The Ripple Effect

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• A Keynote Experience: Planting a Peace Pole: by Jacques Irving
• Peace Pole Makers, U.S.A.: by Dan Creely, Jr.
• Adventures in Peacemaking--Play for Peace: by Laurie Frank
• Transformation Through Teambuilding: by Dawn Iles,Sawyer School

• Someone You Should Know--Keewaydinoquay: by Mitig Dan Creely, Jr.
• From Our Students--Alissa Veenstra: submitted by Gus Pausz
• Featured Program--Niles North High School: submitted by Mike Beeftink
• AEE Update: by Sylvia Dressler
• Reflections From Our Teachers: by Lisa Kosmicki, Lincoln School
• Book Reviews: by Sylvia Dressler

Teachers of Experiential and Adventure Methodology (T.E.A.M.) is an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the process of experiential and adventure based learning. Through the sharing of ideas, skills, and curricula, T.E.A.M. provides individuals and organizations in all fields of human and community service with personal and professonal growth opportunities. 

The annual conference and bi-annual Ripple Effect newsletter serve as a networking center for everyone seeking to learn about, start or enhance experiential and adventure programs.

It seems incredible to me that this is the 19th issue of the Ripple Effect - I remember so clearly the first meeting when we talked about putting together a newsletter, and nobody was really sure if it would actually happen.  Today,our newsletter goes out to over 5000 people all over the world, and more and more people have been involved in sharing what they are doing.

So why do we do it? I believe that we are all motivated by a desire to improve our chosen profession by exposing readers to the best that we know about - the best programs, the best people, the best ideas.

There are other professional associations that also exist to promote experiential education.  One, the  Association for Experiential Education is usually featured in these pages. AEE has striven to set programming standards by promoting its accreditation program. There are now over 80 accredited programs all over the United States, and many people have been trained to use the accreditation standards as AEE program reviewers. 

Another organization is the Association for Challenge Course Technology.  Challenge course building standards have been set by this organization, and they have a system of peer review to ensure that builders vouched for by ACCT adhere to these standards. 

There are often discussions about facilitation certification in experiential education, though no such certification really exists right now. Various organizations offer trainings, and the participants will receive a certificate stating that they have completed their training, but that differs from an overall designation of "certified".  There is always much debate about how to set standards for facilitation, and how meeting these standards might be assessed. 

It behooves all of us to be familiar with the standards and benchmarks that currently exist in our profession, and to strive to keep up with new ideas and developments.  We at TEAM hope to help you do just that! 

Sylvia Dresser
Newsletter Committee

First, get your own life in order. Ground yourself in the single principle so that your behavior is wholesome and effective. If you do that, you will earn respect and be a powerful influence.

Your behavior influences others through a ripple effect.  A ripple effect works because everyone influences everyone else. Powerful people are powerful influences.

If your life works, you influence your family. If your family works, your family influences the community.

If your community works, your community influences the nation. If your nation works, your nation influences the world. If the world works, the ripple effect spreads throughout the cosmos.

Remember that your influence begins with you and ripples outward. So be sure that your influence is both potent and wholesome.

How do I know that this works? All growth spreads outward from a fertile and potent nucleus.

You are a nucleus.