.What is the experiential learning cycle? Few people learn well through theoretical examination and lecture only. That is why we utilize the experiential learning process.

What do we mean by that?

Take a look at the Experiential Learning Cycle above. If you look around the circle, you will discover that this is an attempt to join together the actual experiences of life with the theoretical acquisition of knowledge. Unfortunately, most formal learning today concentrates mainly on the acquisition of knowledge. The rest of the cycle dealing with real life is ignored.

In the experiential learning process, participants should never be more than a few minutes away from trying out a new concept in a simulation or experiment and never more than half a day away from utilizing it in real life situations. In fact the learning process is as important as the information learned.
You will notice the four stages of this cycle reflected in this model. The cycle almost always begins up at the top with Experience. We are interested in all of the experiences that each person will have whether at home, school, with friends … or during the meeting times of this program. This curriculum encourages us to move from experience to Reflection. This is the debriefing stage when we ask questions about what has happened to us in our experiences. From these questions we can begin to formulate learnings and new concepts. This is the Insight stage. From this point we move naturally to Action … putting the new learning to the test. This then provides for additional Experience and the cycle continues on.

What is my role as a faciliator?

• a safe, warm, accepting, challenging atmosphere
• respect each person’s knowledge, experience and expertise
• a no guilt, low pressure learning environment
• an understanding that learning is a journey
• the qualities of servant leadership

What does an effective facilitator look like?

• Learner centered more than teacher centered
• Trusting (the process and the learners)
• Ability to deal with the ambiguity and tension of the process
• Friendly, flexible, open, listening attentively, explaining clearly,
• Skillful observer, asking thought-provoking questions
• Some measure of appropriate self-disclosure
• Consciously eliminating stereotypes and biases
• Open and honest
• Competent and sensitive in communication skills
• Responding positively to learner’s comments
• Attentive, expressive, enthusiastic, clear, and organized
• Showing personal interest in the learners
• Comfortable with mistakes ... silence

Leadership Training, Team Work and Confidence Building

Each camp provides participants team activities in a safe and fun environment. The leadership activities give each participant a chance to lead their team and also healthy competition helps them to push their teams towards success. In the end they return as 'WE Did It' Team.