[at-l] Looking for AT presentation ideas

[icw@xxxxxxxxxxx (Clark Wright)]

--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
just wanted to say - that was a great post!  :)

thru-thinker

Shane Steinkamp wrote:

>>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
>
>_______________________________________________
>>From the AT-L mailing list         est. 1995
>Need help?  http://www.at-l.org
>Archives: http://www.backcountry.net/arch/at/
>Change your options or unsubscribe:
>http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l
>
>Stay on topic!
>
>

--