This last week two different people asked me about the adventure education (related) books I would recommend reading (or having on ones shelf). I thought my answer would make a useful post as well. Choosing a Top 10 book list is no easy task since there are so many amazing books out there.
Here's how I approached this (current) list. I asked myself, "If I was approached by anyone interested in learning about team building but knew nothing about getting started much less the adventure education field (specifically facilities-based adventure education, also known as adventure-based education), what books would I recommend?" I decided to list the more contemporary choices, ones that can easily be found and purchased. If someone asked me about the "seminal" works to pick up related to adventure education the list would certainly be different (and worthy of another post).
Here's how I approached this (current) list. I asked myself, "If I was approached by anyone interested in learning about team building but knew nothing about getting started much less the adventure education field (specifically facilities-based adventure education, also known as adventure-based education), what books would I recommend?" I decided to list the more contemporary choices, ones that can easily be found and purchased. If someone asked me about the "seminal" works to pick up related to adventure education the list would certainly be different (and worthy of another post).
The list below includes three categories: Theory (cognitive information related to facilities-based adventure education), Theory & Practice (cognitive information and experiential activities), and Practice (only experiential activities). I also included a link that will take you right to a source where you can purchase and find out more information about each book.
(NOTE: I used two purchase sources, Training Wheels - the store site owned and operated by Michelle Cummings, one of us, and Amazon. I just thought you might want the heads up if you plan to purchase multiple titles.)
(NOTE: I used two purchase sources, Training Wheels - the store site owned and operated by Michelle Cummings, one of us, and Amazon. I just thought you might want the heads up if you plan to purchase multiple titles.)
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Theory:
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Theory & Practice:
- Quicksilver: Adventure Games, Initiative Problems, Trust Activities, and a Guide to Effective Leadership (1995), by Karl Rohnke & Steve Butler. This book has an easy to read and practical section on Adventure Leadership and then lots of classic Rohnke & Butler activities. You can find it at TRAINING WHEELS (and also "Look Inside" at AMAZON).
- The Leader's Handbook: Learning Leadership Skills by Facilitating Fun, Games, Play, and Positive Interaction, 2nd Edition (2013). Simply the best book about leading team building activities that I know. It's also packed with great activities. Find it on AMAZON.
- Teamwork & Teamplay (1998), by Jim Cain & Barry Jolliff. The initial section of the book provides some great information about adventure education and it's applications. The rest of the book is loaded with team building activities along with building plans to make your own elements and adventure props. Find it at TRAINING WHEELS.
- The More The Merrier: Lead Playful Activities with Large Groups (2007), by Sam Sikes, Faith Evans & Chris Cavert. (I'm a little bias when it comes to this one!) A good read on how to build community through team building with large groups. Then there's over 100 activities to make it happen. Find it at TRAINING WHEELS.
- A Teachable Moment: A Facilitators Guide to Activities for Processing, Debriefing, Reviewing and Reflecting (2005), by Jim Cain, Michelle Cummings & Jennifer Stanchfield. A practical guide to understanding what comes after team building activities. Some foundational theory and 120 techniques (activities) for opening up discussions. You can find this one at TRAINING WHEELS.
Practice (Just Activities):
- The Bottomless Bag Revival, Revised 2nd ed (2004), by Karl Rohnke. This book is the most recent iteration of activities (after Silver Bullets - on the "seminal" list, even though there is a 25th Anniversary Edition) from Karl Rohnke dating back to the 90s - but still proven powerful team builders. Find it on AMAZON.
- FUNN 'N GAMES: Adventure Games & Trust Activities for Fun and Facilitation (2004), by Karl Rohnke. This book is a HUGE collection of activities from Karl that were introduced after the "Bottomless Bag". (If you know about Karl's "FUNN Stuff" series of books, FUNN 'N GAMES is the compilation of all these books and more.) Find it on AMAZON.
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Let me know what you think? I'd love to hear about your top book choices. Leave a comment below.
Have FUN out there!
Chris Cavert, Ed. D.
Have FUN out there!
Chris Cavert, Ed. D.
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