As the host for your organization's upcoming adventure, you will want to set the tone for an enjoyable and productive time.  This page will provide some food for thought as well as a few suggestions on what you can do to prepare the way.

It is usually a good idea to send a welcome letter to your participants so they have some idea of what they are in for.  Download this Word document and make any changes to it that suit your situation.  Be sure to suggest that participants arrive dressed for the occasion - blue jeans and boots are the typical dress code.

Just prior to the event you might want to use our Dutchman postcard as a reminder and last minute build-up to the event.  If your participants are in an email group or list with one address you can use that in the "TO" box.

Be sure to review the room set-up with us.  We usually look for round tables that seat 5-6 people.  We will need a 6-foot table to set up the projector, laptop, etc.  Be sure to confirm who is providing the equipment.  Depending on the size of your group, we will need one or more 8-foot tables in the front or rear corner of the room for the trading post.  For the debriefing it is best to have a flip chart available for each table group.  Of course, basics such as water and snacks are important. 

If you want to see what a typical program looks like, click on the Dutchman image above for a short Quicktime movie (this will take a few minutes to load; be patient.)

Room Set-Up

• Round tables for participants (5-6 people each)
• 6-foot table for projection equipment
• 8-foot table for trading post
• 1 Small table for game board (card table size)

We have a bit of set-up for this event so it will be important that we get into the training room a few hours before the event - for morning events we prefer the night before if possible.  If you can provide a contact person for the training site we can confirm that requirement with him or her.

Equipment:

• Projector
• Screen
• Microphone (mobile is best)
• Cable to plug computer into sound system if possible
• Flip Charts and Easels - one per table and one for leader
  
• We will bring our own laptop computer

Debriefing Handout: 

Please review the standard debriefing handouts we use at the conclusion of the simulation.  We usually take a 15 minute break and regroup the participants so they get a chance to see how other table groups approached the task.  Click here to download a sample.

If you haven't already done so, take a look at some of the history of the mine at the Superstition Mountain Museum. Contact Susan or Rick if you have questions or additional ideas on how to make this a memorable event. 

Speaker Introductions:

Our expedition to the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is led today by Susan and Rick Stamm, owners of a team development firm called The TEAM Approach based in Lancaster PA.  Both Susan and Rick come to the training and development field with education and experience in behavioral sciences and have worked with a wide variety of organizations in public and private sectors to develop effective teams and team leaders.  They have led hundreds of participants to the mine and haven't lost anyone - yet!

Susan and Rick are celebrating 20 years of operating as a husband/wife business team and claim that they are still friends.   You will find more about their business and professional background in the debriefing materials you will receive in the second half of today's program.  You can find them on the web at teamapproach.com.

Thanks for being part of the team!