In our last blog post – we discussed the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds.
Specifically we discussed the economic packages that brought them to life, and that they will expire in September 2024.
But we didn’t discuss HOW schools and districts could utilize these funds.

Schools can utilize this type of funding for student programs, or staff training.
Challenge Discovery offers these types of opportunities.
Read on for different ways that schools can utilize this funding.

The Virginia Department of Education released a document that offers guidance on how schools might utilize these funds.
It’s only a two page document and interpreted into very user-friendly language, unlike the original federal government documents…Check it out here

There are all sorts of ways that schools can utilize this money.
It can be spent on students, faculty, staff, construction, training, facility improvement, and otherwise.

Be sure that the plan is submitted for approval before spending the money and hoping it will go through.
It is far easier to get prior approval and be sure the expense or project is covered.
We have heard from some schools that tried using the funds for certain expenses (not approved before).
They were related to staff support opportunities to help improve staff well-being and lead to greater retention.
They went to receive their approval after the fact and were denied…

The first item listed is:
“Addressing students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs, programs to re-engage students (including addressing factors that contributed to disengagement prior to the pandemic)…”
(https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/1614/637947572557100000)
We have multiple “programs to re-engage students”!

Schools are using these funds to bring Challenge Discovery to them for their students or staff.
We aim to engage students through fun, purposefully facilitated activities and group challenges.
Our programs work on building relationships, improving self-esteem, and creating a mutually supportive environment.
Our Common Ground program is specifically aimed at helping large groups (like staff teams).
Contact us for more information.

Did you know that teachers have access to money from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yes – there is still plenty of opportunity to receive education based funds!
I know – you might be thinking – that money has expired.
Well… we’re both right!

We have had clients utilize pandemic related education relief funds to pay for Challenge Discovery programs!

Here’s a little backstory.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, March 2020, the government passed the CARES Act.
Part of the CARES Act put $30.75 billion toward education stabilization.
Two of the categories of funding were the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (called ESSER) funds, and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (called GEER) funds.
The first designated quantity of each was referred to as ESSER I and GEER I.
These quantities expired in September 2022.

That doesn’t mean you are out of luck!
Let’s continue.

Subsequently, in December 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act was passed.
Within this – $82 billion was allocated toward education stabilization.
Thus was born the ESSER II and GEER II funds.
These funds don’t expire until this year – September 2023.

To finish our history lesson, in March 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) was passed.
It put forward the highest of the three, $122 billion toward education stabilization.
Thus was born ESSER III.
These funds don’t expire until September 2024.

If you want to see more specific information on this – take a look at this page via the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE):
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/programs-services/federal-programs/federal-pandemic-relief-programs

Why does this matter??

Our clients are always excited about including programming that involves social and emotional learning.
Teachers are typically in heavy support of teaching the WHOLE CHILD, not just the core curricular subjects.
But paying for these opportunities is always the challenge.

We have had clients use this type of funding to participate in Challenge Discovery programs!

The difficult part is that every school, county and district approaches the dissemination of the funds differently.
The only advice that can be offered at this point is to ask around!
Here are some people to ask:

• School level administrators (Principal or Assistant Principal)
• District or County level supervisors
• County level specialists (eg. music specialist, math specialist)

This type of funding opportunity is not going to be around every school year!
Give us a call at 804-876-9733 to learn more about our pricing, and sign up for a program that will help develop the social and emotional skills of your students!

What do we know?

From the plentiful conversations that we have had with our contacts from around the state of Virginia, there are many different “schools of thought” on what the Summer and Fall will look like as schools are tackling reopening. According the New York Times, many colleges seem to be working to have as close to a typical Fall semester as possible, of course following the CDC guidelines put forward for the various stages of reopening.

We also know that there will continue to be physical distancing, mask-wearing, and hesitant students as we get back to a “new normal” moving forward.

What is still missing?

No matter the version of reopening that takes place with schools, we know that schools want students to be connected to their community, and their experiences at school. That is going to be really challenging, but still just as important as ever! Many schools are moving to a virtual format for welcoming students to campus, bringing them through a “remote” orientation, and beyond, yet without welcome events for students to interact with one another, they could disengage with the process.

There will still be nervous students, who need connections to other students. There will still be the need for social and emotional support for students transitioning to a college school schedule. It is unlikely that they will get this support solely from videos and online presentations.

What should schools do about it?

Just as they are – schools are creating ways for students to engage and experience one another in a “non-academic” way. You might call it Virtual Team Building, which to many sounds like a “far out” proposition, or a “shot in the dark”.

This is where Challenge Discovery comes in. We have spent the last two and half months refining a virtual experience that we are calling Virtual Teams. It uses the Zoom.us platform, including the very unique “breakout rooms” feature. We take students through a highly facilitated 2-hour experience that allows students to mix with MANY others, getting to know MANY students, be challenged in the process, and have fun!

This is not a replacement for in-person experiences. However, it does give students the opportunity to experience their peers – including learning lots of names and faces. For this reason, we are finding that it is working really well as a way to bring NEW GROUPS together, meaning this program would be a great fit for:
– Orientation Leaders
– New Student Orientation groups
– Returning-to-campus events
– Welcome-week events
– Student Leadership Training

Want more information? Check out THIS WEB PAGE for the fast facts.

Or FILL OUT THIS FORM so we can contact you!

How are things going for your students? How are things going for your team at work? Has this time apart been challenging? Has it been invigorating? Have you found routine? Have you struggled to be productive?

We have heard lots of different things as we have worked to figure out what the coming weeks and months might look like. One thing is certain: that the coming weeks are UNCERTAIN. That’s why we have worked over the last few weeks to develop a program in conjunction with our sister company – Signature Teambuilding. We figured that what we needed was a PLAN that allowed us to move forward whether we are able to come together for team building or not. It is called – Virtual Teams!

Virtual Teams

…is a virtual program that allows groups an opportunity to experience one another virtually. All they need is a strong connection to the internet, and a thirst to connect to their fellow colleagues or classmates.

We are finding this program is a good fit for older students (undergraduate, and some high school age students) and teacher groups!

The Outcomes

Groups can expect to achieve these outcomes through their time together:

1. Build Relationships – and have fun in the process!
2. Develop communication skills within the Virtual platform.
3. Enhance collaboration skills that might be difficult while working remotely.

The Fast Facts

• Number of Participants: Any number
• Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Platform: Zoom.us
• Cost: $10/person ($100 Minimum Total Cost) – for undergraduate students, and school aged groups.
  FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS AND OLDER – CLICK HERE

How It Works

Groups are given a meeting link to use to meet via Zoom.us. Upon arrival – participants will begin experiencing the platform, and will be guided through the use of the virtual features and capabilities. One of the key components is our ability to group participants together using the “Breakout Rooms” function, which is similar to splitting a large group into smaller groups to work in a more intimate problem-solving a learning setting. Groups will be lead by a seasoned facilitator through several activities – where participants will work with different sized groups to problem solve through several initiatives. During or after each initiative, the group will be given an opportunity to reflect on their experience with one another, working to allow for a moment of learning regarding the individual’s and the group’s relationships, communication and collaboration skills.

Interested?

Please contact us by clicking this link and filling in the form at the bottom of the page: Virtual Teams Interest Form

It takes a village…

This is as true as ever around here. It takes our whole Challenge Discovery “village” to prepare and train for our programming. This is the time of year where we are delivering indoor programming, including our Common Ground program. However, this time of year also allows us to prepare for the upcoming outdoor season! Here are some ways that we do that:

• We hire new Facilitators
• New facilitators participate in New Hire Training (Dates are approaching)
• We do additional training and recertification with our returning team members.

One of the reasons that we have been around for 40 years is that we take the time to set a purposeful example for developing a healthy and productive team culture. This culture is intentional, meaning we work hard to be sure we are “walking the talk”, not just saying that we do the hard work. Because we are so intentional, it is important that we find individuals who align with our core values. In fact, that’s one of the most important parts of finding a NEW JOB anywhere! Do you have similar values at your core, as the company you are seeking?

The reason this is important anywhere is that 40 hours (or more) per week is A LOT of time to be spending somewhere. At Challenge Discovery especially, the days are long; they are hot; you are sweaty; but at the end of it all, it is rewarding. It is easy to burnout quickly when working so hard. If you are going to be working that hard, you must believe in the work. So as you are considering the work that you will be doing, also ask yourself a few questions during your next job search:

• What is most important to this company?
• Am I clear on the company’s core values?
• Do I align with these values?
• Does this company help their employees learn, and continue to align as they grow?

If you can determine a great fit of your values with a company’s, you are give yourself a chance to be energized by your work, not drained; empowered by your company, not taken advantage of. This is our hope at Challenge Discovery. We are ALWAYS seeking people who are a great fit for us. But the only way to find out if you might fit is to learn about us, and continue to ask yourself these questions. Learn more about working for Challenge Discovery, and our upcoming training sessions by visiting our website.

Tonight around the Campfire, we hear about a story of learning, overcoming, redemption, and second chances… where your stories are told… This is theirs…

Since mid year, 2018, we have been in communication, and brainstorming with the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center. They have a vision, to help intervene in the lives of youth between the ages of 11-20, who have been adjudicated of crimes. Through a mixture of counseling services, therapeutic approaches, and programming ranging from recreation to religious and many volunteer opportunities, the Bon Air staff work to help their residents build the skills necessary to re-enter society in a positive direction. And they have invited us to be part of their journey!

For the past six months we have had the chance to work with Community Managers, Community Coordinators, Security staff, resident youth, and administrative staff to help begin conversations. Conversations with staff and how they connect with one another and their residents. Conversations with residents about managing emotions, and redefining failure.

Using our Common Ground program, we are working through a rotation of programs that has allowed us to work with EVERY SINGLE unit that they have at the center. They have truly given us a HUGE opportunity to impact these youth. Here are the numbers to add some perspective:

Number of Units: 17

Number of residents in each unit: Avg. 10

Number of staff that we work with in each session: Avg. 4

Total number impacted: Approx. 238

What an opportunity!  Each program, we have the opportunity to reflect on emotions, behaviors, reactions, and group norms, and from the residents’ conversations: how to overcome their personal struggles. These conversations are humbling. These individuals truly engage with the process of learning with us by experiencing. There has already been talks of continuing this work to do an additional round with many or all of the units. While it seems like a huge undertaking, the staff of the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center are so supportive, and ready to help. And the residents have been VERY welcoming to top it off.

A special quality of Challenge Discovery is that three of our four programs are entirely mobile meaning we bring the team building experience directly to our clients. Most people do not realize this… With the exception of Team Odyssey, our clients never have to leave their location to have access to a valuable team building experience. But what about those clients that may not have a set location? For those clients, we’re excited to announce a brand new partnership between Challenge Discovery and U-Turn Sports Performance Academy! For the first time, Challenge Discovery has a designated indoor location where we can provide our programs to client’s that may not have the space.

Since the purchase of their building in 2005, U-Turn Sports Academy has been able to reach and positively impact the lives of 15,000 Richmond youths and families. Their large facility, comprised of four basketball courts, meeting rooms, and multiple athletic fields, is used to host a variety of sport programs, youth camps, and community events. With full access to all these spaces, we’ll be able to provide a variety of our programs to groups of many sizes. Their athletic fields and indoor courts are perfect for Common Ground, a program that requires a little more space, while the collaborative table set-up in their meeting rooms is perfect for WaterWorx.

U-Turn Sports Performance Academy is a non-profit whose mission is to foster an environment that encourages fellowship, inspires leadership, and elevates lives. We are proud because our companies’ missions and values are so aligned they chose to partner with us.

Working with U-Turn gives us the opportunity to serve a variety of clients that may not have been able to participate in our programs before. The partnership will begin in August as we test out our programs in their indoor space. As the months progress, we plan to collaborate with the U-Turn team on developing a series of exciting new programs. We are so pleased with this development and see this being a fruitful partnership. We believe together we can make a valuable contribution and long-term impact on the Richmond community.

These questions and concerns might be holding you and your group back:

“What types of activities should I plan for my students this year?” (Educational Trip? Celebratory Trip? Teambuilding?)

“Where am I going to get the best “bang-for-the-buck” both financially and educationally?” (taking time out of class)?

“We can’t take that time away from school.”

“We don’t have money in the budget.”

“Our kids have already done a ropes adventure park earlier this year.”

When people are calling to ask about Challenge Discovery programs, these questions and concerns are the ones that seem to be on everyone’s mind. These are all VERY valid concerns. The shortcoming of these questions and concerns is this…they are missing one of the most important elements when making decisions like these. Shouldn’t you also consider which organizations will help support the education and vision of your group? What about an experience that can aid in your continuity of instruction?

It is part of our process, baked in, to get to know your student’s needs, and your vision. This is why we spend that extra time getting to know HOW we fit into your group’s overall experience. While many educational companies and experiences want to support, they might not take the time to modify their language and approach in order to best augment your group’s experience.

In fact, according to CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning), it is important to choose “Out of School Time educators” (OST Educators) who will be able to support what you are doing in school. When your students have enrichment activities during or after school, are they spending time with educators and organizations who are able to fit and support with your school vision? Is there language consistent with your school’s? See the document below for more information.

Challenge Discovery’s vision is “To make a difference in the community by empowering people to change their lives for the better.” In other words, we want to help those in our community change their lives. We can’t do that if we don’t know about your vision. We can’t do that if we don’t support your instruction.

So maybe, when beginning to ask questions about where to take your students and group, start with this question:

“What organization is going to partner with me, and be deliberate in supporting my vision and my group?”

This evening around the campfire… We hear the story of Oak Knoll Middle School. Their trials, their victories, their story…

Rarely does Challenge Discovery have the opportunity to work with students on multiple occasions in one school year. However, we have developed that relationship with a few schools, and find that the impact on those students increases tremendously. Oak Knoll Middle School is one great example. We get to see their students twice each semester, with their unique STEM class. This class is open to 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade students at the school. They cover STEM related topics (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) throughout their time in the semester long course.

We have been able to partner with the teachers of this STEM class, to provide two different teambuilding programs for their students. We start with our WaterWorx program. This activity involves a long challenge, that is broken down into three phases. The overall task involves building a system using tubing, small plumbing pieces, a drill with a water pump extension, and don’t forget…your team! The first phase is the Design/Build Phase, followed by phase two, the Individual Time Trial, and ending with the third phase, the Team Challenge. Throughout this challenge, students will pause in order to reflect with one another on their behavior, teamwork, and personal growth. Check out this video!

Students work together to transfer colored water through their system during WaterWorx.

These students then visit us at our ropes course, for our Team Odyssey program, later in the semester. During this program we build on the successes and team that they build during the WaterWorx program at the school. During this program we work to apply the ideas of team behavior, and add on the challenge of ground activities and the high ropes course. Students learn about each other and themselves throughout their day with us. Our facilitators, and these students create a much deeper bond because we get to see them more than once. It exponentially increases the level of learning and bonding that these students experience with one another. We are so lucky to work with Oak Knoll Middle School, and their enthusiastic STEM students!

The Challenge Discovery team spends this time of year reviewing technical information, energizing our staff, and challenging ourselves. Generally, we do this by gathering together at the course, for recertification training. Just like we do when working with our participants and students, we choose Experiences that pushes our team outside of our COMFORT ZONE, so that we Learn, Grow, and Change.

Just like we want to give our participants the chance to develop, we put the same energy and opportunity into our staff. Here is a sneak peak into our organization…On most ropes course programs, you will see Facilitators, and Ground Facilitators. Facilitators are the individuals who lead each small group through their Challenge Discovery experience. However, Ground Facilitators serve as the support member for the Facilitator team. Many might see them as the “leader”, but leadership is funny that way. Leadership at Challenge Discovery is based on service, not on individual glory. The Ground Facilitator is a leader, but their role is to keep everyone on the same page, not to simply give orders. This service oriented mindset is the idea behind the Ground Facilitator role. They provide support to our Facilitators, are a point of contact for participants and coordinators, and generally fill in the gaps wherever they are needed.

At our recertification training this year, we had an interactive and full team discussion surrounding this information to develop our current Ground Facilitators, and inspire our Facilitators to see their next steps forward with Challenge Discovery. This season, you may see many of the same faces, but they may be serving in different roles. If you are interested in working for a company that believes in the power of staff development, and invests in our staff, check out information on our Facilitator role.

We also take the time to practice in the Odyssey Course. We are always focused on managing the risks of climbing in the course. To do that, we practice rescues from the course on EVERY program. Additionally, during our recertification training, each facilitator tested out of their individual lowering, and then the team was challenged with a group lowering task, from the most difficult place in the course. This group challenge allowed new ideas to be shared, modified techniques to be utilized, and generally…true collaboration.

Ben executes a practice rescue, lowering Lori to the ground.

We are excited to be using an updated zip line system, installed by the University of Richmond. A portion of our day was spent in reviewing the changes to this system, and taking a few rides for ourselves. We are excited to utilize this system in the upcoming season. Check out more pictures on our Facebook Page.

Heather takes a ride on our updated zip line system!