Blackbox OE

Another day of personal development. This time we are learning to leverage the power of AI to improve our services. It's a whole new world out there, let's see whether we can apply some of this to our field of work! (No i did not use ChatGPT to write this post!)

Last call for our Basic Challenge Course Practitioner (BCCP) course happening this October! 📌📢 If you are planning on working towards a ACCT Level 1 (Full Track) practitioner certification, sign up at https://www.blackbox-oe.com/product/basic-challenge-course-practitioner-bccp/ !

Thank you to all who have already signed up and enquired about the course! 🙋‍♂️We will be closing registration by Wed, 18 Sep to allow us to prep for the course. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at [email protected] or check out www.blackbox-oe.com .

Have a great week ahead!😂

Blackbox OE Unpacking Outdoor Education.

💁‍♂️ACCT International Dialogue👨‍🏫

The next ACCT International Dialogue will be held virtually on 31 Aug, Sat, 9.30am.

The primary speaker for the session is the Chair of the ACCT Accredited Operations Affinity Group, JJ Stapleton, Director of Operations of The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring.

The topic is everything you may want or need to know about being an Accredited Operations under ACCT. JJ can help to clarify any queries you may have in this area. Heather Brooks will also be present to answer any questions that you may have on how to go about getting your course accredited.

If you are interested in attending the session, drop us a DM and we'll be happy to provide the Zoom link.

😨Early Bird Rates for our Basic Challenge Course Practitioner (BCCP) Course is closing soon on 31 August!😲

If you are planning to get certified as an ACCT Level 1 (Full Track) Practitioner, hurry head to our website at https://www.blackbox-oe.com/product/basic-challenge-course-practitioner-bccp/ . Sign up now and receive up to $200 off the regular rate!😁

BCCP Course Dates🕶
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3, 4, 14, 17, 18 Oct
Assessment : 23 Oct, 24 Oct (AM)

For more information, contact us at [email protected] .

Blackbox OE Unpacking Outdoor Education.

For our teacher/educator friends, if you are interested to find out more about emotions in your line of work, consider taking up this workshop at Pivotal Learning Pte Ltd. 🙂😞😧😁

Hey my teacher friends :)

I have been wanting to design a workshop around emotion as part of deeper understanding of mental wellness for a long time. I have been sitting on the idea until I had a chat with Delane Lim about it.

You can't separate mental wellness from emotion because it is 100% emotional experiences.

Also I was explaining that engaging students in classroom can be challenging for teachers thus making it stressful fo teachers.

As a result of the conversation, I am co-organising with Character & Leadership Academy, Singapore a "conference" in October as part of Mental Health month activity. Normally this conference focuses on youths, but this time it will focus on Teachers' Mental Well Being.

During the conference, you will learn tools around around mental health and attend two workshops conducted by me. One on Engagement and one on Nuances of Emotion.

Each school can send two teachers for free, the 3rd teacher onward is only charge $75.

Details are in the attached image :)

Join me okay.

Alright, many people asking me why am I still working ..... 🤣🤣🤣. I am grateful of the care and concern.

Is a work-less holiday and not a workless holiday okay.....

We are off for a short break this long weekend! 🕶 Promise to get back to you on 11 August! In the meantime, enjoy the long weekend and have a Happy National Day!🎉

Making zipline accessible!

Accessible Zip Lining at NEW Zoo Adventure Park Accessible Zip Lining at NEW Zoo Adventure Park

🤔 Still considering taking up our ever popular EFS workshop??? Our special early bird rates are closing soon on 📅5 August‼️

Learn the science behind facilitation to get consistent results during debriefing!

Sign Up here at https://tinyurl.com/9dvtkws8 !

Enhanced Facilitation Skills Workshop
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Date : 2, 3 September 2024
Time : 9am - 5.30pm daily
Venue : TBC
Price : $680 per pax (Early Bird Rates at $590 avail till 5 August!)

For more information, contact us at [email protected] .

The next evolution of the ACCT's PVM program!

Big News! We're thrilled to unveil ACCT's revamped and enhanced Vendor Accreditation Program!

Formerly called the PVM program, this exciting update reflects our dedication to maintaining top-notch quality and service in all our partnerships.

What’s New?
🔍 Enhanced criteria and transparency for accreditation
📋 More administrative oversight
💡 Increased support and resources for vendors

We’re confident this new program will not only elevate our vendors but also foster trust, and add more quality assurance with the services they offer to industry members around the world.

Ready to learn more? Visit us at 👉 https://www.acctinfo.org/vendor-accreditation

🕶Conversion to ACCT Certifications⚡️

We’ve recently received numerous requests to convert OBS CCI certifications to ACCT Certification. After completing a few conversions, we’ve realized that the process is more complex than anticipated due to curriculum differences.

We understand that many CRC practitioners are caught in a predicament because their site specific certifications only allow them to work at MOE OALC Challenge Courses whereas they would like to also work at other non-MOE sites.

We’re here to help and support anyone interested in making this conversion in 2024. If you’re interested, please contact us at [email protected] with your updated CRC portfolio. To find out more about our ACCT Conversion programme, please visit https://www.blackbox-oe.com/acct-conversion/ .

Starting in 2025, we will discontinue our conversion program and focus solely on our ACCT-accredited training and certification.

ACCT L1 Conversion Details
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3, 4 Oct (CCF workshop)
18 Oct (CRC Practice)
23 Oct (Practical Assessment)
24 Oct (AM) (Written Assessment)
Price - $1,160 per pax

ACCT L2 Conversion Details*^
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18 Oct (CRC Practice)
23 Oct (Practical Assessment)
11, 12 Dec (IPD workshop)
13 Dec (AM) (Written Assessment)
Price - $1,660 per pax

*Interested participants should note that they will only receive their ACCT L2 certifications in December after the written assessment.
^Interested participants who do not have relevant facilitation training will be required to attend the CCF workshop on 3, 4 Oct. Additional charges will apply.

🚀✨ Upcoming workshops from Blackbox OE! ✨🚀

We’re launching a whole new set of workshops and courses for the next half of 2024! Whether you’re looking to boost your skills or embark on a new learning adventure, we’ve got something for everyone. Stay tuned for more details in our upcoming posts, or visit our website at www.blackbox-oe.com for a sneak peek. Get ready to elevate your expertise to new heights! 🚀📚

A SAFETY ALERT from Headrush Technologies regarding some TRUBLUE Speed Belay units.

ACCT has learned of a SAFETY ALERT from Headrush Technologies regarding some TRUBLUE Speed Belay units. These units are for speed climbing.

Reason for Alert

"Head Rush Technologies (HRT) was notified of an incident and a reported injury that occurred during the use of a TRUBLUE Speed device. A thorough investigation was conducted, including an inspection of the device and testing by component suppliers. The results of that investigation indicate that a limited number of TRUBLUE Speed Auto Belay devices may have been assembled with a component that was incorrectly manufactured by the supplier. In rare circumstances this component can prevent the backup brake activation mechanism from operating properly. HRT is alerting owners/operators and distributors of the results of the investigation and current risk."

ACTION TO TAKE: Devices made within the affected serial number range must be inspected to ensure they do not contain the improperly manufactured component.

More details on how to take action are available here: https://www.acctinfo.org/news/truebluespeed-recall

🕶Challenge Course Manager (CCM) Course😎

Blackbox OE had the opportunity to gather 10 individuals from various Challenge Courses (CRC) in Singapore for our CCM course this year. From schools to recreational sites, the variety was important for us as it makes for very interesting conversations. 🤓

Through the activities, participants got to examine the ACCT standards closer and learn to apply them to their CRC. They had a chance to craft their own SOP and RAMS and then defend it in a mock Board of Inquiry!🤯 It was not a technical course but everyone still left feeling mentally exhausted but fulfilled at the end of each day.

Assessment day came around on Day 4 for those going for the coverted ACCT CCM Certification. Their papers are in so we'll have the next week or so to mark them and see whether they meet the stringent requirements for the ACCT CCM Certification!

If you are interested in what we can offer at Blackbox OE, check out our website at www.blackbox-oe.com or contact us at [email protected] .

😎HEY! We are dropping two new workshop dates!😲

1. Abseil Proficiency Certification 1 & 2 Course
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We are doing a combi APC 1 and 2 Course this August for outdoor adventure practitioners looking to get their APC 1 and 2 certifications. This course will focus on self-competency techniques as well as some advanced skill sets that will make you a safer abseiler.

Date : 5-7 August 2024
Time : 9am - 4pm daily
Venue : BBGB Campsite
Price : $310 per pax (inc. SSCMF certification and insurance)
For information on the certification, visit : https://smf-climbing.org/standard-category/view.html?id=uA==

2. Enhanced Facilitation Skills (EFS) workshop
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Our ever popular EFS workshop! Learn the science behind facilitation to get consistent results during debriefing!

Date : 2, 3 September 2024
Time : 9am - 5.30pm daily
Venue : TBC
Price : $680 per pax (Early Bird Rates avail till 5 August!)

Interested in any of these courses? Check out www.blackbox-oe.com/shop or contact us at [email protected]! 😎

New Gear Days always feel like Christmas Mornings!

Did you know ❓ The safety equipment we use on the ropes course typically have a shelf life of 10 - 15 years. ACCT practitioners are taught to check the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) instructions for this information. Most "soft" gear like lanyards and webbings have a 10 year shelf life, whereas "metal" gear like carabiners have a unlimited shelf life! However the caveat here is to still refer to the OEM for the validity of equipment as the shelf life can depend on the frequency of usage as well.

So the next time you see us at the CRC, check out our spiffy new gear!!!

Thanks go to our friends at for equipping us!

What's the point of a "ropeless" skipping rope?🧐❓❓❓

Check out the BB Blog at
https://www.blackbox-oe.com/the-one-about-the-skipping-rope/

The one about the skipping rope... - Blackbox Outdoor Education Pte. Ltd. I (Adrian) got this recently in a goody bag. For a moment I was wondering what was it for. It resembled a skipping rope’s handles but without the rope. Googling a little about it and I realized that it was what’s known as a Cordless Skipping Rope. In my mind, I was fascinated with the [...]

💡Do you know, ACCT practitioners have to attend training hours as part of their re-certification requirements❓And for some of us like Challenge Course Managers (CCM), a portion of these training hours should be management related as well. This can range from Excel workshops to social media workshops to budgeting workshops to basically anything related to managing a site. Because that's what a CCM does in his job, not just the technical skills and training part.

So here I am (Adrian) this morning🥱, clocking in some training hours at the LLI. Attending a workshop on "Problem Scoping in Data Opportunities" by the PDPC. Basically learning how to better protect the personal data collected during our courses. So the next time you fill up our forms, know that we will be taking good care of your personal data.

Challenge Course Manager (CCM) Re-Certification happening today!😎

Did you know❓ A ACCT CCM certificate is valid for up to 5 years❗️

So today we gathered to put these CCMs through the re-certification process again after 5 years. The assessment consisted of a 3hr written assessment where they had to apply the Operation Standards from the current ACCT Standards to the test questions. The challenge was not so much about applying what they know, but having to apply the relevant ACCT Standards statement to the answer. This is what makes a CCM's job so challenging with having to interpret and apply the statements.

If you are interested to learn more about Challenge Course Management, you can check out our upcoming CCM Course in July here : https://www.blackbox-oe.com/product/challenge-course-manager/ . Or contact us at [email protected] for more details.

OK off to marking the papers...😩

📢 Announcing Our Next Intentional Programme Design (IPD) Workshop! 🌟

🗓️ Dates: 11, 12 Dec 2024
🕘 Time: 9am - 5.30pm daily
💲 Price: $680 (Early Bird Rate: $590 until 31 August 2024!)

We're bringing you this essential workshop, tailored for Singapore's unique context where cohort camps often involve 200-300 students. To ensure every student experiences outdoor activities, we use a matrix programming sequence. While necessary, we believe meaningful programming is still achievable, benefiting every student.

This workshop is perfect for:
✅ Programme designers aiming for intentionality in their designs.
✅ Facilitators seeking to ensure success through well-structured programmes.

Delve into Team Development Models, Multi-level programming techniques, and the Adventure Wave to create impactful programmes.

Don't miss this chance to enhance your programme design skills! Secure your spot now and benefit from the Early Bird Rate! 🐦✨

Sign up at www.blackbox-oe.com/shop or contact us at [email protected].

Last Day of our Advanced Challenge Course Practitioner (ACCP) course.... Let's Go!!!

Just hanging around on a Wednesday...

We're out of office this week working with 6 seasoned practitioners on their Advanced Challenge Course Practitioner training. This will lead up to the ACCT Level 2 certification.

Wishing for good weather and a safe, fun, engaging training!

🌟 News from Blackbox OE! 🌟

We are thrilled to announce that Blackbox OE will now be providing Group Personal Accident (GPA) insurance for our participants in selected challenge course and adventure programmes, thanks to our partnership with Bolttech Insurance Brokers. 🧗‍♂️🧗‍♀️

Your safety and peace of mind are our top priorities. We believe it is crucial to offer comprehensive coverage, especially since many personal GPAs do not extend to height activities beyond a certain height (please check your own insurance for details).

Starting soon, GPA insurance will be included in selected courses, ensuring that you can focus on learning while we take care of the rest. 🎉

Stay tuned for more details and get ready for a safer and more exhilarating experience with Blackbox OE!