Category Archives: Uncategorized
Motivation and Outdoor Education
What do you think about Dan Pink’s talk, as it relates to the Outdoor Education industry?
Endurance Staffing closes its doors
One of the first outdoor instructor staffing agencies has shut down after almost 3 years in operation. Endurance Staffing’s main focus was to help outdoor education organizations find qualified staff for programs in areas such as rock climbing, ropes course facilitation, kayaking, and more.
The business model of ES was simple; companies would contact ES for their instructor needs and ES would offer pre-screened instructor candidates. After the staff selection, companies would pay a mark-up on the instructor per diem. This mark-up was based on the instructor qualifications and the number of days in the field. As the principal administrator of ES, I felt that the industry was not ready for this type of business. However, I know that ES had an impact in the outdoor industry by provided a revolutionary approach to the never-ending cycle of finding qualified outdoor instructors for their programs and sometimes last minute instructors.
In addition, ES had a video podcasting channel on iTunes with more than 20 educational videos and a wiki for instructor collaboration. I am curious to see the direction of the outdoor industry in 10 years when it comes to recruiting, selecting, training and developing staff. Don’t worry I’ll have a blog post before then. I welcome your questions and comments, and I will keep blogging until the next time we meet.
For those in the field!
TIOBEC Sailing Expedition Training 2011
The Thompson Island Outward Bound Sailing expedition took place from June 26-July 3 of 2011. I had the honor to be the trainer again this year, along side Captain Arista. We delivered the new curriculum designed by Alex Chu that is currently in place at TIOBEC summer expedition programs. The journey was from Boston harbor to Gloucester and back. As you see in the pictures we did some rowing, but also we had great wind. To those in the field!
Stand Up Paddleboarding Skills course – Aug 13-14 Squam Lake, NH
Stand Up Paddleboarding Skills course (Level 1 and 2) Aug 13-14 Squam Lake, NH
Course Overview: The Introduction to Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) L1 is designed to introduce and expose the participant to sufficient skills and knowledge, so that they can enjoy the sport or Stand Up Paddleboarding in a calm flat water setting. SUP L2 is designed to refine equipment knowledge and develop the skills needed to paddle effectively in conditions where wind, waves and current are present.
Cost: $300.00 with SUP board/paddle or $210.00 without.
Instructors: Jose Gonzalez is the Coordinator for Recreation Programs at Plymouth State University and senior consultant and trainer for Endurance Staffing. He is a certified Lifeguard, Water Safety Instructor and teaches first aid and CPR for the American Red Cross. Jose is also a certified ACA Stand Up Paddler instructor.
2010 in review
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!.
Crunchy numbers
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 1,700 times in 2010. That’s about 4 full 747s.
In 2010, there were 23 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 86 posts.
The busiest day of the year was January 6th with 129 views. The most popular post that day was The Bond Cliff, NH.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, linkedin.com, search.conduit.com, en.wordpress.com, and lmodules.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for bond cliff, bondcliff nh, jose h gonzalez, jose h. gonzalez, and full value contract.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
The Bond Cliff, NH June 2009
1 comment
Surfing video – Wilderness beach, Aguadilla Puerto Rico January 2010
Norms and expectation or “Full Value Contract” April 2009
About December 2007
Outward Bound Odyssey March 2009
2 comments
ACA Support Education of the Whole Child
ACA Support Education of the Whole Child – http://bit.ly/aM29nu
Outdoor Instructors Wanted: Colorado Riv
Outdoor Instructors Wanted: Colorado River Sept. 7 – Sept. 17th
http://bit.ly/aIilQR Episode #22- What t
http://bit.ly/aIilQR Episode #22- What to bring for an open-boat sailing expedition?(Part 2)
Episode #20- Why do you work for Thompso
Episode #20- Why do you work for Thompson Island Outward Bound? http://bit.ly/9njuzJ More episodes: iTune Store under “outdoor instructors”
