ADVENTURE EDUCATION
The use of cooperative games, trust activities, and problem solving initiatives as a means of helping individuals, families, school groups, communities, and organizations engage in a change or growth process.

Cooperative Games
Cooperative games emphasize participation, challenge, and fun rather than defeating someone.  They emphasize play rather than competition. Cooperative games are not new. Some of the classic games we participated in as children are classic because of the play emphasis. There may be competition involved, but the outcome of the competition is not losing and sitting out the rest of the game. Instead, it may involve switching teams so that everyone ends up on the winning team. 

Group Initiatives
Group initiatives are problems or obstacles that challenge groups both mentally and physically. These challenges require teamwork to be completed successfully. All participants must work together to accomplish the tasks and they act as safety systems for one another. These activities allow the facilitator to work right with the group, helping them deal with teamwork objectives, and preparing them for bigger challenges, such as a ropes course or the challenges found in the everyday world.

Group Processing
Group processing in cooperative learning has several purposes:

• Allow the group to improve its work together continuously over time.
• Focus attention on group members' contributions in order to increase individual accountability.
• Make the learning process simpler through streamlining.
• Reduce or eliminate member actions that don't contribute positively to the group's learning.

Facilitators set up group processing for their participants in a number of ways. First, they choose the skills they want the group to focus on as a part of setting the objectives for the activity. Second, they explain to their participants what actions are expected of them throughout the activity. Then they monitor the group during the activity, observing participants actions and intervening if necessary to improve a group's learning. This all forms the foundation from which groups conduct their own part of group processing.

1. Feedback: Each participant in the group gives and receives positive feedback on their contribution to the group.  It's very important that the feedback is positive in order to generate forward momentum towards improving performance.
2. Reflection: Participants analyze and reflect on the feedback they've been given.
3. Improvement Goals: Individual participants and groups set goals for improving their work.  Individuals can pick a particular social skill to use more effectively. Groups can decide on a collaborative skill to work on next time.
4. Celebration: Groups celebrate the hard work and contributions of the members as well as the success of the group.  Celebrations provide participants with encouragement to continue improving their group work.

Trust Building Activities
Trust building activities help people to develop mutual respect, openness, understanding, and empathy, as well as helping to develop communication and teamwork skills. 

Low-Ropes Course Challenges
Using cables, ropes, and wooden beams strung among trees, teams explore risk taking, leadership, communication, problem-solving, and collaboration.  The low ropes elements are close to the ground so the perceived risk is low, but still challenging to complete. Participants walk tightropes, negotiate obstacles, climb walls, and pass teammates through obstacles.  Participants gradually expand their comfort zones (sometimes dramatically) and recognize fears that may block personal and professional achievement.  Each challenge draws upon team members to actively support each other.