Adventure experiences of all kinds are great tools.  When used correctly these tools can have powerful impact on a groups dynamics and individual lives.  These tools also have the potential to fix the deeply rooted problems groups and/or individuals often face. 

Belonging, Competence, and Worth are key ingredients that humans circling this globe deeply desire, they are also often neglected ingredients in today's disposable culture.  All of our outdoor education experiences directly address these ingredients.  Groups are encouraged to work together, have fun together, and realize the importance of each member of the group, thus giving a sense of belonging.  Individuals are faced with challenges and are taught new skills that can relate to everyday life which gives them new competencies.  Finally individuals are taught about who they are in Christ and of Gods consuming love for us humans, this gives us all the worth we need and more!   

It seems we have lost our sense of adventure and imagination to our video games and big screen television sets.  Individuals involved in an outdoor education activity are encouraged to "think out of the box" and let their imaginations run wild.  Adventure always goes hand in hand with uncertainty and presumed risk, a healthy dose of each of these are the building blocks upon which every adventure education activity is built.   

Our Outdoor Education Program will employ this philosophy along with experiential education to obtain the following goals:

   To glorify God

   To foster individual growth (spiritually, mentally physically, and socially)

   To increase confidence and self esteem

   To foster personal responsibility, decision making abilities, leadership and trust

   To build life skills in working with others: communication, cooperation, commitment, support, listening and leadership

   To practice goal setting and problem solving

   To build positive group interaction and appreciation for differences within the group

   To foster confidence in dealing with many situations that are challenging

  To relate Christian principles to the adventure experience and life

Adventures can happen in almost any setting.  Life is full of epic adventures that are often overlooked, when adventure is overlooked a great learning experience is lost.  Touch the Worlds Outdoor Education program uses adventure experiences to teach all sorts of life skills and Biblical principals. Group Games, Initiative events, Low Challenge courses, High Ropes courses, Rock climbing, Canoeing, and Backpacking tend to be great adventure experiences which in turn (when not overlooked) lead to great learning experiences and growth.  Participants are guided through a succession of increasingly difficult and challenging adventures.  Each activity is processed or debriefed to ensure that no learning experience slips away.     

This progression of increasing challenges will build trust, confidence, competence and a powerful sense of belonging in your group.  Participants will have to get out of their comfort zone and learn to trust and work as a team to accomplish the goals set before them.  The group will also experience the power of the Lord in their lives as they rely more and more on Him for the inner strength they will need to succeed in the course and in their daily life.

What is an initiative event?  Initiative events are activities that motivate a group to work together.  The instructor will challenge the group with a hypothetical situation, then the group will have to figure out how to solve the problem and execute the often mentally and physically demanding solution.  These activities are great tools in building teamwork, trust and cooperation within a group.

So what’s the difference between an initiative event and a low element activity?  Simple.  A low element activity is simply an initiative event that has pre-existing props.  For example, a tire suspended in a tree may become a porthole in a sinking ship that only by cooperation can the group escape from.  These activities are usually more challenging and require a higher level of trust.

What is experiential learning? Experiential learning is a qualified educational methodology, which employs sensory opportunities in pursuit of gathering meaningful life experiences that can be processed and applied to many aspects of life.  In challenge programs, where a group participates in experiential methods (a ropes course), a person learns first-hand about their personal adaptation along with the groups’ adaptation to various challenges.

High and low ropes courses, initiative events and group games are much more than just a bunch of monkey business.  These activities present a unique learning experience in that the participants are learning and often don’t even realize it.  These activities are presented in an exciting, adventurous and unpredictable way.  Participants are taken out of their normal “cruise control” life and become engaged in activities where they can safely try new “gears” they often didn’t even know they had.  It is hoped that while operating in these new “gears” participants can get a fresh look at their life from an angle they may never have seen before.  Through taking risks and working out of the “norm,” participants can gain new personal and interpersonal skills and insights - the basis for growth and change.

Participants in a challenge program have the freedom to make their own decisions, choices and mistakes.  They will see immediate results from their actions and hence are highly encouraged to take responsibility for themselves and others.  Challenges can be taken two ways, as stumbling blocks or as stepping-stones.  The leader/facilitator of a challenge activity will do his/her best to make the challenges stepping-stones and to foster cooperation instead of competition.  Challenge activities should gently push an individual out of their “comfort zone” into relying more on the group and hopefully God.

Ropes courses are truly a load of fun.  Where else do you get to swing through the trees like Tarzan or pretend you are two feet tall while trying to climb a giant’s ladder?  Ropes courses are not oversize jungle gyms.  When used correctly, a ropes course becomes an educational tool that can help an individual and group to grow and learn more about themselves and others.  Here at Touch The World, we believe that adventure education experiences can greatly impact an individual’s life.  These activities have the power to build character, self-esteem, trust and responsibility in a person, helping them to become a more whole individual.  It is our goal to see this happen.

The term “challenge by choice” is at the center of every adventure education activity.  The participants have the choice to participate or not.  We will not force an individual into climbing, zipping or even smiling; it is a choice they must make for themselves.