This newsletter is the e-mail companion to: 'SiteFinder: Adventure and Experiential Education Directory' Editor: Roger Greenaway roger@reviewing.co.uk Copyright 1998 Roger Greenaway, Reviewing Skills Training   THANK YOU for signing up for this free monthly newsletter. You are in control of your subscription. Details are at the end.       ''HOW and WHY are people are using outdoor adventure     for learning, growth, development, empowerment, education,     training, therapy, reflection or inspiration?''   Each issue points to resources about 'HOW' and 'WHY' and AIMS to be of practical and inspirational value both to 'SURFERS' (searchers) and to 'WAVE-MAKERS' (site owners).   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> SINGLE ACTIVITY COURSES   What do scuba-diving, footbag, paintball, horse-riding, mountain-climbing, dog-sledding, flying, blind landrover driving, sailing, archery, golf, and ropes courses have in common?     • Yes, they are all outdoor activities.     • Yes, they are all used as a 'vehicle' for learning something else.     • And they are all activities where training providers put all their eggs in 'one basket'. In other words, virtually all of the training is based around A SINGLE ACTIVITY.   The providers of these single activity courses seem to put twice as much thought and effort into explaining how their ONE activity can be used to provide all the benefits that the customer wants.   You may remember the inspiring examples in a recent newsletter that included reviews of two web sites about 'single activity' courses. They were: The Footbag Peace Initiative <http://www.valinet.com/~dbotkin> and LeadYourShip <http://www.LeadYourShip.com> Paul Hunting's article about using horses in management development is different again. And it provides insights into ways of learning that are not possible with inanimate objects! You will find a taster below.   I will be providing an index on my site from which you will be able to learn about SINGLE ACTIVITY COURSES. An alphabetical index of activities will take you to pages on my site and other sites where you can learn about the WHY and HOW of these bold ventures. [This new page will be announced here early next year.]   Single Activity courses seem to get much deeper into the *quality* of the experience. And they seem to be much better at bringing out the *special qualities* that particular activities can 'tap into' and 'bring out'. They also seem to be far more dependent on effective REVIEWING (processing) for producing the desired learning outcomes. [I would say that wouldn't I?]   What are your views on the subject of single activity courses?   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> HORSES FOR COURSES   Paul Hunting writes ... ''Staff and clients prepared themselves with some trepidation to test a state-of-the-art leadership development system.   ''Code name: 'Ernie'. This stunning piece of technology had been in the genetic design phase for over sixty million years. Ernie has one tail, four feet and sixteen hands. Yes, he's a horse!  We were the design team for a leadership programme that would take 'outdoor management development' into a new realm of possibility. What was Ernie doing there? What were we doing there? What on earth is the connection between riding a horse and business transformation?''   Paul's article ends with an explanation of 'R-I-D-E': ''It seems that as humans we experience life through the filters of two primary states of being: 'trusting' and 'controlling'. When we are being 'trusting' we are operating from a context of what I like to call  'R-I-D-E': Response-ability Integrity Direction Enthusiasm.''   'RIDE FOR YOUR LIFE (tm), provides tailored equestrian-based leadership development and coaching skills. Contact Paul Hunting: <paul@horsejoy.com>   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> PRIZEWINNER   Congratulations to Iain Jennings for winning December's prize - a copy of 'Reviewing Adventures: Why and How'. Iain is finding the internet a useful tool. He writes ...   "As you know Roger, although our  firm's Sports and Corporate Hospitality divisions have got a lot of coverage in media and on television - our core business is still our Training Division's team building consultancy work and management development work...   ''By putting information for students and customers on line customers can get information more or less straight away if they want it...   ''Ideally we wanted to make information rapidly available without having to chop down a forest to make the paper for all the leaflets and brochures we used to send out by the thousand to telephone enquirers !  The internet is potentially a great medium for us and other outdoor education and training providers to use to help spread the word about what's available, research results, ideas for new developments, etc.   [Roger: I couldn't agree more Iain!!]   ''I am looking forward to the time when web servers are smart and fast enough for us to include videos of activities and include interviews with past delegates and clients on our site.   ''Another possibility getting us really excited is the way in which the internet is allowing us to set up mutually helpful and worthwhile networking links with fellow consultants and providers who want to use our premises and staff and other facilities.  We are delighted that the net is helping us to hear from fellow training professionals who feel they'd like to work alongside us.   ''I'm pleased to see your web site developing as it is.  It seems to be a useful focus for networking and comment. We wish you every success with your worthy mission."   IAIN JENNINGS Managing Director, Peak Activities Limited <mailto:iain@iain.co.uk> <http://www.iain.co.uk>   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> The Next PRIZE DRAW is on *1st February*   HOW TO ENTER Do just ONE of these things:     • RECOMMEND SiteFinder to someone (and copy your recommendation to me)     • Send in a SITE REVIEW, or NEWS, or TIPS, or LINKS or ARTICLES     • Offer your own PRIZE (a useful option if you are short of time!) Please use this address: < roger@reviewing.co.uk >   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> NEW BOOK and VIDEO   FOOD FOR THOUGHT by GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY, Kendall Hunt (1998) A workbook and video about using metaphors.   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> MORE SUSTAINABILITY LINKS   ~~> Baobab's Natural Philosophy Center How to explain the inexplicable? Over 100 articles and web resources about our connection to the natural world, including modern and historical natural philosophy, environmental philosophers, eco-feminism, environmental ethics, laws, political movements, and ecological activists. Plus there's a free bi-weekly update you can sign up for. <baobabcomputing.com/naturalphilosophy [dead link?]> Link found at <http://www.brathay.org.uk>:   ~~> Sustainable economics and organisations <http://www.colby.edu/personal/thtieten/sustain.html>   ~~> Sustainable transport: <http://www.sustrans.org.uk/> "When I see an adult on a bicycle, I have faith in the future of the human race" - H.G. Wells Sustrans is a civil engineering charity which designs and builds routes for cyclists, walkers and people with disabilities. Sustrans is promoting a 6,500-mile National Cycle Network for the UK which will link schools, houses, shops and workplaces with each other and with the countryside. A superb site. Don't miss the 'RIDE THE NET' page - plenty of innovative ideas that you can recycle ;-) in your own programme. The LINKS page has well organised UK and WORLDWIDE links. How good is a bike as a 'vehicle' for experiential education? Any views or links on the subject?   CONTENTS (TOP) ~~~~>> NEW and FASTER PAGES   You will now find many improvements in the appearance and functioning of the SiteFinder Directory. The new sections are indexed from the NEW Directory Site Map. (Do you like the changes?)   The site is hosted by Global Internet which has just won the accolade of 'best ISP on the Planet' in Internet Magazine. The tests included speed and accessibility from around the world. Not a bad home for a global directory!   ~~~~>> NEXT ISSUE   Search Help Tools, Special Attractions, more Links and Reviews plus Readers' Comments, Questions or Contributions. Please make it clear whether or not your words are for publication! (If in doubt I will check with you first.)