Vertical Playpen

In this episode, join host Phil as he sits down with his long-time friend in the industry, Cam Miller, the Challenge Course and Facilitation Director at Kieve Wavus Education. 

Cam takes us back to t…

In this episode, Phil is joined by Niels Damman, the Course Services Manager at Experiential Resources (ERI), to delve into the world of challenge course training. Niels brings his experience and exp…

In this episode Phil and Lisa explore different strategies and techniques that can enhance and deepen our connections with others.

Drawing from their personal experiences, Phil and Lisa shed light on…

We are joined on the podcast again by Loui McCurley, of PMI ropes and SPRAT (Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians). In this interview, Loui shares her invaluable insights on the critical t…

In this episode Phil had the privilege of sitting down with Loui McCurley, an expert in fall protection and rope access, CEO of PMI (Pigeon Mountain Industries) and original founder of SPRAT (Society…

In this episode Phil is joined by Matt Marcus, the Manager of Adventure Gear and Sales at Challenge Design Innovations. With a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for the adventure industry, Matt tak…

Join us on this insightful episode as we sit down with Spud Marshall, a creative community builder and facilitator, to explore the nuances of facilitating and harnessing the power of collective wisdo…

In this thought-provoking episode, Phil and Lisa unravel the essence of achievement, a realm where goals are often set externally, driven by the expectations and judgments of others versus the realm …

In this episode Phil answers the following questions submitted by you, the listeners;

- Is there room for introverts in facilitation?

- How do you stay genuine in a "performancy" profession?

- What i…

Have you ever jumped into a role with limited experience and had to learn fast?

In this episode, Mike Nelson, formally of Camp Wicosuta, joins Phil and Lisa to discuss;

• Why summer camp?
• How he embra…

Reflecting is often the part of the facilitation process that can seem the most daunting and challenging. How do you draw the learning from the experiences you create?

In this episode, Phil details t…

Professional Hockey teams and High 5 have an interesting connection dating back to the 2010-2011 season when we first worked with the Boston Bruins. That season, they went on to win the Stanley Cup!

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Kyra Richardson (High 5 Trainer) and Ryan McCormick (Edge of Leadership) sit down together to discuss;

• Creating structure out of unstructured time
• Crafting opportunities to develop conversation skil…

Life is Good. These were the words that hung behind Trevor (Executive Director of Camp Nuhop) as he joined Phil to discuss;

• The experience of growing up at camp
• The benefits of the "swoop"
• Creating …

How does the way we introduce ourselves to our participants impact them?

Lisa asks Phil; "Inspired by a recent episode on Ego, how does how we introduce ourselves to our groups help with the self eff…

Perry Cohen (Founder and Executive Director of The Venture Out Project) joins Phil to discuss;

• His introduction to High 5 and Adventure Education
• Facilitation values and thoughts
• How The Venture Out…

Chris Damboise (High 5's Director of Training) discusses the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for work at height and the use of full body harnesses as it relates to r…

What professional development opportunities can enhance your work as an adventure educator?

In this episode, Phil, Lisa, Chris and Rich (High 5 Trainers) discuss professional development ideas that m…

As facilitators, we often find ourselves planning and leading activities to engage our participants and help them achieve their goals. However, do we need to share the names of these activities with …

In this episode Phil and Lisa discuss two topics related to professionalism: the misconception that wearing sunglasses can make someone appear less capable as a facilitator and the complexities of cl…