NIKO TEAM LEADER PACKET

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

1. NIKO Team Leader Purpose and Goals

 

2. NIKO Cold/Warm Weather Packing List

 

3. NIKO Staff Assumption of Risk Form

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NIKO TEAM LEADER PURPOSE AND GOALS

 

        Similar to other leadership training courses, such as ¡°Outward Bound,¡± at the NIKO participants learn by ¡°doing.¡± Hands-on experience teaches effectively while also providing a chance for growth in interdependence. Through the NIKO, participants will learn more about themselves and the gifts God has given them. However, personal growth in the NIKO is not limited to participants alone. As a Team Leader, you will find many opportunities to learn about leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and goal setting. You will also find increased initiative, creativity, compassion, responsibility, and self-worth through self-denial and serving others.

 

         At a NIKO people from diverse backgrounds become friends, working together toward common goals. The support, inspiration, and encouragement you provide will have a profound impact on the effectiveness of the NIKO. You must be able to push through your own self-imposed limitations and draw near to God in order to exhort others to do the same with integrity. Your purpose in the NIKO is not to control events and circumstances but to facilitate their use for the benefit of the participants physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The NIKO is not a time for you to relax and enjoy nature...your purpose in being a part of the NIKO is to serve the participants and fellow staff members in whatever capacity the circumstances require, regardless of personal feelings and preferences. Please carefully read over the following objectives and contemplate on how you can personally fulfill them.

 

 

OBJECTIVES

1. SAFETY: This is your primary objective. You are responsible for the health of the participants during the NIKO. This should be your primary focus even above teaching them the lessons and life-principles the NIKO offers. A dead participant will have no use for teamwork!

2. PRAYER: In preparing for the NIKO and during the NIKO itself, be lifting up the participants and other staff in prayer. Points of prayer might include: safety, weather, personal growth, unity, etc.

3. SERVANTHOOD: The NIKO is a rigorous program which will tire you physically and emotionally. However, during the NIKO, there is also a lot of work to be done (i.e. -preparing for the next event, chopping wood). Look for all opportunities to serve around the campsite so that all are sharing the load of work instead of three or four individuals having to bear the burden alone.

4. ENCOURAGEMENT: Without this fundamental principle of leadership, your team will ¡°die.¡± If you do not have an ¡°encourager¡± on your team, it is the responsibility of the Team Leader to rise up and offer words of encouragement to the participants. Encouragement should flow naturally in your team as together they face and overcome  challenges.

5. DISCIPLINE: This word covers a variety of topics. You need to be able to discipline participants when necessary using the consequences decided upon during the NIKO Government time. You must be disciplined and confident enough to not give into peer pressure or the need to ¡°feel accepted¡± by your team. Strong, consistent, and godly leadership will bring you to a place where your team ¡°invites¡± you to join with them. You must also discipline yourself to ¡°not give away the answer.¡± Challenge the participants to think for themselves, finding their own answers and solutions. Allow them to ¡°fail,¡± and learn the consequences of their actions. Do not compromise this issue. If you constantly give away the answers, participants lose ownership in the program and the victory that each particular challenge could have given.

6. SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP/GUIDANCE: The NIKO is a unique because many issues in participants¡¯ lives are brought up in a short period of time. You have the opportunity to be used by God in very powerful ways if you will step out in obedience to Him. During times of worship, hiking on the trail, or working together, the Lord may speak a word of encouragement, prophecy, or exhortation to you for a participant. Be willing for God to speak through you and open to sharing His words with others.

7. F-L-E-X-I-B-I-L-I-T-Y...need I say more?

8. PHYSICAL FITNESS: Do your best to prepare for the physical exertion the NIKO requires. Get plenty of sleep!