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Obstacle Reflection Cards (Print-N-Play)

8/29/2021

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What if...embedded inside a problem were certain benefits. Benefits only for you. What would you do with this information?    Ryan Holiday
I recently finished reading Ryan Holiday's, The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumphs. Holiday's books fit in with my morning reading routine - short focused chapters with thought provoking stories and ideas to ponder (on my 45-minute morning commute). 

With particular books (like this one), I take 'notes and quotes' to remember. When I finish with a book (I've noted), I go back and read through my notes to anchor in the ideas a bit more. 
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As I was reading through the things I wanted to remember from Holiday I noticed I'd marked a lot of the text as quotes (with a capital Q). The things I mark in this way are transferred into my quotes folder to peruse for inspiration in moments of need. Right away I could see there were more marked quotes than I usually end up with from any one book. So, an idea came to me - and here we are: Obstacle Reflection Cards. 
As team builders we help our groups, all the time, practice working through obstacles (problems) we give them so they can get better at doing it. Holiday shares that overcoming an obstacle is a discipline of three critical steps: 
  • Perception
  • Action
  • Will 
What a great process to share with our groups (and I love things in threes - easy to remember). The information on the cards I put together from the book can enhance the learning of this process. There are three types of cards (so far - we are in Beta Testing mode). 

Critical Steps Cards
These cards are shown above in the header - Perception, Action & Will. I'm thinking, we can frontload a program with the idea of overcoming obstacles and what it takes to do so. Then, bring out the Steps cards. Go over each one and bring up examples/life stories of each. These three cards can also be brought out during a program when there seems to be an 'obstacle' preventing progress - "Which step are we involved with right now?"
And, "What do we need to do in order to make some progress through this obstacle?" An easy check in. 

Concept Cards
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I found these three concepts in my notes - ones that stood out to me as driving reminders when faced with an obstacle. I envision using these cards when moments/emotions arise that connect to these concepts - talking about the concepts when the group is in an emotional moment of recognition. We can also spend a little time defining these concepts in the way the group interprets them. Then, how is the interpretation used during a program. 
Quote Cards
The other 24 cards (three examples in the header above) are filled with quotes that have come from the sections in the book about each critical step in the obstacle-facing process. Here are some ideas I have for these cards: 
  • Frontloading with all the quotes face up on the floor and having participants choose a quote that draws them in. 
  • Frontloading again with quotes that fit a story in participant's lives. 
  • Mid-Processing - take a break, scatter all the quotes down and ask, "What quotes do we need right now to help us move forward?"
  • (Once I know the quotes even better...) Pull out a quote that is directly connected to what is happening with the group. Stop them and ask, "Why did I pull this quote out for you to consider right now?" 
  • At the end of an activity: "What words of wisdom did we follow? What words of wisdom did we miss?" 
  • At the end of a program, set down the Critical Steps cards and challenge the group to place the Quotes Cards under the steps they pertain to. As this is happening, take little learning moments to point out some of the quotes and find out how the group connects them to their program. 
Obstacle Reflection Cards
obstaclecards_set1_2021.pdf
File Size: 1099 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Keep me posted! 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 

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Micro Cup It Up Activities: Flip Flop Tower & Reverse Pyramid Build (with video)

8/13/2021

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If you've been following the fun for a while, you know I love team building with cups (in non-alcoholic ways). And, you might also know I'm the co-author of the book, Cup It Up: Team Building with Cups (with Barry Thompson). The book is available for immediate download or paperback version.

Recently I was organizing some pictures and video files and found some cup action using the smaller one-ounce cups (initially presented at NCCPS: The National Challenge Course Practitioners Symposium - a.k.a., the Un-Conference near Boulder Colorado). 
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Those of you who have been team building with cups for a while should be able to pick up the steps from the video. (As always, if you have any questions be sure to email me: [email protected]) Here are some finer details for each activity: 
Flip-Flop Tower
All the details are HERE for the Macro Cup version - plays the same with the smaller cups! 

Reverse Pyramid Build
You will find complete details for this one in the Cup It Up book (along with lots more cup activities). Here are the basics: 
  • Pyramid Rule: Each horizontal level/row of cups has only one more cup than the level above it. 
  • Start with one cup on the table (i.e., flat surface). 
  • Only the cup(s) touching the table can be lifted.
  • Cups may only be added underneath the pyramid structure. 
  • If a cup falls from the pyramid in any way, start over with one cup. 
  • If you are not lifting the pyramid, only by the bottom row, you can use your index fingers (only) to touch the pyramid structure. 
The Reverse Pyramid Build is one of my favorite cup activities. It has the tactile, visual and auditory connections that engage participants. It brings up great conversations about success and failure (when you fail you see it and you hear it) and small groups are active in planning and carrying out particular roles and responsibilities - some are more demanding than others. All good stuff to talk about. 

Do let me know if you have questions! Email: [email protected]

Have FUN out there. 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 
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    Dr. Chris Cavert is an internationally known author, speaker, and trainer in the area of adventure-based activity programming and its relation to community and pro-social behavior development.

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    This blog is a space for hands-on programable fun - energetic activities and ideas that can be used as a means to bring people together; activities and ideas we as educators can add to our social development curriculums. 

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