Friday, January 30, 2009

NorthStar Adventure Teams up with Lehigh Valley GrandPrix to Deliver High Powered Team Building Training








Area leaders in experiential teambuilding provide full day of leadership development and fun!
January 13, 2009, 2008 – Bethlehem, PA. Companies have known for a long time that having a strong leadership team in place is the key to weathering tough economic times. Delivering memorable and coachable moments that create high performing teams has been the business of NorthStar Adventure at Dutch Springs and Lehigh Valley Grand Prix since their inceptions. Now the two adventure training specialists are teaming up to provide a fun, fast-paced day of experiential education with their 2009 Survive, Thrive and Drive teamwork development sessions.
The new teamwork development sessions are designed especially for Star teams. Star teams are recognized as the best of the best performing teams in an organization. These teams generally deliver 80% of the results of a given department or business unit and are asked to deliver more with less during these tough economic times. The teamwork development sessions will focus on increasing teamwork, communications, trust and identify strengths and weaknesses of the organization.
Each teamwork development session will consist of a full day of facilitated teambuilding exercises, complete with pre and post workplace assessments. The first half of the day, teams are led through a series of customized challenges designed to deliver on pre-determined goals. The second half of the day participants take to the race track and get to experience the thrill of racing at 45 miles per hour in formula one-style race cars. “This type of Peak Adventure is very popular within today’s highly competitive workplace,” commented Jason Chartrand, Director of NorthStar Adventure. “Many of our adventure challenge course alumni are planning to get behind the wheel,” he added.
The full day program takes place at Lehigh Valley Grand Prix’s state of the art racing facility. According to Mike McCreary, “LVGP has ignited new energy in over 200 companies in its first 18 months of operation. Give your team the adrenaline rush they need to propel them to the next level,” he added. The racing facility offers a training room, separate dining and social area, in addition to the race track. Program fees begin at $300 per person for a full day of training and lunch, and can be reserved by calling either NorthStar Adventure at Dutch Springs 610-759-2270 or Lehigh Valley Grand Prix at 610-432-RACE. Additional information can be found at http://www.northstaradventure.com/ and http://www.lehighvalleygrandprix.com/.
NorthStar Adventure at Dutch Springs offers facilitated team building and leadership programs for corporations, executive boards, universities, schools, churches, sports teams and organizations around the Lehigh Valley. Dutch Springs is a 100 acre facility offering Scuba diving in their 50 acre lake, a water amusement park equipped with inflatable attractions and the Sky Challenge a 34 ft. high ropes adventure course and rock wall. For more information visit http://www.northstaradventure.com/ or call 610-759-2270.
Lehigh Valley Grand Prix (LVGP) is a great place to break barriers and build relationships while having fun in a recreational but challenging environment. Whether you’re on the race track or in the workplace, it is important to develop a strong and cohesive team. Race teams devise a strategy, learn the most effective driving line, overcome race obstacles and work together to achieve victory.

Under close LVGP supervision, we now offer an afternoon of team building for your department, company or organization. Start with lunch at the track, get your team assignments, prepare for an endurance race and role play a situational race experience. Take advantage of this opportunity to organize an exciting and memorable event that your staff can truly look forward to. For more info call 610-432-RACE or visit http://www.lehighvalleygrandprix.com/.

Can facebook Save the Lehigh Valley Zoo?



It worked for President Barack Obama, now it seems the powerful social media group facebook, may save the Lehigh Valley Zoo. When I first received an email from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce that it had a facebook page, I giggled and thought who has time for that? Next, the Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau said they were launching InSite, their new Blog. Again, I said who has time for that? Then on January 7th an old fashion email came across my computer from Tracey Werner, the Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau Director of Public Relations and everything technology manager, said there is a group discussion on Linkedin about the Lehigh Valley Zoo, you should check it out. Now, I had time for that!

Saving the Lehigh Valley Zoo, has been my cause, since its threat of closure in 2004. Concerned about the loss of the quality of life benefits derived from having a zoo in our community several concerned citizen’s developed the Lehigh Valley Zoological Society and hired professional zoo management to operate the Zoo in Lehigh County.

As I stumbled my way through the social media maze of networks, groups, friends, etc. I stumbled on the Save the Lehigh Valley Zoo facebook page. Here was a grass roots effort to again save the Lehigh Valley Zoo. Just like the old days (2004), when Diane Stein, aka the Zoo lady, passed around a notepad at the Lehigh County Commissioner’s meeting, for concerned citizen’s to submit their email address. Four year’s later email is yesterday’s news. The Save the Lehigh Valley Zoo facebook page on January 16th had approximately 150 members. I joined the group and challenged them for 5000 members by the year’s end. In 12 days, the group passed 700 members, 5000 by year’s end seems conservative.

January 30th, Lehigh County Commissioner Bill Leiner Jr. posted a “come out and see you local government in action, support the Lehigh Valley Zoo at the February 11th commissioners meeting” This is when legislation to fund the Lehigh Valley Zoo will be voted on. Commissioners Dean Browning and Glen Eckhart have a facebook page, along with County Executive Don Cunningham. This event may need to be moved to Lehigh University’s Stabler Arena, if all the Save the Lehigh Valley Zoo facebook members show up.

Joanna Hansen the creator of the Save the Lehigh Valley Zoo facebook page has organized a couple of days to meet face to face at the Zoo, Friday February 13th and Saturday February 28th at 10:30AM. How many ppl show up will be dependent on the weather and how powerful this social media culture can be. Are these fans of the Lehigh Valley Zoo, truly engaged, or are they merely trying to add contacts, to beat some social network Guinness Book of world record? I hope they donate their time and money to saving the Zoo!

Today, many marketers are debating the power and usefulness of social media for the promotion and delivery of information for small businesses, big business, political campaigns, and mainstream media. In the past 2 weeks, I have become a believer and look forward to celebrating 5000 members on the future We Saved the Lehigh Valley Zoo facebook page.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

New exhibit - helps draw zoo attendance in the Winter


The new Penguin exhibit at the Lehigh Valley Zoo has helped to turnout crowds on fair weather days. This picture was taken the weekend of 1/24 - below freezing temperatures could not keep these guests away.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Monday, January 12, 2009

NorthStar Adventure, Bethlehem PA, to offer Olweus Bullying Prevention Training to area Schools

Jason Chartrand, Director NorthStar Adventure receives Olweus Bullying Prevention Training Certification

NorthStar Adventure to provide bullying prevention training to area schools.

December 10, 2008 Bethlehem, PA - Every seven minutes a schoolchild is bullied. Adults intervened in 4 percent of those situations, and peers intervened 11 percent of the time, leaving 85 percent of incidents with no intervention at all (U.S. Justice Department).
Bullying is one of the most difficult issues students face. Even with a school’s best efforts, students may still experience bullying in classrooms, school hallways, the lunchroom and the playground or athletic fields. Bullying can affect the safety and wellbeing of the entire student population.

Jason Chartrand, Director of NorthStar Adventure at Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, recently attended a 3-day training program to become a certified instructor and facilitator for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. NorthStar Adventure plans to offer the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program to the area schools, to assist them in meeting the new amendment of the school code that requires all Pennsylvania public school districts to adopt a bullying prevention policy by the start of 2009.

“The Olweus Bullying program compliments our experiential-based teambuilding offerings, said Chartrand. “An important role in reducing bullying in schools is empowering the entire school population, teachers, administrators, parents and students, with the tools to recognize and confront bullying at the onset. If we empower everyone to lead and be proactive, we can reduce the fear of being bullied and that will provide for a better learning environment for everyone, he added.

“The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is the most researched and best-known bullying prevention program available today” commented Mary Dolan, PA Safe Schools Coordinator. “Jason has joined the largest cadre of trainers in the nation with Pennsylvania boasting 100 certified personnel statewide, Dolan added.

The Olweus Bullying Prevention program is a school-based initiative designed to prevent and/or reduce bullying in elementary, middle and junior high schools. Designed by Dr. Dan Olweus from Norway, this program has been designated by the Center for Safe Schools as a successful program to combat bullying in our schools. The Center for Safe Schools is recognized as the go-to organization for bullying in school prevention.
The Center for Safe Schools, through a unique partnership with the Highmark Foundation, its Healthy High 5 Initiative, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, offers the availability of grants for Pennsylvania schools to address the serious issue of bullying. The Center for Safe Schools administers an initiative called PA CARES (Creating an Atmosphere of Respect and Environment for Success). This initiative helps schools implement the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) to address bullying and provide safe and nurturing learning environments. Questions about the Olweus Program and PA CARES Initiative: Mary Dolan, Safe Schools Coordinator E-mail: mailto:mdolan@csc.csiu.org?subject=PA%20CARESPhone: 717-763-1661 x151
NorthStar Adventure at Dutch Springs offers experiential-based teambuilding and leadership training for corporations, schools, non-profit boards and civic groups. Based at Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PA, NorthStar Adventure offers professional development training, including ACT 48 CPE hours, Train the Trainer, improved self-esteem and bullying prevention programs. For more information on NorthStar Adventure school programs contact: Jason Chartrand, Director E-mail teamwork@northstaradventure.com Phone: 610-759-2270 website – http://www.northstaradventure.com/

Take Bullying poll

Friday, January 9, 2009

Lehigh Valley Zoo photo gallery

John Hofmann Sr. has some great photos of the Lehigh Valley Zoo animals.
Click here to view the gallery.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Lehigh Valley Zoo funding poll - mcall online

Lehigh Valley news, Allentown news, Bethlehem news, pocono news, Easton news from The Morning Call and mcall.com -- themorningcall.com: "QUESTION OF THE DAY...

TODAY'S QUESTION: Should Lehigh County spend more money on the Lehigh Valley Zoo?

YES (1469 responses)
87.2%

NO (216 responses)
12.8% 1685 total responses

(Results not scientific)
This poll is closed to voting."