Andrea Zapcic

“More than any other educational tool we’ve used in the past, adding Expert Online Training set a tone of professionalism and raised expectations, which I’m delighted to say our staff rose to. The staff were diligent, attentive, and confident. Your content, having been refined through years of direct experience in the field, makes a profound difference year after year.”

Andrea Zapcic
Director, City of Rahway, Department of Parks & Recreation
www.cityofrahway.com/recreation.htm

Facing Your Fears And Learning Along The Way

It was great…, it was hard!” Katie Ledecky, age 6

I fell off the bike. It happened. My greatest fear had occurred. However, instead of being the disaster I had created in my head, it was freeing. But wait, let’s travel back a little earlier in the day for some context.

I had decided for my last day of my spa vacation, that instead of getting another massage, I would challenge myself with some mountain biking (yes, I know some of you are thinking – she is crazy). I signed up for the beginner class, feeling both confident and apprehensive: confident because I had mountain biked twice before; but nervous because mountain biking does not come easy to me. To be totally honest, it freaks me out. You may be wondering given my lack of both skill and confidence in this area, why would I choose mountain biking instead of sitting by the pool? Because I believe strongly that there is no better feeling than accomplishing something that takes courage and strength.

So with this in mind, here are three things I learned about facing my fear through mountain biking.

1. You need grit!
To face a fear you need to be gritty. I needed a combination of persistence mixed with perseverance. When I literally could not get on the bike seat (the bike seat on a mountain bike is much higher than on a street bike), I needed to try and try again. When I fell off the bike while trying to get on the seat, I needed to pick myself up and learn from the experience. What I learned was that although it felt safer to stay closer to the ground, this approach was not working. I needed to stand up taller and be further away from the ground to get on the seat. What helped me to do that was staying present as opposed to freaking out in my head. Breathing and looking at where I needed to go was better than spinning in my head. What also helped me was making this ride about purpose. Although I wanted to get on and stay on this bike for myself, I also chose to engage in this activity because it helps me with my patients. Mountain biking helps me tap into the feeling of, and be more empathetic, with my many patients who struggle with fear and anxiety. Thinking about how this activity could benefit others gave me the needed drive to continue and persevere.

2. You need an optimistic mindset.
When riding the bike, I needed to make a conscious effort to maintain a positive mindset and note my improvements as opposed to focusing on what was still not achieved. It is human nature to focus on the negative and what has not been accomplished (e.g., making s-turns in the sand or riding over bigger rocks). I tried to focus on my growth and progress. I am glad to share with you that eventually I was able to consistently get on the bike and stop jamming the bar of the bike into places that cause pain. Having this optimistic and positive mindset allowed me to persist, be more resilient and grow from the experience.

3. You need your cheerleaders.
My ability to fall and pick myself up would not have been possible if I had not been in the company of my best friend and a supportive guide. My cheerleaders set high expectations for me: “Go back and practice those s-turns because we know you can do them!” while at the same time singing my praises when I was able to stop on a dime and go over logs on the road. Their combination of high expectations and unwavering support was essential for this journey.

So it may still seem a little crazy that the highlight of my spa vacation was one in which I fell. (Just so you know, there were awesome massages, food and classes too). But, if you are like me, there is no greater reward than rising to a challenge and mastering it. Thank you Miraval, Marcia (my best friend) and my husband and kids (who took care of the house and dog) for this awesome experience.

John Dovic

We’ve been using expert online training for many years. First, it helps cut down pre-camp time. Second, it gets everyone on the same page before they even arrive. My staff enjoy the modules because they’re in short segments that can be completed at their own pace. The quizzes are great because they really do have to watch the videos. It’s made a huge difference in staff leadership and professionalism.

John Dovic, High Meadows Camp
www.highmeadowscamp.org

Daniel Redding

“At Strong Rock Camp, we have been using EOT for several years to train our incoming staff prior to their arrival on-site. We love EOT because the videos, quizzes and handouts give our staff a chance to focus their minds on being a professional role model prior to staff week. Great videos with solid content!”

Daniel Redding
Strong Rock Camp, www.strongrockcamp.com

Chanie Wilhelm

“Our camp really benefited from ExpertOnlineTraining.com’s services this past summer. Our staff was better prepared and well-equipped to deal with many different situations that arose during camp. We really feel that it made a big difference in our staff’s professionalism and overall responsibility. Thank you!”

Chanie Wilhelm
Camp Director, Camp Gan Israel of Greater New Haven
www.ganisraelnh.com

Cathy Scheder

“ExpertOnlineTraining.com is a dynamic extension of engaging and innovative in-person presentations from top talent. Short but thorough training videos provide the information you need staff to have before they come to camp. Specifically, the Active Lifeguarding module has content that EVERY lifeguard should watch and learn before they dip a toe in your pool, lake or river. Follow up with onsite, in-water skills training and your lifeguards and waterfront staff will be well prepared to keep a watchful eye over your campers this summer.”

Cathy Scheder, MS Ed
Author of Camp Waterfront Management

Brent Klaus

“At International Gymnastics Camp, we require all of our staff to complete the Leadership Essentials online training. Our staff’s response has been extremely positive and they tell us it demonstrates the camp’s dedication to their knowledge and preparation for the upcoming summer. We have found this training to be especially helpful with our international staff because it provides them with a cultural vision of American summer camp and allows them to arrive at camp with more confidence in the journey ahead.

Leadership Essentials is a key tool in our staff’s education because before they arrive for pre-camp training, Leadership Essentials has set the tone for the important role each staff member will play as a youth development professional. Above all, we know that Leadership Essentials facilitates a smooth transition from the outside world to the high expectations of camp life.”

Brent Klaus
Director, International Gymnastics Camp
www.internationalgymnastics.com

Bobby Wiseman

“I must say that Leadership Essentials was a very productive and positive step forward for our staff. Our staff immediately applied many of the tools they learned from the video training modules. Many commented on the essential application of the homesickness prevention strategies. As both a camp director and cabin counselor I must commend your team on a timely, relevant, and appropriate presentation of various youth development subjects. Our staff was much better equipped to handle a variety of challenges and situations as a direct result of this training and supplementary information such as quizzes and handouts. I would recommend this program to any camp or youth development organization!”

Bobby Wiseman
Director, Camp Hemotion
www.hemofoundation.org

Barbara Boukater

“When attending camp conferences we highlight the speakers who are a “must attend.” Dr. Chris Thurber is among a small, elite group who fits that category. Because we cannot bring our entire camp staff to a conference, I was thrilled to see that we could bring Chris’ teaching to camp! I am excited to offer Expert Online Training to my returning staff as well as to my new staff. Even though we could share many of these messages ourselves, having the pertinent education come from a new voice carries an even greater impact, particularly for returning staff.”

Barbara Boukater
Director of Pace Summer Programs
www.pacecamp.com

Allen McBride

“Leadership Essentials lets professionals who specialize in key areas of staff training be in an infinite number of places at once–at far less expense than having them all actually come to your site. And the features of the Director Dashboard, empower me to hold staff accountable for completing the modules, keep records of their successful completion, and document the training for insurance, licensing, and accreditation purposes.

The number of topics covered is already extensive – and will only grow as time goes on. When you evaluate your options for staff education and consider quality, effectiveness and cost, there’s no better choice out there than Leadership Essentials. We know summer camp is good for kids–and Leadership Essentials helps camps help kids.”

Allen McBride
Director, Camp Mac
www.campmac.com