intentionally connecting guests through shared adventures w/o videos

7/29/2019 Intentionally Connecting Guests Through Shared Adventures w/o videos

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Josie Shafer

Redwood Canopy Tours Manager


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While other countries, such asCosta Rica and Mexico, have been

offering zip line canopy tours foryears, it is a new chapter in the

story of North American

Adventures, and for someparticipants, it is also the beginning

of a renewed life.


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Meet Up Groups

Bucket-Listers

Couples

Families

Singles

Groups

CorporationsGirl Scouts/Boy Scouts/Service

4-H, Service Organizations, etc.


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Stay at Home Parents

Yahoo Groups

Christian Groups/Organizations

Reaching Out Groups

Birthday Parties/Celebrations

People Celebrating Anniversaries/Proposals

College Students/Groups

Schools


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What do you wish you could

do before you die?

What have you alwayswanted to do but have notdone yet?


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Its for the outdoor Enthusiasts who want to have thethrill of adventure, but who dont want to exert a lot of

energy to achieve it, said Steve Gustafson, owner ofExperienced Based Learning, Inc.

Its freedom. Camaraderie. Great team-building. MonieMcCoury owner of Scream Time Zip line

With gas prices so high, you don t have to go to SouthAmerica anymore for a zip line tour. You can go righthere in the U.S. Donna Holder, co-owner of Banning

Mills

Its a no sweat adrenaline rush RCT Comment Card


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Its Challenge by Choice RCT Comment

This is a family activity that doesn

t really tax the

environment says Alex Mose of Seven SpringsMountain Resort

Its not couch potato and its not extreme adventuresports, its somewhere in-between, Donny Coffeybuilder and inspector for Phoenix Experiential Designs


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Every time I left the platform, I had to disregard myterror. I felt my heart in my mouth, swallowed it,

and stepped off the edge. Once I was moving, mybody understood the physics involved, and I couldfly. Evanysaid, Next time, we should bring capes.

The day made me braver, and more secure in my

ability to tell the difference between actual risk andperceived risk. I have never been so afraid ofsomething with the possible exception of labor

and done it anyway. If youre anywhere near azip-line, I hope youll try it. It will change yoursubconscious.


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Who: Young to the Young At HeartWhat: Want to go on a Zip Line

Ride a Zip Line

Zip Line Through a ForestSquidoo.com Zip Lining is one of the 1000

Things You Must Do Before You Die

Bucketlist.org 1,000s ofPeople having RideA Zip Line on Their Bucket List


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It starts with Communication

According to Wikipedia, Communication

isthe act of conveying information.

When we do things together that involve

interaction, it

s the shared experience thatcreates connections between people.Therefore sharing information


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When weve shared anexperience with someone,whether throughcommunication or

experiencing it together in thefirst place, it creates a personal

connection between us evenif we did not know each otherto begin with.


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Respond to Comments on Blogs

Participate in Discussions on Facebook, PostPhotos and Comments

Respond to E-mails

Reach out Through Newsletters

Take the Time to Talk on the Phone, Get toKnow our Guests!


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Phone Calls, E-mails, Information on ourWebsites

Reservationists Being Courteous and Aware

of FearsIntroducing guests to one another when

they arrive, showing and explaining maps,sharing experiences, etc.

Taking the time to not only check people inand collect payment but to answer all theirquestions.


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Find Common Ground

Listen, and be encouraging

Most people love to talk about themselves,make them feel comfortable

Pay attention

Look into your guests eyes

Be Present


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Our guests are coming to do something CanopyTour, Zip Lining, Tree Climbing, Ropes Course,

Adventure Parks, etc.

They Automatically have a bond with this sharedexperience!

Sharing a powerful experience creates a powerful

connection!Unusual similarities create the most powerful

connections both physically and emotionally.


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People spend the vast majority of their timeinteracting with others.

Interactions help add another dimension tothe pleasure of the actual activity

Creates a sense of closeness; embrace it!

Seeing each others expressions bondspeople i.e. Fear, Excitedness, NewAdventures

Guests leave our adventures/experiencesperceiving it as Worthy, Valuable and MoreMeaningful due to Connections!


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Tackling Fear, and Overcoming that Fear

Sharing an Emotional Experience

Asking Open-Ended QuestionsGiving High Fives

Sharing Favorite Parts of the Adventure

Asking Where Guests are From?Sharing Past Experiences


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Being in an audience isnt simply about being inthe same place at the same time. We actdifferently when were in the presence of anaudience.

When we are out on course we have An Audience

As Audience members were more susceptible tobeing connected emotionally, expressing ourselves

in uncharacteristically free ways, and forminglasting connections with what we are experiencingand those around us.


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Guides need to Personalize the Experience soGuests are Engaged.

Encourage Sharing PersonalMemories/Experiences with Heights/Nature/Treesetc.

Give High Fives

Smile, Meet & Greet Guests with Introductions

Group Hugs around Trees

Sharing Favorite Memories of the tour BeforeZipping to the Ground

On Bridge walks take time to Interact


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Facilitate Discussion rather than Putting on a

Show

Small Talk Leads to Shared Experiences

No Cell Phones as Distractions Just the Beauty of

Nature and Experiencing a New AdventureUse Thumballs

Create Question Cards

Short teambuilding activitiesMix it up all the time, dont get into delivering a

scripted act


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Greet others sincerely

Use names when speaking

Show interestExpect responses

Sing songs

Use a rubiks cubePlay instruments


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1. Have intentional conversations with our staff!Show them the importance of connecting ourguests beyond the natural adventure.

2. Utilize our resources: Internet, Facebook,websites, YouTube, post adventure surveys andeach other!

3. Be intentional with all our interactions guides/guests/managers/owners

4. Hire quality, authentic and inspirational staff.

5. Give our staff resources, training, etc.

intentionally connecting guests through shared adventures w/o videos

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