What schools can teach you about how to grow your business

Is it time to step away from the desk and find out what you could learn from adventure?

Life is not just about what we learn, it’s about how and where we learn. And aren’t we all still learning?

The many benefits of getting out of our daily four-wall confines to refresh, invigorate and inspire is something schools have long been onto for a long time.

In fact, there is even a government-backed Council for Learning outside the Classroom with its own policies and manifesto. There are a few good reasons for that.

A simple Google search will show you a wealth of resources which clearly demonstrate the benefits of taking students out of their daily grind.

Countless academic studies point to evidence that it can fast-track students’ skills, values, personal and social development, as well as their behaviour and motivation to learn. In other words, it’s a great way to nurture young minds, and to help students achieve their full potential.

We reckon the very same benefits could apply to your workplace, too.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ADVENTURE

What’s really interesting to us, is what the teachers who visit Adventure Parc Snowdonia have to say about the psychological impact of adventure.

Typically, schools come to us to take part in a surf lesson, or to get stuck into team challenges on ninja assault and extreme slides at Adrenaline Indoors (by the way, we have our own brilliant version of the Crystal Maze here – shout if you’re interested in finding out more).

They might equally be booked in for a gorge walking or high ropes session, too.

What they do with us isn’t really the point. What they take home with them is. The feedback we get from our teachers is both heartening and invaluable. Here’s a quick snapshot:

1. Getting out of the classroom immediately re-sets the usual social dynamics of the student group. As one teacher recently put it: “We get to see a whole other side to the young people we work with. Previously unknown talents, abilities and character traits shine through”.

2. Students develop valuable social skills by having to share decision making about how to overcome challenges.

3. Taking part in an adventure encourages a sense of ‘team’. And it’s not always the most obvious person who ends up leading it.

4. Pushing students out of their natural comfort zone has a noticeable impact on their confidence and determination. This can really help with motivation in the classroom. It has had a tangible impact on behaviour.

5. Taking part in an adventure helps students to develop the psychological and emotional tools that they need to navigate different personalities, and to deal with their stress. That has a positive impact on their lives both in school and at home.

6. A positive adventure experience can have such a long-term positive impact. “A year on, our students still talk with such joy about their experience at Adventure Parc Snowdonia”.

TIME FOR A WORKPLACE MANIFESTO?

By creating a nation-wide policy for its approach to outdoor learning and adventure, the UK’s education sector has stolen a march on the world of business.

Human beings don’t stop learning and growing when they leave school – at least, they shouldn’t. Maybe it’s time for the business world to create its own manifesto too. Maybe your business could lead the way.

If you’d like to find out more about our corporate team building events and packages, or our LOtC accredited school adventures, just drop us a line on info@adventureparcsnowdonia.com or call us on 01492 353 123.