Leadership Training Day Set!

It’s official! The date for the Great Adventure Leadership Training Day is set for May 22, 2010 at St. Patrick of Merna Church in Bloomington. The cost is $55 for the study leader track and $40 for the core team/group facilitator track.

Take a look at my earlier post for details on what to expect from this training. This is a new initiative for Ascension Press and the Great Adventure. They just started giving this training last year, and I’m told they have re-evaluated the original material and will completely revise the workshop just in time for our training in May.

Previously if you wanted to start a study, you had to roll up your sleeves and figure it out all on your own. Or, if you knew someone that had set one up, you could ask them to help you get it started. The resources on the website explaining how to actually accomplish this were limited at best. I had never even been to a Bible study, much less started one from scratch, so this was a daunting task. Now, with this leadership training, you can get all the information, material, resources and know-how you need to start a study the right way and keep it going.

In addition, there is training for group facilitators and assistants/core team members. This will include classroom instruction on group facilitation as well as hands-on training in mock study groups to gain practical experience. So, if you’re looking to recruit new group facilitators that don’t have any experience, you can offer them this training as an incentive. They don’t have to go in cold!

If you’re not involved in leading a Great Adventure Study, please pass this information along to the persons in your parish in charge of leading the studies. If your parish hasn’t started a Great Adventure study yet and you would like to, this is the perfect opportunity to find someone interested in leading and getting them the expertise they would need.

Great Adventure Leadership Training Day

I’m working with the Regional DRE in Bloomington to host a Great Adventure Bible Study leaders workshop on May 22, 2010. This Great Adventure Leadership Training Day will take place at the Church of St. Patrick of Merna just outside Bloomington. It’s been in the works for a few months and it’s getting finalized now. I’m very excited about this and I think it will be a big help to everyone doing Great Adventure studies and to those who would like to start one. It should draw people from all over the diocese and even the whole Midwest region!

The training day will be conducted by Kelly Wahlquist and Sarah Christmeyer from Ascension Press. Kelly works directly with Jeff Cavins in organizing and promoting the Great Adventure studies. Sarah is co-author of the studies with Cavins. The training day includes:

- Understanding educational philosophy and methodology
- The nuts and bolts of organizing and implementing a study
- Keys to successful marketing
- Tools for training and supporting your small group facilitator

 Each participant receives a packet of materials to equip them with the tools needed to implement and lead a successful Bible study or small group including:

- A Catholic Bible Study Resource Guide
- Bible Timeline Chart
- Great Adventure Promo dvd
- How to Market Your Great Adventure Study cd
- How to Facilitate a Small Group cd
- Before You Begin Document
- The Journey, The Great Adventure Newsletter

And handouts such as:
Three Keys to Organizing Your Great Adventure Study
The Role of the Small Group Facilitator in Scripture Study
Bringing the Great Adventure to Your Parish & Your Family
The Great Adventure Current Seminar Schedule
Sample of a Bible Timeline Lesson
Review Pack Explanation and Order Form

You can check out more details at the Training Days website.