New Games Leadership Training - Vermont

New Games Leadership Training is especially relevant for student services directors and leaders, facilitators of diversity, equity and inclusion, fitness and recreation leaders, teachers, youth leaders, and lovers of engaging, cooperative fun making! In the workshop trainees will learn the games by playing them, learn how to lead them by practicing, and have a live experience with friends, family, and the community.

Refugees, immigrants, and other newcomers often experience the effects of trauma, displacement, or other adverse life experiences. Receiving community members may not know how to engage with their new neighbors. New Games can help ease the tension of unfamiliar lifeways and overcome hesitancy to engage with others. Language and cultural barriers are also lessened. This process unfolds more naturally when game leaders or facilitators are from backgrounds similar to those of the participants.

We will collaboratively host a two-day Multicultural NEW GAMES TRAINING to build the capacity of New Americans, Immigrants, and other facilitators to lead New Games in multiple settings like Welcome Week and beyond. As part of the training, the new facilitators will host a New Games Festival open to students and public and facilitate play opportunities at other events. They will incorporate additional games from their own cultures.

At least 20 -30 people will participate in the training. At least 12 – 15 BIPOC individuals, mostly underserved, will become Games Facilitators. These, in turn, will involve at least 600 – 1,200 additional people or more during the year and many more in the future.

The workshop will be focused on inclusion. The standard price is $175/person, and there are a few scholarships available for those who want to attend but can't afford it. Please use the 'Contact' option below to request a scholarship place.

Thanks to Anna Adachi-Mejia (Adachi Labs, LLC) for helping to organize the Vermont event, without whose help it would not have been possible.

New Games are (physical) cooperative games in which EVERYBODY WINS! They can be adapted to be culturally relevant and trauma-informed, as well as for age, language, culture, and ability differences.

The games are excellent for use as icebreakers—they can help a collection of individuals feel more like a cohesive group. New Games can enhance communication, conflict resolution, and team building.

Dale Le Fevre is one of the most experienced New Games leaders, having presented the games since 1975 in 35 countries around the world. He has written 3 New Games books and produced 7 download videos about the games getting multiple awards for them, including Gold, Silver and Bronze awards from Worldfest Houston. Dale has delivered over 1,000 New Games workshops.

In brief, in the 2 day workshop participants will learn the games by playing them. We will then look at what makes New Games new. You will learn how to invent your own New Games. We will look at different types of games. During the second day we will look what you need to do to lead the games (some important differences from sport) and then practice leading with those in the workshop. Finally, near the end of the workshop, you will have an opportunity to lead New Games with family, friends and members of the community in a real live chance to try out your new skills.

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''Looking back on my own experiences with play and PE, I realized that I had no role models. My childhood memories of PE were nightmares that still haunt me – frightening, highly competitive times where children got hurt emotionally and physically. As a new elementary school teacher I vowed this would not happen in my classroom. My experience in your New Games workshop gave me an opportunity to re-evaluate my definition of play and build my own self esteem. In our discussion of leadership skills and in leading a new game, I realized how important it was for me to not only be a facilitator but a participant, too. ''

Suzanne James, Elementary Teacher ,San Jose, CA

Host or Publisher New Games