Thank You to Our Keynote 2022!
Keynote Speaker: Sean McElhinney
|
BIOGRAPHY
Sean currently works as the Executive Director and Lead Facilitator at Verdun Adventure Bound in Rixeyville, VA. Verdun Adventure Bound is a Non-Profit Organization with a vision to strengthen the community in which we exist by empowering individuals, communities, and organizations to discover their unrealized potential and fostering impactful collaboration. Verdun specializes in teambuilding and leadership development programs, but their scope of work expands from youth teambuilding and summer camps, to resiliency development programs in schools, and even an adult substance use prevention. Sean works directly with development and implementation of all Verdun programs.
During his ten years of facilitation experience, Sean has worked with adults and youth from all walks of life, from small youth teambuilding programs to facilitated dialogues with Libyan migrants. With a dual master's degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and the the University of Malta, Sean specializes in conflict resolution and restorative practices. He seeks to bring this lens to his work daily by bringing people together and fostering impactful collaboration and conversation through the use of experiential learning and adventure. |
Beyond Teambuilding
Often, when people hear the word "teambuilding," they reflect back on that day in Middle School when they were forced to go outside somewhere and challenged to work together as a team. There was that one annoying person or that frustrating know-it-all, and although it may have been fun, all they remember is “teamwork makes the dream work.” The challenge course industry and outdoor adventure industry has evolved immensely over the past three decades. Individuals and teams have expanded the idea of teambuilding in directions no one could have imagined, from the addition of pay-to-play options to wilderness therapy programs and more.
During this presentation, we will focus on the unique and innovative ways that organizations and program directors have tailored their outdoor adventure programming to meet the needs of their community. Teams in the field have done some incredible work with youth and adults on issues as complicated as addiction, inner city law enforcement/community relations, career readiness, and more. This presentation will highlight some of these efforts and work to inspire the listeners to continue this trend, realizing the potential impact of the field on contemporary challenges in Virginia and the United States as a whole. Join me for 90 minutes of combined play time and some fulfilling knowledge about the impact we can achieve as adventure educators.
During this presentation, we will focus on the unique and innovative ways that organizations and program directors have tailored their outdoor adventure programming to meet the needs of their community. Teams in the field have done some incredible work with youth and adults on issues as complicated as addiction, inner city law enforcement/community relations, career readiness, and more. This presentation will highlight some of these efforts and work to inspire the listeners to continue this trend, realizing the potential impact of the field on contemporary challenges in Virginia and the United States as a whole. Join me for 90 minutes of combined play time and some fulfilling knowledge about the impact we can achieve as adventure educators.
