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Adults

For more than a decade, Hemlock Overlook’s Center Professional Development has worked with hundreds of organizations to facilitate active learning, promote team development, encourage communication, and develop new skills for working together.

Adult learning is an evolving field of research revealing that adults learn best when they are actively experiencing concepts. Doing = learning. That is what The EDGE experience is all about, and we take active learning one step further. We facilitate processing dialogues that allow participants to reflect on how their experience can be transferred to practical applications.

The EDGE prides itself on staying on the cutting edge of adult learning and training. We spend a great deal of time researching trends and putting the best methods into practice.

What We Do

Clients who participate in EDGE programs develop strong peer relationships and obtain the tools to sustain growth and momentum that are the result of transformed workplace and communities.

Teams begin an EDGE workshop as a work group and leave as learning organizations capable of critically analyzing and improving the way they work. Through the process that The EDGE teaches, organizations gain the tools for continual learning, which results in sustained growth and perpetual forward momentum. Most organizations rarely talk about how they work, but how they work is just as important as the work they produce. Once an organization learns how to talk about how they work, they can reflect on what they have done, learn from it, and improve on it in the future. Making improvements is not a one-time thing; it is a commitment to continually improving the workplace and rising above workplace politics. Participating in a program with The EDGE is the first step to “renovating” your organization.

Not only are EDGE programs beneficial for teams, they also benefit individual team members by changing the way members think about themselves and others. Our initiatives encourage individuals to take greater responsibility for their contributions while challenging team members to overcome their perceived limitations.

EDGE programs are the catalyst for a new found commitment among members that results in cohesive, more effective work units that benefit from stronger relationships. The programs teach teams a common language for discussing organizational issues and a process for reflecting on organizational work and interactions. Commitment among team members allows the members to share information freely while fostering trust.

Common Questions:

My organization just needs some bonding. Why would I pay for this when we could just go bowling?

The EDGE offers basic programming for teams who want to build relationships and have fun. Unlike recreational activities, The EDGE programs allow teams to become aware of their group dynamics and better understand how their team is communicating and working together. We use the Action-Learning Cycle to engage participants in reflection(1) of what they are doing and then build repetition(2) while increasing the challenge and fun! This type of Experience-Based Learning is a great way of capturing the positive lessons learned so that they translate back into your organization when the day is over. It is substantiated both from our years of positive testimonials as well as by Brain- Based research from the emerging field of Educational Neuroscience.

What will my group get out of the day?

There are many different outcomes that a group can achieve for their day. All programs touch on problem solving, cooperation, and communication. Results vary depending on the program you choose for your group and your desired goals and outcomes. There is no “One Size Fits All” at The EDGE, which is why we always work with you to gather information and use that to curate activities that are right for your group. Though each group may do something different with their day at The EDGE, we hope each participant leaves having gained a positive and memorable experience that will last long after the program is over.

My group really needs a fun day. Will Experience-Based Learning accomplish that?

At The EDGE, having fun is an integral part in everything we do. In fact, having active fun is proven to be one of the best ways to get engagement from the whole team, which then feeds back into teamwork and collaboration. That’s why we strive throughout the day not only to promote fun environments, but to truly create rewarding experiences, cultivate a sense of accomplishment, and build stronger social connections within the team.

All of that sounds great, but how can I be sure that The EDGE can accommodate my needs?

The EDGE hosts groups of all different backgrounds and needs, from school groups, community programs, university students, to corporate team-building. We have a wealth of experience to draw from that enables us to address a wide array of special circumstances.

What makes The EDGE qualified to practice Experience-Based Learning?

One of the most important aspects of Experience-Based Learning is that Doing fosters Learning. This makes an environment such as The EDGE ideal for engaging in Experience-Based Learning because of the wide array of activities, elements, and approaches we offer. In addition, The EDGE is recognized as an experience-based Training and Development organization active in both the Experiential Learning and Challenge Course communities. We are members of the following societies and associations:

  • American Society for Training and Development
  • Association for Experiential Education
  • Association for Psychological Type
  • Association for Challenge Course Technology