Building A Community: Why YOU Should Attend Train-the-Trainer (T3) 2018

Photo courtesy of WR & BK Chapters2017 T3 community in action at AMC Spring Leadership Trainings

Let me start by saying, “You gotta go.”

• If you’re a new Education or Leadership Chair who needs some help in organizing trainings for your Chapter, you gotta go;
• If you’re an experienced leader who will be teaching (or are interested in teaching) leader-candidates soon, you gotta go; or
• If you’re an experienced leader trainer and you haven’t attended a Train-the-Trainer (T3) weekend yet, you gotta go.

By now, you’re asking yourself: “Where do I ‘gotta go’ and why?” The where is the 2018 Train-the-Trainer (T3) weekend. And there are 3 key reasons why:

1. Discover & utilize the AMC’s new Leadership Training curriculum. This curriculum was developed under the auspices of the AMC’s Vision 2020. Learning new, efficient and effective ways to improve & enhance shorter duration leadership trainings is critical to their success. This curriculum contains ready-to-use lessons for high & low technology environments.
2. Networking. The T3 weekend has something for every trainer, veterans and newcomers alike. A primary goal of the weekend is the opportunity for participants to learn from others’ experiences in organizing leadership training.  Veteran trainers play an integral part in achieving this goal. They are uniquely positioned to share their wealth of experience with newer trainers.  New trainers offer questions and insights that prompt discussions on how to improve existing practices. This informal mentoring is a critical component to building a sustainable and inclusive community.
3. Teaching tips & practice to improve facilitation skills. This weekend offers everyone the opportunity to improve their facilitation and ability to provide instruction in a “participant-driven” fashion. During the weekend, there will be a seminar to help trainers “flip” their classroom to increase participant productivity during shorter duration trainings (1.5 days or less).

If you still aren’t sure about attending, here are some comments from participants who completed the T3 weekend last fall:

“Attending T3 was a valuable opportunity to develop our training program design, facilitation skills and network with leaders and trainers across AMC chapters.  We appreciate the relationships, partnerships, and friendships we have formed with AMC staff and volunteers.  As the chapters work together to improve their leadership trainings, experiences in the outdoors for everyone will get better and better!”  Barbara Beatrice, Delaware Valley Chapter Leader Trainer and 2017 T3 graduate.

“With T3, I now have the tools and skills needed to return to my chapter and help develop the next generation of well qualified leaders.”  Jeff Mayes, Worcester Chapter Leader Trainer and 2017 T3 graduate.

“We use direct and collaborative learning at T3, but the greatest benefit to attending is learning how other chapters train new outdoor enthusiasts.”  Mark Warren, Boston Chapter Leader Trainer and COLL Faculty Member.

Please consider joining us on November 2-4, 2018 at Prindle Pond Conference Center in Charlton, MA.  Details can be found here. I look forward to seeing you there!

Christine Fogarty is a dynamic instructor who has been teaching leadership skills for the AMC since 2005.  She is the current Chair of the AMC’s Outdoor Leadership Development Committee (OLDC) and a Lead Instructor for the Center for Outdoor Leadership & Learning (COLL) initiative.  As a passionate outdoorswoman, Christine also leads hiking and backpacking trips for the Worcester Chapter.