustic timber mill cottages with seven other boys, where they have to cook for themselves, keep their cottages in good order, study and take on all manner of outdoor challenges, including skinning and cooking their own rabbits!

In this episode, we talk with Cyn Smith, Director of Tihoi Venture School in NZ. Situated near Taupo on the North Island of New Zealand, Tihoi Venture School was started in 1979, using buildings which were previously the workers’ cottages for the timber mill.

This is very much a ‘back to basics’ program which provides amazing opportunities for the students to grow within themselves, gain independence and build a set of skills to prepare them for the uncertainties of life.

 

For more information on Tihoi and their wonderful program:

https://www.stpauls.school.nz/section/tihoi-venture-school

http://www.knowtihoi.school.nz

 

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A Podcast is Launched

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Introducing the new Experiential Education Podcast, hosted by David Gregory, the podcast delves into all different sorts of experiential learning. From art, to science, to outdoor ed, to policing, to theatre and performance and everything in between, the depth and breadth of the podcast and its guests, highlights how important it is for students today to learn to be adaptable problem solvers.

 

For more info, guest suggestions and other feedback visit:

https://xperiential.education/

For cool blog articles about experiential education, outdoor education and risk management visit:

http://www.challengeexperiencegrowth.com/

For professional and business info visit:

http://www.davidgregory.com.au

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Experiential Education Podcast – Season 1 – Starting Soon!

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Over the past year, (in my spare time), I’ve been travelling around and interviewing some fascinating people who work in experiential education. Now my definition of experiential education is very broad and intentionally so. This is not a podcast about classroom practice nor is it about outdoor education. It’s about a whole range of interesting and unique approaches as to how leaders, teachers, trainers and businesses are educating others, be it at home, in school, at a retreat or specialised venue, on the job, or any other context where those with experience in life create valuable and meaningful learning experiences for others.

Looking forward to having you join us on some really interesting journeys as we dive into some great left-field approaches which are producing great results for students, teachers and creating opportunities for life long-learning.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand — Confucius

Swift Water Course_4

Swift Water Rescue – Nothing Prepares You Like Being Thrown In The Deep End!