A Community of Communities: Facilitating a Professional Family   

Program facilitation attracts a playful, passionate, diverse group of people. Industry-wide, this seasonal work is fraught with turnover. But at Hale, that isn’t the case. 

A number of Hale’s facilitators work in schools during the academic year and at Hale during the summer, while others frequent the challenge course from early May through late October. Regardless of seasonality, many return from one year to the next. 

“Super” Sue Crumbaker, director of Hale’s Teambuilding & Experiential Learning programs, started at Hale as a part-time facilitator 10 years ago. Her entire family followed suit—all four of her children have worked on Hale’s challenge courses at some point during their careers. But the vast majority of this professional family’s members aren’t related by blood. 

Whether new facilitators have worked in outdoor education and recreation for decades or have never spent a day in the woods, the team helps them develop hard skills (such as putting on harnesses, tying knots, and belaying climbers) and soft skills (such as shaping group dynamics). 

“That’s what our community is about. We share so that we can be the best version of ourselves,” says Crumbaker. “Our training is very much like our programs. We play games. We laugh. We problem-solve together.” 

That collaborative spirit encourages deeper bonds among participants as they’re challenged by novelty and guided by professionals. And making space for fun is especially important for schools and organizations that aim to help others thrive. Teachers succeed when students learn, and students learn best when they enjoy how they’re learning. 

“When people leave their comfort zones, they bond with others who are feeling the same way, with people who don’t feel at home in the woods,” says Crumbaker. “It allows for a sense of exploration.” 

This article originally appeared in the 2024 issue of Hale Magazine.