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Group Development: Games Training

February 10th, 2023 (Friday), from 9:30am to 3:30pm
GRuB Farm, 2016 Elliott Ave NW, Olympia WA
Group Development: Games Training

This one day training will equip attendees with rich knowledge and confidence in games and team-building activities as vital foundations to healthy group dynamics. The Games Training is relevant for current and future educators, managers, supervisors, mentors, and facilitators that want to create a learning and work environment that fosters brave risk taking, relationship building, and lifts up the importance of having fun.

Objectives:

Participants will…

  • Gain a philosophical framework for youth and group development work rooted in the Life Cycle of a Group
  • Learn a basic team-building framework including concepts like Challenge by Choice and powerful debrief conversations
  • Leave with a set of games to take with them, some of which we will introduce during the training, relevant to each phase in the Life Cycle of a Group
  • Understand the context for why and when to play games, which ones to use for the particular setting and dynamics of a group, and how to modify games to accommodate people

Lunch, beverages, and snacks will be provided. GRuB is an approved Clock Hour provider and hours will be available for educators who need them.

$100 registration fee per person, which can be paid through the online registration. If you need to pay in another way, please contact us.

If the registration fee is a barrier for your participation, you are invited to fill out our discount/scholarship survey that may offer support.

For questions or support, contact Wade at wade@goodgrub.org, or 360-753-5522.

Trainers:

  • Wade Uyeda is an alum of GRuB’s youth programs, and returned to join the staff in 2009. For 13+ years, he has immersed himself in GRuB’s youth program model across positions as Farm Manager, CTE Teacher for GRuB School, Youth Programs Manager, and now Director of Youth Programs. Wade has mentored and taught 298 Opportunity Youth in first time GRuB programs, trained and supervised 46 youth alum Farm Assistants and Peer Crew Leaders, and led 5 AmeriCorps Youth Program Counselors. Games and team-building activities have been the pillars of youth programs he has led, and he has advanced comprehension of how to incorporate these activities given the unique parameters a group operates within. Pertaining to training educators, Wade has assisted in every 3-day Institute GRuB has offered in various support roles, and in August 2022, co-designed and co-facilitated the return of the Institute in a 2-day format.
  • GaBriel Marks holds a B.A. from Smith College and a Masters in Environmental Studies (M.E.S.) from The Evergreen State College. GaBriel has 14 years of experience working with diverse, multi-aged teams in community-based environmental work. They joined GRuB’s work in 2014, and since 2016 they’ve worked with youth at GRuB and with Tumwater School District’s FRESH program. They’ve held positions as a paraprofessional, a CTE Teacher in Agriculture and Horticulture, and as a Youth Program Manager. GaBriel has mentored and trained 150+ Opportunity Youth working towards educational and employment goals, and is a believer in the importance of play and building relationships through games. They bring vast experience in leading games and supporting others in leading them.
  • Billie Edwards is an alum of the Olympia High School Freedom Farmers as well as GRuB. Billie started farming when she signed up for the Freedom Farmer program in 2016 and hasn’t looked back since. She briefly spent time at GRuB after graduating high school and worked as a Farm Assistant in spring of 2019, then returned to the Freedom Farmers the following summer. After three years in the Freedom Farmer program, Billie was offered a staff position as a Paraeducator, and became a strong leader to look up to. After ending her position with OHS, Billie transitioned back to working with GRuB as Farm Coordinator helping youth in GRuB’s GED program, GroundED. Billie has worked with and helped over 80 students with the Freedom Farmers, 50 students in GroundED, and 16 Farm Assistants, all over the course of 3 years. One of Billie’s favorite things about these programs is the community that’s built over a small span of time, and a way to grow a thriving community is remembering to have fun with games and team-building activities. Billie knows team-building is important to a strong foundation for the team, reminding them to let go of their ‘cool card’, to work collaboratively together, and to remember why we do the work we do.

Please let us know if you require accommodations in order to attend this event/program and we will do our best to accommodate you. This includes masking. Indoor masking is no longer required at GRuB. If this prevents you from participating in this program/event, please reach out.