HDF 190: FLITE (FIRST-YEAR LEADERS INSPIRED TO EXCELLENCE)

URI MINOR IN LEADERSHIP STUDIES, CENTER FOR STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

CORE REQUIREMENT FOR THE LEADERSHIP MINOR
SPRING 2015

LEARNING CONTRACT
Goal: To identify and utilize my Strengths in an organizational/interpersonal setting that
aligns with the mission, vision, values and sponsored programs and activities of URIs
Center for Student Leadership Development.
Activity: The activity I chose for my learning contract is to become a trained Challenge
Course Facilitator. I chose this activity because it allows me to apply my strengths as
well as gives me the opportunity to improve them. My top three strengths are restorative,
achiever, responsibility and includer. These strengths are what will drive me to work
hard and always put in my all on the challenge course. I will be able to face any
challenges that arise while also keeping everyone involved and safe.
Evidence: There is a link to my NWCC training evaluation on my website Learning
Contract Tab.
Annotation: (an outcome- based descriptive of your activity, similar to descriptive
notes and is written only when you have completed your activity.)
The training process for becoming a Challenge Course Facilitator was a three-day
process. The first day we met we got a manual that Ali explained which focused on the
different activities and elements of the challenge course, general rules when facilitating,
safety instructions, guidelines on how to lead as a facilitator, and leadership theories that
related to Challenge Course Facilitation. After she summarized all of these points she
prepared us with what was planned for the coming days.
The next day we went on site of the challenge course where Ali and her team
explained and walked the trainees through the events of a typical challenge course day.
We went over opening activities including name games, full value contract, challenge by
choice, trust sequencing, wind in the willows, levitation, and other icebreakers and
activities to prepare groups for challenge courses. Then they took us out onto the most
common challenge course elements and explained the safety rules, different strategies to
use when facilitating that particular challenge, and debriefing techniques. Then to close
the day we practiced some closing activities and how to end each challenge course.
Throughout the day they also identified some issues that commonly arose while
facilitating a challenge course and educated us on how to overcome these obstacles.
After this day of training we moved on to facilitate a mock challenge course on
our own on the following day. Each trainee was paired with someone to co-facilitate one

element and one activity with. I was assigned to lead the trust-sequencing activities and
the element whale watch. As part of the trust sequencing activity I had to teach the group
the proper spotting position and how to safely lean. We also explained the activity wind
in the willows and safely demonstrated it for the group before beginning. To co-facilitate
my element Whale Watch, I reviewed the safety rules of the element and the goal of the
activity. As they participated we checked to ensure safety of all individuals and
challenged them with new obstacles throughout the activity. Then once the goal was
reached, Dan and I lead a debriefing session and concluded the element. Every group cofacilitated their element and we closed the day by debriefing all together.
After the training weekend was over I received an evaluation and mine required
that I completed one shadow and now that I have shadowed, I am officially a trained
challenge course facilitator and can co-facilitate and facilitate groups. The training I
completed to become a facilitator did not only teach me about the challenge course; I
learned the principles of facilitation, how to properly debrief, and new techniques for
problem solving. I was able to use my restorative strength as my group on the last day
challenge Dan and I with their uncooperative behavior. My top strengths achiever,
includer, and individualization will also be helpful on the challenge course because I will
expect the best of others and I realize they all have the potential to accomplish the goal
and participate in some way. I will encourage each individual to challenge him or herself
and complete the elements to the best of his or her ability using their own strengths.
Responsibility also comes into play on the challenge course because there are many
safety precautions and I must take responsibility for the safety of my group and when
explaining the instructions I focus a lot on the safety rules. Overall, training to become a
North Woods Challenge Course Facilitator was a great growing experience and I learned
new leading techniques as well as several ways to implement my strengths on the
challenge course.
Instructor Signature: ____________________________________________

Student Signature: ______________________________________________