Adventure & Outdoor Education Entrepreneur

AEE Northeast Regional ConferenceAEE Northeast Regional ConferenceApril 13, 2008April 13, 2008

Adventure Entrepreneur

By: José H. González

1. Introduction2. Definitions 3. Profile 4. Companies mission statements 5. Intraprenuer - Outward Bound

Caribbean Semester Course6. Business plan – Aire Libre7. Workshop deconstruction

Learning outcomes:

Participants will develop a draft for a new experiential education program Participants will learn how to apply the knowledge from the entrepreneur field and the business sector into the experiential educationParticipants will explore what it takes to start a new experiential education program

2.9 million businesses were launched in 1997, involving nearly 4 million people. Another 1 million people purchased 700,000 existing businesses that year www.nfibonline.com

More than two-thirds start in the owner's home, and only 21% initially employ someone besides the ownerwww.nfibonline.com

The National Federation of Independent Business estimates that over the lifetime of a business, 39% are profitable, 30% break even, and 30% lose money, with 1% falling in the "unable to determine”www.nfibonline.com

Adventure is an activity that comprises risky, dangerous and uncertain experiences. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure

Entrepreneurship: Involves the recognition of opportunities (needs, wants, problems, and challenges) and the use of resources to implement innovative ideas for new, thoughtfully planned ventures. www.mvp.cfee.org/en/glossary.html

Dreamers Live in the future Risk takers Self-Control Self-Confidence Comprehensive Awareness Realism

The last 4 characteristics were taken from : http://www.businesstown.com/entrepreneur/article1.asp

ENTREPRENEUR INSTRUCTOR

Self-Employed Owns a job Example - An

outdoor educator that works for several companies

You make a per diem salary, therefore your profit is limited to your skills and your time.

You do everything in the business.

Business owner Owns a system or

structure that is run by other people

Example – For profit summer teenagers outdoor education programs

The profit is dependent on the business performance, there is no limit

You manage other people that do the work for you

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is aplace where the genuine careand comfort of our guests isour highest mission.

We pledge to provide the finestpersonal service and facilitiesfor our guests who will alwaysenjoy a warm, relaxed, yetrefined ambience.

The Ritz-Carlton experienceenlivens the senses, instillswell-being, and fulfills eventhe unexpressed wishesand needs of our guests.

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.

Outward Bound Mission Statement

''To inspire character development and self-discovery in people of all ages and walks of life through challenge and adventure, and to impel them to achieve more than they ever thought possible, to show compassion for others and to actively engage in creating a better world."

“The extent to which you begin with the end in mind often determines whether or not you are able to create a successful enterprise”

-Stephen R. Covey

Jigsaw initiative

Outward Bound

Caribbean Semester

• Definition- Is the practice of entrepreneurial skills and approaches by or within a company or at home. – Employees, perhaps engaged in a special

project within a larger firm are supposed to behave as entrepreneurs, even though they have the resources and capabilities of the larger firm to draw upon. (Retrieved on march 20th of 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrapreneurship)

1.Description of the program

4. Activities to be used in the

program

5. Hazards of the new program

environment

2. Screening and preparation of

the participants

3.Staffing

6. Special hazards posed

by the participant population

8. Equipment requirements

7. Procedures to deal with the

hazards 9. Transportation

requirement

10. Emergency procedure

12. Subcontracting of equipment or

services

11. Emergency communication

Corporate Teambuilding and/or Challenge course programming

Wilderness Expedition Women Only Courses Summer Camp Adventure Therapy Others

Executive summary The company Products or services Market and Competitors Sales and Marketing Operations Finances

Read the chapter assigned and use the following key to code your text:

Questions-?

Inferring - I

New knowledge – N

Underline - …….

1. Justification2. Products and

services3. Location4. Incorporation

1. Who are your customers

2. Who is the competition

3. Price of sale1. Breakeven point2. Markup

4. Advertising and PR

Background-Personal

Staffing and Management

SWOT analysis Hiring and

training Salaries

Starting budget Operating budget Capital equipment list Balance sheet:

Assets – Liability = Net worth

Breakeven analysis Pro Forma Income projection and cash

flow Accounting and inventory control

10 minutes before we start with the silent gallery, follow by the presentations.

The business

Marketing plan

Management plan

Financial plan

Examples Roberto Clemente Park Weed and Seed at risk program Windsor Mountain Villa Campestre

Register your company and register your website as soon as possible.

Purchase a copy of the books Administrative Practices of AEE Accredited Programs and the AEE Manual of Accreditation Standards for Adventure Programs.

Take an accounting class and then hire an accountant.

Read about the legal issues facing the industry (www.nolo.com) you are in and then hire a lawyer.

Incorporate your business Start at least one partnership Explore the following companies for

insurance policy: K&K, WOGA and Stratus

Always pay with checks (it is easy for your CPA) or with your business visa/master card (it will give you the miles you need to go to Patagonia)

Offer free short programs to potential clients and let them ask you for more – and pay for it next time!

It is easier to retain a client than it is to recruit a new one.

http://www.entrepreneurbeginner.com/index.html - Good advice for start-ups. They have a good podcast as well.

http://tsbom.com/d/ - Excellent website with many ready-made business forms. They have a good podcast as well.

http://www.nhsbdc.org/toolkit/files/busplans.htm - Good business plan outline and example.

www.sba.gov www.score.org www.morebusiness.com www.irs.gov www.entrepreneur.com www.mynewcompany.com www.dbaform.com

Presentation topic Teaching strategy

Materials Instructors notes

Entrepreneur profile BBK Pictures of entrepreneur and experiential educators

Make sure to ask participant to use the worksheet to record their ideas

Mission Statements Creative writing Examples of mission statements

Frontload the initiative with Outward Bound mission statement

How to start your own program

Jigsaw Caribbean semester brochure

Divide the group into subgroups of 6 participants

Business plan 1. Questioning, inferring, new knowledge2. Read out loud

All 4 chapters of Aire Libre’s business plan

Divide the current group by business plan chapters into four groups

Business plan Gallery Newsprint Give them 5 minutes to have a silent gallery and then discuss the new business by having each group present their business

Cheers,José

Now it's your turn to start your own experiential education

business!