1) What is Experiential Education?
2) What are the origins of the Experiential Education concept?
3) What does Outdoor Consulting mean?
4) Adventure Marketing - what does it mean?
5) Why adventure programs and experiential learning?
6) Is adventure training and programming a safe activity?
7) What if a participant has physical limits?
8) Because the activities are "outdoor", what happens if the weather does not permit?
9) What does adventure have to do with training people?
10) What type of activities does Gecko use in training programs?
11) What qualifications do I need to have to work in this area? How can I obtain more information in respect to the industry?

1 - What is Experiential Education?
Many definitions can be used but we agree with AEE's (Association for Experiential Education) definition:
"Experiential Education is a process through which a learner constructs knowledge, skill, and value from direct experience."

2 - What are the origins of the Experiential Education concept?
Some records show that Socrates used some experiential concepts with his followers. But it was during the Second World War that the first experiential programs started to be developed aiming to provide young sailors with the experiences and skills necessary to survive at sea, based on training service, reflection and team-building.

3 - What does Outdoor Consulting mean?
This is the best way to explain what Gecko actually does in today's market. We are specialists in creating intelligent and unique solutions for an "outdoor" need. By outdoor we understand any project that combines adventure, tourism or education with nature. Therefore we perform as outdoor consultants to corporations, individuals or communities, always aiming for positive results with social responsibility and concerned with the environment.

4 - Adventure Marketing - what does it mean?
This concept is original and first used by Gecko in Brazil.
It was developed to meet the market demand and to support companies and organisations that intend to use outdoor adventure in their marketing strategy. We are marketing professionals that can understand and leverage the usage of outdoor adventure as a strategic tool. By designing tailor made projects according to the needs, we maximise the results of an idea transforming the "just another event" into a marketing case.

5 - Why adventure programs and experiential learning?
The tendency worldwide and especially in Brazil is that the outdoor industry will continue growing in a constant evolution. People are looking for a better quality of life, ecologically correct and socially integrated. Understanding human nature and finding ways for a sustainable development, is the key for our self-preservation. Companies are also discovering that their most valuable assets are their human resources. By ensuring that people are positive about themselves and others, they make the workplace a better place to live and consequently more productive with better services, improved sales or, like in most cases, a healthier environment in a happier community.

6 - Is adventure training and programming a safe activity?
We'd rather think that nothing is 100% safe. Keeping this in mind we stipulate, as our main goal, a serious dedication to safety. We have specialists in specific areas as required and we will only use the best equipment available meeting worldwide safety standards. We maintain the right to refuse any work where risk is not within the acceptable limit and/or safety appears to be at risk. It is part of our professional responsibility to ensure that our activities are interesting, fun and above all safe.

7 - What if a participant has physical limits?
We believe in physical and intellectual integrity for all. A person of average fitness will have no difficulty in participating in any of our programs. They are designed not to be a physical examination, but rather to challenge the mind. Gecko does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, professional affiliation, or physical ability and will modify and adapt programs and activities to create accessibility to all.

8 - Because the activities are "outdoor", what happens if the weather does not permit?
One of the variables that we have no control over is the weather. We believe that this unpredictability represents a great metaphor about uncertainties and existent flexibility to any planning.
Gecko has the experience, resources and different alternatives to guarantee the success of its programs, even if it means changing plans at the last minute due to weather or any other unforeseen elements. Nature is our environment and as soon as we learn to respect and adapt to the unpredictability of nature, we then can learn from it.

9 - What does adventure have to do with training people?
This relationship between adventure and training is not an invention of Gecko. Various professionals of all over the world have made innumerable studies in this area over the last 60 years.
Our team lives, studies and believes in the power of adventure as a very important tool for human development. We know that activities in the outdoors are effective instruments for learning and therefore we plan our programs carefully ensuring that they are interesting, challenging and relevant to each individual.

10 - What type of activities does Gecko use in training programs?
We have found through research in various countries that different techniques can be used depending upon the socio-cultural aspects of the participants. We believe in and use training based on adventure as a form of working on individual relationships, improving co-existence with society and the environment. Our activities may be static or dynamic, but most importantly always involve reflection through metaphors that show the participants the co-relation with day by day urban life.

11 - What qualifications do I need to have to work in this area? How can I obtain more information in respect to the industry?
You may send your resumé or questions to info@gecko.com.br.
We will do whatever possible to help you.