From Left to Right: Cynthia Rosenbluth, Justin McGlamery, Michael Gessford, Eve Williams, and Caroline Wilson

Congratulations also to our Staff who were presenters at the 2009 CAPSEF Conference.

Justin McGlamery and Mike Gessford presented a workshop titled:
"Hocus Pocus Focus Your Locus"
This workshop demonstrates active and reflective Adventure Education activities that help to illustrate the abilities of the focused collective mind as well as how we can bring the group back to a state of elevated focus. Participants engage in a discussion about recent brain-based research regarding mirror neurons and the beneficial effects of play and reflection, as it relates to focus and group process. Understanding how the collective power of the group can be harnessed and how that understanding can bring groups back to previous levels of performance and beyond will become a useful tool for facilitators, counselors and teachers as they sequence programming.

Jeff Dutko presented a workshop called, "Snack Shack: Running a Profitable, Yet Educational Business"
This workshop gave Special Education teachers a framewoek to design and implement a fundraising activity that utilizes students' academic objectives in an authentic setting. Teachers were provided with techniques to enhance their students' academic acheivements, social behavior and physical development, as well as their own feelings of self-worth in the school community.

Deanna Hatzikostantis presented a workshop called, Bravo! Creating a School-wide Performance: Teaching Drama to Special Needs Students. Drama is often about collaboration and negotiation, and when it is used in mixed-ability groups it can act as a bridge between children with special needs. Focus was on helping special needs children and teens increase their self-confidence, self-esteem, self-awareness, communication, and problem-solving by participating in "dramatic education".