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Wow, what an awesome day! Being Columbus Day our students at The Learning House had the day off, and that means that we usually do what’s called in-service training for our staff. In-service days typically look like meetings in the building discussing curriculum building ideas or school improvement projects. They are usually very dull and the type of meetings teachers hate. Keep in mind; we have four of these days per year so they can become monotonous and repetitive very quickly. So today we decided to do a little team building day by going on a Take Down Eventures trip.

Take Down Eventures is an company run by Jason Amato in which corporations, schools, clubs or other organizations can experience outdoor activities such as shooting shotguns, compound bows, recurve bow and arrows, and even crossbows but not in hunting situations. We even did things like throwing spears and an African throwing weapon called an alattle (sp?). Not your typically teacher training day; and the staff loved it!

“We were founded by Jerry Milos and his partner some years back as an alternative to the over used corporate outings like golfing and skyboxes”, said Amato as he introduced his staff of four guides to our group of thirteen. “We aren’t here to necessarily teach people how to become hunters and outdoorsmen or women, but we do know that experiencing activities like this is powerful”. In fact the Take Down Eventures motto is Experience, Excite and Empower.

It didn’t take long to start to see those three words start to surround our staff. We started on the skeet and trap range shooting clay targets coming from various directions using some of the finest quality CZ USA over/under shotguns on the market. What a trip to see our group, from experienced shot gunners to novice shooters busting clay targets and hooting and hollering support for one another as the morning progressed.  

 

After finishing with the shotguns, we were treated to a gourmet lunch prepared by Chef Chris Barth owner and operator of the Retro Bistro in Mount Prospect, Illinois and a new second location in Crystal Lake, Illinois. I will not do this meal justice describing it other than to say it was delicious. Venison burgers with specialty glazes, wild duck tamales, pumpkin soup, beautifully prepared tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and a desert combination that was magnificent. Can you say fresh brandy infused Minnesota cherry tarts!

Now granted there were a few of us that thought maybe a peaceful nap after that terrific meal would have been the next thing on the agenda, but Jason and his team of guides had other Eventures in store. It was on to the more primitive weapons. Our group shot Genesis and Mathews compound bows, recurve bows and crossbows, as well as taking a crack at throwing spears at a life size lion target that seemed to be prowling the grounds of the Coon Creek Hunt Club. One of the most engaging activities was shooting flying targets with a recurve bow and arrow. Not easy, but totally addicting!

This was a fantastic day to recharge our staff, completely different from the normal routine training sessions and even different than other team building experiences we have done in the past. The Eventures Team was friendly, knowledgeable, and very safety oriented and my staff could not stop thanking me for bringing them on this outing.

To me that’s the key to an experience like this, Jason and his group of Eventures guides makes you as the owner of a company coming out to do one of these events look good to the people you have working for you or with you.

For more information about Take Down Eventures visit their website at www.takedowneventures.com.