What are Playshops?

Playshops are structured activities for participants to experience positive, fun-filled, creative and cooperative small group exercises. Each activity provides a component for participants to discover shared feelings, thoughts and life experiences.

When participants realize how many thoughts, feelings, and life experiences they have in common with others, it helps them foster greater rapport, respect, trust, and communication. The connections that were previously dormant now spring to life with a renewed vigor and excitement!

Playshops provide a safe forum to talk, play, laugh, listen, and work together. In this atmosphere, it’s easier for parents, teachers, and students to find things in common with each other. When participants discover that they have so many shared qualities with everyone, they overcome their tendency to stay away from people who they previously only saw “differences.” When concluding a Playshop, participants will receive numerous opportunities to keep the fun-filled and enthusiastic energy going through interactive handouts, door prizes, creative coupons & inviting them to generate their own fun-and-mental “action plan.”

Playshops Increase:Playshops Decrease:

 Teamwork Rapport Loneliness Fear

 Creativity Fun Apathy Job Turnover

 Trust Cooperation Rudeness Absences

 Respect Friendships Feeling dis-connected Theft

What do others say about Playshops:

“What a fun way to help any school transform a community! Playshops help us remember how much more alike we are than different!”

Jack Canfield, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul

“Mr. Ertl is a dynamic facilitator and his energy is contagious! He had us all laughing, acting silly, and learning about each other all at the same time. I highly recommend him to bring Playshops to any group that needs to bond, create a trusting community atmosphere and for any group that wants to have fun!”

Rachel Manning, CapeFearElementary School Principal

“Every school system could benefit from these Playshops!”

Dr. Donald Martin, Jr.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth CountySuperintendent

Playshop References

Bolton Elementary School...... Dr. Mary Norman (336) 774-4626

BryantStrattonCommunity College...... Beth Murphy (804) 745-2444

CapeFearElementary School...... Rachel Manning (910) 602-3767

Clemmons Elementary School...... Debbie Smith (336) 712-4444

Griffith Elementary School...... Debby Hendrix (336) 771-4544

Marvin Ward Elementary School...... MaryAnn Sonntag (336) 774-4676

North Topsail Elementary School...... Pat Nystrom (910) 270-0694

NorwayneMiddle School...... Tammy Munoz (919) 242-3414

Old Town Elementary School...... Tobie Arnold (336) 924-9246

Our Lady of GraceSchool...... Roberta Hutchcraft (336) 275-1522

Parkwood Elementary School...... Dorine Allen (919) 560-3962

Rocky PointElementary School...... Linda Longley (910) 675-2309

Speas Elementary School...... Cynthia Clodfelter (336) 774-4696

Walkertown Elementary School...... Brian Brookshire (336) 595-2311

School System Playshop Trainings

Buncombe County Schools...... Vicky Rogers (828) 255-5918

Gates County Schools...... Susan Ward (919) 465-4091

Pender County Schools...... Miranda Osbourne (910) 602-3767

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools...... Dr. Donald Martin (336) 727-2292

State and National Conferences

American Counselor’s Association...... New Orleans, LA

Jack Canfield’s Facilitating Skills Seminar...... Santa Barbara, CA

North Carolina Counselor’s Association...... CharlotteGreensboro, NC

North Carolina Parent-Teacher Association...... Fayetteville, NC

North Carolina School Counselor’s Association...... Greensboro, Winston-Salem & Raleigh, NC

Virginia School Counselor’s Association ...... Charlottesville, VA

Western Regional Early Childhood Conference...... Asheville, NC

Willow Tree Teen Leadership Conference...... MorrisPlains, NJ

Playshop Programs

60-minute Faculty Playshop for up to 150staff...... $1000

Teachers will learn fun ways to engage students & parents with Open House activities.

Teachers will get to know their colleagues better.

Teachers will learn fun “rainy day recess” activities that help students get along.

Includes all supplies, handouts & 5 “Playshop Facilitator Guides” for door prizes.

90-minute SchoolPlayshop for up to 300parents, teachers and students...... $1400

Participants will have fun making friends and improving their current friendships.

Participants will discover specific life experiences that they share with others.

Includes all supplies, handouts & 5 “Playshop Facilitator Guides” for door prizes.

2-hour “Train the Trainers” session for up to 150 school representatives...... $1500

Principals, school counselors, PTA presidents, assistant principals, and PE teachers will learn how to facilitate Playshops at their schools.

Participants will have fun, while improving the relationships with their colleagues.

Includes all supplies, handouts & 10 “Playshop Facilitator Guides” for door prizes.

3-hour “Train the Trainers” session for up to 300 school representatives...... $2200

Principals, school counselors, PTA presidents, assistant principals, and PE teachers will learn how to facilitate Playshops at their schools.

Participants will have fun, while improving the relationships with their colleagues.

Includes all supplies, handouts & 10 “Playshop Facilitator Guides” for door prizes.

Discount for special (same-day) combinations:

60-min. Faculty Playshop + 90-min. School Playshop...... $2100

3-hour “Train the Trainers” session + 90-min. School Playshop...... $3200