Outside the Box

Jim Grout ’73, ‘86G may have started out in a typical education setting, but his passions have since taken him far outside the average classroom. After receiving his undergraduate degree in education, he taught in traditional classrooms for a few years, but didn’t feel like he was able to reach young people in a way that was effective and meaningful. That’s when he found out about adventure education.

“When I discovered adventure education, it was the right fit,” Jim says. “The subject matter was the students themselves, and their growth and development as people. Students became actively involved in learning about themselves and others by participating in collaborative problem solving and discovering inner strengths through negotiating personal challenges.”

Adventure education is the promotion of learning through activity-centered experiences, including challenge courses and other leadership-building activities.

By design, it “pushes you out of your comfort zone and makes learning a dynamic experience,” Jim says.

While adventure education is helpful for youth because they’re searching for meaningful ways to connect with others, to be challenged to think critically, and to “find their voice,” it can be beneficial for anyone, Jim notes.

“Adventure education—used with great intention to drive the desired outcomes—consistently helps improve classroom environments, strengthen school cultures, increase business productivity, and improve a team’s performance,” Jim says.

High 5 Adventure Learning Center, which Jim co-founded in 2000 and leads as executive director, has worked with many different organizations over the years, including Massachusetts State Police, Manchester Community Youth Services, C&S Wholesale Grocers, and the School for International Training, but one of their big success stories has been working with the Boston Bruins.

“As a long-time Bruins fan and current hockey player myself, it was thrilling to receive the call to help strengthen their team culture,” Jim says. “Interestingly, our first year with the Bruins was the year they won their first Stanley Cup in 39 years. Admittedly, we were one piece of the puzzle in their success, but it was exciting to be acknowledged by the team as having played a role in their victory.”

Jim feels that working with the Bruins has helped validate the work that he and High 5 have done over the years.

“What I loved about working with the Bruins over three separate seasons, was that for most of my career people would question the value of adventure education and its ability to create change and positive outcomes,” Jim says. “Now, I simply say, ‘Hey, we worked with the Bruins and they won the Cup. It works!’”

Another highlight of High 5 has been the Edge of Leadership program, which seeks to develop empowering leadership skills that can be used to help others, set positive examples, effect change and make a difference. The program helps students and their teachers connect and communicate in new and positive ways.

“I think the driving themes of the Edge of Leadership program: ‘Connect-Empower-Lead…Be the Example,’ are what resonates with our audiences, and not that we are pushing a specific curriculum,” Jim says. “We work from Edge of Leadership’s framework, which is built on social and emotional learning, leadership training and team building. It is flexible enough that we can mold it to fit the specific needs of any classroom or group of students.”

One good example of the Edge of Leadership program’s success is High 5’s demonstration project with Keene School District in Keene, NH, Jim says. High 5 works with over 1,000 students in grades 5 through 12 and over 250 faculty and administrators.

“We consistently hear that our ability to be flexible and responsive to their needs is why they enjoy working with us,” Jim says.

Jim’s passion for teaching started during his time at Salem State. Jim says that receiving his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Salem State helped shape him into who he is today.

“I was fortunate to have several professors who engaged my passion for learning, not just by being a great teacher but by being a role model, mentor and friend,” Jim says. “They taught me that all learning starts with connection. When a strong connection is made between a student and teacher, good things happen and people excel.”

Jim has carried this thinking with him throughout his whole career.

As for the future, Jim believes there is a great need in our world for increasing levels of trust, quality and honesty of communication, and collaborative teamwork, as well as developing leaders who can inspire change. High 5 has an important role in that effort, Jim says.

“Ultimately, I’d like to create a High 5 Leadership Center to meet that ever-growing need for the next generation of leaders,” Jim says. “It was once said to me, ‘High 5 develops leaders in a way that so few people are able to do these days.’ I believe that to be true. And I know that all of our staff here at High 5 take that responsibility seriously. The future is bright and we are ready to go.”