Discovery Dating Training Information

 

Discovery Dating Trainings are designed to create confident and creative instructors.  Because Discovery Dating is applicable to hundreds of situations, trainees come from a wide variety of backgrounds including: health clinics, domestic violence organizations, youth groups, high school teachers, and justice departments.  Trainings occur over two days, either consecutive days or consecutive weeks.  Participants receive a Discovery Dating student workbook. 

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN A TRAINING WORKSHOP?

 A pre-test is administered at the start of the training session and a post-test comes at the end the training workshop.  Wise Women Gathering Place is always evaluating our training process and these pre and post tests, along with trainees input help keep the workshop headed in the right direction.  We want to provide a quality workshop in order to give our trainees the confidence that they are indeed making a difference for the communities they serve.

 Trainees learn how Discovery Dating was created and why the workbook was written.  They learn that Discovery Dating is about making the right connection, reclaiming a tradition of fulfillment, developing a lifetime to look forward to and building a history to look back on and tell about.  Participants are taken through the workbook and instructed on how to properly use the Discovery Dating pyramid and trimarkers, diary sheet and Key cards.  The Key cards walk the student through the surface issues, the deeper topics and the intimate issues as a relationship develops.  Time is also spent on discussing the benefits of partnership and the pitfalls of unhealthy relationships.  An important concept to Discovery Dating is being able to discern the difference between temporary and permanent choices.  Trainees are taught to know how each decision they make in the course of their daily activities may in fact impact every aspect of lives in different ways and how much of an impact do they want to make with their choices.

 Next, trainees do a little self-exploration by filling out a diary sheet on themselves.  Before you can form an opinion on someone else, you must truly understand yourself.  The personal diary sheet helps the participant to focus on their own beliefs and attitudes.  The self exploration continues with the use of the Dreams and Goals chart.  The chart has participants develop three goals, short-term, mid-term and long-term.  Then time is spent looking at the steps needed to achieve those goals and the potential roadblocks that could get in the way.  What makes the Discovery Dating goal-setting process unique is that participants are also taught to think about the benefits that will come to them and their community once they have achieved their goals.

 Mentors are an important part of the Discovery Dating process.  Students in the full Discovery Dating classes are required to find two older adults to mentor them through their lives as they have relationships with friends, co-workers and romantic partners.  To accomplish this, attendees at Discovery Dating training spend part of the time discussing the characteristics of a good mentor and think about those that mentored them in their own lives.

 The second day of training goes a little more in depth with lots of follow up of the previous session's activities.  Trainees will revisit the Dreams and Goals charts.  They will also spend time practicing with diary sheets in a variety of activities including using script dates and the Virtual Date activity.  A look at examples of unhealthy relationships and the red flags that are associated with those helps drive home the idea the teaching young people how to discern the difference between healthy and unhealthy choices is important in any kind of relationships.  An additional activity called Key Encounters has trainees create messages about the "big issues", the ones that teens tell us their parents avoid talking about.

 The training continues out of the workshop.  To complete the training and to receive their certification, Discovery Dating trainees need to teach a Discovery Dating class.  Wise Women Gathering Place staff members will check in with the trainees to see how they are progressing and to schedule a class room visit for observation purposes.  Ensuring that Discovery Dating is being taught in the best way possible, Wise Women Gathering Place is always available to answer trainee questions and to provide assistance when needed.

 

TO SCHEDULE A TRAINING

 Trainings can be scheduled anywhere across the country (or world!) as needed.  They require at least 20 participants and have a maximum or 30 trainees.  The cost for a training workshop varies by location but includes a Discovery Dating student workbook, a Dreams and Goals Chart, and a My Ideal Island Chart for each trainee and a Key Encounter kit for each organization. If you and/or your organization would like to arrange a Discovery Dating training near you, please contact the Wise Women Gathering Place office (920-490-0627 or wwgp at new.rr.com). 

 

UPCOMING TRAININGS:

Topic Date Location Fee
ToP: Strategic Planning Methods May 12-13, 2008 Oneida Social Services Building, 2640 West Point Rd, Green Bay, WI $545, Early Bird $495
Second Step Bully Prevention Training May 21-22, 2008 CESA 7 Office; 595 Baeten Rd., Green Bay, WI $499
ToP: Group Facilitation Methods August 14-15, 2008 Oneida Community Education Center, 2632 S. Packerland; Green Bay, WI $545, Early Bird $495
Discovery Dating Teacher Training Oct 2-3, 2008 Oneida Community Education Center, 2632 S. Packerland; Green Bay, WI $375

 Please contact Wise Women Gathering Place if you would like to place your name on the Discovery Dating Training wait list. We are looking into having a training in Summer 2008. Check back for more information.

 

Discovery Dating© * Wise Women Gathering Place * 2482 Babcock Rd * Green Bay, WI 54313 * 920-490-0627 * info at discoverydating.com