Peak Learning

    Our first thrust as a non-profit, incorporated body was to find a partner whose track record in training adults to perform under the pressure of a fast-moving environment matched the success we had achieved in effecting major change among youth. Dr. Paul Stoltz’s Peak Learning program for adults has a proven success record of increasing resiliency based on the adversity quotient (AQ) test developed to measure resiliency. His work with adult groups around the world and notably in Canada with the RCMP, Canada Post and NavCan (Canada's air traffic controllers) is unrivalled, and his program fit with ours perfectly.
    By February 2006 Stoltz had agreed to investigate the intersection of our individual approaches to resilience. When we came to present our work to the Deputy commissioner of the RCMP, Stoltz phoned in a supportive conversation, which helped move the agenda forward. Stoltz has further offered to allow us to use his AQ Questionnaire to test youth before and after our program to determine whether resilience is increased. A small sample of our "graduates" indicates that resilience among these youth approaches or equals levels which are seem in adults.
In the future, we hope to see an adapted version of Stoltz's work as part of our training of Adult Mentors. Our YCLC weekend is perfect as a hands-on application of almost all of the conceptual tools he has developed to assist resilience take root. While not yet a "partner" in our work, Paul has done his bit to move it forward.