[at-l] Looking for AT presentation ideas

[kdpo@xxxxxxxxxxx (Ken Powers)]

Great response, Shane.

One thing that was suggested to me was announce at the beginning that a quiz
would follow your presentation. Add a few interesting facts to your
presentation, like mileage covered, high points, animals seen. Then give
little prizes for whoever can answer the questions. Be sure to have lots of
prizes and pass them out to lots of kids. We used compasses, whistles,
trowel, bandanas, lexan spoons, etc. This worked well with Boy Scouts, but
may not work as well with Cubs.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Shane Steinkamp" <shane@theplacewithnoname.com>
To: "Gary Wright" <at2002@earthlink.net>; "AT-List"
<at-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 12:52 PM
Subject: RE: [at-l] Looking for AT presentation ideas


> > Has anyone done presentations for a younger crowd?  Any
> > suggestions on what to talk about?  I'll certainly give
> > them an opportunity to ask questions, but I don't know
> > if they will have lots of questions or just sit there
> > quietly.
>
> >From time to time I've put on a little show like this.  I usually run way
> over time, but nobody seems to mind...
>
> First thing, don't give a presentation.  These aren't board members that
> you're trying to sell something to.  Scratch the presentation.  Instead,
put
> on a play for them.  Tell them your story, and through your voice and
> enthusiasm, tell it as though it were a daring tale of life and death
danger
> and adventure.  Nothing has to change but your focus.  Be sure to wear you
> 'costume' of hiking clothes.  That adds to it...  You want to come across
as
> more real than real.
>
> With the little ones, the important thing is to convey your enthusiasm and
> your excitement about the outdoors.  They really could care less about
where
> you went, what you saw, who you talked to, how you felt, or your
pictures -
> unless the pictures are REALLY interesting.  (MY pictures aren't that
> interesting...)  They want to know what you DID.  Sell them on the 'fun'
> angle.  Be animate, show them while you are talking to them, and let them
> handle your gear.  You may even want to pass out a piece or two of
something
> innocuous and let them pass it around while you're talking.  (Just make
sure
> you get it all back...)  Little kids have a great imagination, and if you
> involve them enough, they'll have the feeling like they were there.  You
> should foster that as much as possible.
>
> After the slide show, don't turn on the lights.  Either leave it pitch
black
> or very dim lights.  Bring your flashlight or headlamp or whatever us
used.
> (I like a Coleman lantern, even though I don't use one for backpacking -
> it's a great prop.  If you've got one of those toy planetariums that
project
> the stars on the ceiling, that's a REAL bonus.  There are also some really
> good tapes of outdoor sounds like rain, streams, thunder and lightning,
and
> I had one that had wolves howling.  The kids love that.)  Then, in the
dark,
> by the light of your flashlight, talk about the night and what it's like.
> Not the scary part, the moon and the stars and the fresh air kind of
stuff.
>
> Bring the house lights up slowly and talk about what you did in the
morning.
> Bring the lights all the way up and talk about walking.  Bring the lights
> down again and talk about the evenings.  I like to actually set up a camp
> right on the floor using a free-standing tent.  I use a hammock, and this
is
> impossible, but the kids love it when you POP open your tent and set it on
> the ground so I always try to borrow one even if it's not what I use.
>
> If it's possible, fire up your stove and put some water on in your largest
> camp pot.   Don't say anything about the stove, just keep talking about
> something else.  When the water boils, make up one of your favorite camp
> meals (Mac & cheese or something equally simple).  Having brought a lot of
> plastic spoons, you then offer them all to try the food you ate on your
> hike.
>
> Be prepared for all the questions little kids will ask, like "Aren't you
> afraid of bears?", "Where do you go to the bathroom?", and "How did you
take
> a bath?"  There will also be a little wise-cracker in the group, and he'll
> try to sneak his silly question in on you.  No matter what, never show
> surprise or laugh, but answer the question like it was a real one.  (I had
a
> five year old ask me if I went in the woods because nobody loves me...)
>
> Beyond that, the usual applies.  Smile, speak clearly, look at the
> audience...and engage them.  At the beginning, in the middle, and at the
> end, make a statement that lets them know that each and every one of them
> will be able to do this when they grow up.  Making it possible for them
also
> makes it real.  It lets them dream.  Make it so that every single one of
> them, after hiking the AT, and asked why, will say, "Ever since Mr. Gary
> came to our Troop, I always wanted to hike the AT..."
>
> Shane
>
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