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Challenge Course Plan – Lows & climb 

Facilitators: MdF, DG, AbR, AC

Date: Saturday October 27, 2018

Time: 12pm-3pm
Be on course at 11AM to set up and check elements

Location: North Woods Challenge Course

Group: RIC Women’s Basketball


Contact Info:
Jenna Cosgrove 401-456-8156 7817261755 jcosgrove@ric.edu

Number of people: 14

Goals: After speaking with the coach: they do not have any returning seniors, only have 2 juniors and one is very
lead by example, other needs to step up, very “young” team both emotionally and physically, need to work on
maturity as a student athlete, but they have great energy. One issue is body language and showing energy/positivity.

Get in there that the day and the season is about them, not about their coaches or what other people expect but
about what they set out to be and accomplish. Essentially they are in charge of their own destiny.

FVC needs to be more SOLC style, specifically we want them to discuss “why they play?” What gives them
motivation and strength to both be in college and play basketball."​.

12:00pm Meet Group at Building & WIPBAM (may be a bit late, probably more like 12:15ish) 
 
12:15pm Opening 
● Facilitator introductions & Welcome
● Energizer/Name Game
● Full Value & Challenge by Choice

12:45pm Trust Sequencing: ​be sure all levitation is over blue mats!!! 
● spotting, leans, wind-in-willows, levitation

1:15pm Spider’s Web 


 
2:00pm Harnesses & Climb 
 
3:00pm Group Departs 
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Mariah deFreitas

Alison Jackson Frasier

HDF 413

November 3, 2018

Lead Experience Paper

Last weekend, I had an opportunity to run a retreat for the first time by myself at the

North Woods Challenge Course. We worked with the Rhode Island College Women’s Basketball

team. There were 14 women on the team with three assistant coaches and one head coach. On

my facilitation team were Dakota, Abbey, and Addison. The weather was cold and rainy,

therefore; we ran the retreat inside the barn. The coach had been in contact with Allie about

specific goals and needs for the retreat, which made it easier to facilitate debriefs and the full

values contract.

We were sent the agenda a couple of days before the retreat in order to prepare the full

values contract. Right away I knew my discipline strength was ready to come out. I set up a

group chat with the facilitation team to go over what we wanted the full value contract to look

like and who would run it. I knew the group had very specific goals that we needed to meet,

therefore; I needed to start planning and executing. Their goals included team bonding,

development of roles, and recognizing that they are a team and they are in charge of their

destiny. Dakota volunteered to facilitate the full values contract, which I thought would work

best because of her experience being on a basketball team in high school.

The day of the retreat, I printed out basketballs that would be placed on a poster board.

We arrived at the course and I prepared for the retreat by cleaning the floors, setting up the walls,
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and taking out spiders web. I decided to do a pre and post evaluation with the group to see if

there was any development throughout the retreat, therefore; I made sure the forms were out and

ready to be passed out when necessary. As a team, we discussed who would be facilitating what

activities and who would be belaying.

Once the team arrived at the barn, I asked for waivers and asked them to fill out the

pre-evaluation. One thing that I would have done differently was ask why there were more

waivers than the said amount of players because I didn’t realize there were three assistant

coaches until half way through the retreat. Once the pre-program things were done, we

introduced ourselves and started the retreat. Another thing that I would have done differently was

set the tone better in the way that this retreat was for the players and only the players. There were

multiple times throughout the retreat that the head coach would jump in with her input that took

away from the team’s experience. However, this was the first time leading an introduction to a

retreat where I felt fully confident in myself and I felt comfortable being in front of the group.

Abbey and Addison facilitated fist bump, which I thought was the perfect name

game/energizer for this group. They seemed to have enjoyed the activity and we were able to see

how energetic and talkative the group was. I would definitely use this name game with this type

of group again in the future. Next, Dakota facilitated the full values contract, which took longer

than planned, but the group seemed to get a lot of it. Dakota asked them to name why they play

basketball and what they need from each other to stay motivated and feel supported. During the

full value contract, the coach informed me that she had her own plans with motivating the team

to do better. She asked me if she could do her activity when Dakota was done with the full value

contract. At this time, I did not feel comfortable telling her no but if I could go back I would
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have said to wait until after the retreat. The coach’s activity took no more than five minutes but it

was more of a lecture than an add on to the full values that Dakota did.

Once we got through full value contract, I did trust sequencing and challenge by choice

with the group. One thing that I did differently was the challenge by choice. I saw that the group

was doing a lot of volunteering each other and literally pushing each other to be the leaner during

wind in the willows. Using my relator strength, I discussed challenge by choice with

volun-telling. We talked about reasons why we should never push someone to do something that

they don’t want to do or to volunteer someone for something without asking them. I wanted to

create a space for the team to to form a stronger relationship and bond. I learned that as a

facilitator, I have opportunities to educate others on important lessons when I see it fit. I learned

that sometimes it is necessary to step up and say something because I am the person facilitating

activities for their own growth and development.

Next, I facilitated spiders web. I feel this element went very well and they hit a lot of

good points during our debrief. However, the coach stepped in and lectured during most of the

debrief. This was challenging and very frustrating as the facilitator because I knew it was ruining

what the group was trying to get out of this retreat. I needed to act quickly and make sure the

process didn’t fall through. I used my strength of strategic to execute a plan fast and effectively. I

ended my debrief by asking them to look around at their teammates and asked them questions

about support, trust, and teamwork. I wanted to make sure they understood that they are there for

the game, each other, and nobody else. Referring back to my previous point about tone setting, I

wish I had asked the coaches to take a step back during debrief when I learned that they would

be jumping in to do my job for me.


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I can relate this retreat the most to Tuckman’s group development theory. First, the team

came to the course excited and ready to do all of the activities. They were polite, easy to engage

with and very open to learn. Once the full values contract was done and we moved into trust

sequencing, the team began to storm. They were no longer engaged and were worrying about

their individual self rather than the group’s goal. They were pushing each other, volun-telling

one another, and were not listening to anything I had to say. Visibly, they were not ready to

proceed with the retreat. To solve the storming phase, we had to stop and re-evaluate their goals

and discuss the importance of challenge by choice and how that relates to basketball. After our

discussion, they were willing to work together as a team to support each other during levitation

and spiders web. Together, they were able to safety levitate teammates and understood the

importance of working together to support each other. This lead into the performing stage. The

group successfully completed spiders web using the tools they learned during trust sequencing.

They made sure every member was being utilized for safety and support. During the debrief, it

was evident that they achieved their goals. Finally, the team adjourned after the closing activity

of celebration circle. Each member did a shout out and they seemed to truly value the retreat and

thought of it as successful.

In conclusion, I felt very confident leading this retreat. I feel as if my past experiences as

a shadow, facilitator and co-lead has prepared me for being a lead facilitator. I learned a lot from

this experience such as when it is necessary to step in to give input and educate, and what I can

improve for the future. I feel as if I used my strength of relator during the entire retreat. I wanted

to make sure I was creating a space for the group to learn from one another and build a better
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relationship. Overall, I thought this retreat was successful and I am ready to be a lead facilitator

in the future.
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Reference

Ramsay, D., (2017). Tuckman’s stages of group development.

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