In the first of a two-part series, we profile Adam Hailger, author and Co-Founder of Open Way Learning. Adam shares his unique journey, from moving to Costa Rica on a whim to starting an experimental gap year program for young adults. A surprising moment—a colleague falling through a classroom floor—helped inspire OWL, a nonprofit that promotes design thinking in education.
📺 Video version available on YouTube and Telus Optik TV
☎️ Produced with the support of Telus StoryHive
🎥 Follow Matt
https://www.youtube.com/@mattenright7641
https://instagram.com/mattenrightmedia/
https://linktr.ee/mattenrightmedia
🎓 Follow Adam
https://www.adamhaigler.com/
🦉 Open Way Learning
https://www.openwaylearning.org/
🌊 Learn more about theDock
https://instagram.com/thedockvictoria/
https://www.thedockvictoria.com/
🎛️ Theme Song "New Vibes" and End Credits "Lov#" by Oddmystic
https://www.youtube.com/@MikeTro
https://www.instagram.com/_oddmystic_/
https://linktr.ee/oddmystic
🎵 Additional Music
Timestamps:
- 00:15 - Adam's extensive background
- 03:15 - How being the comic relief led to being an educator
- 05:56 - Bored in the classroom
- 08:25 - Liking an audience
- 10:11 - Student disruptors
- 14:40 - 2 Gap years
- 17:24 - Possum killing in New Zealand, aka conservation
- 19:05 - Evergreen State College and researching frog sex (animal behaviour)
- 22:32 - Leading trips in Central America and Africa
- 24:40 - First business
- 25:53 - Managing and welcoming conflict
- 28:20 - V.O.M.P. (Voice, Own, Empathize, Plan)
- 29:54 - Rupture/Repair
- 32:20 - Owl origins and project-based learning
- 34:10 - Ben Owens falls through a hole in the floor
- 36:03 - Let's do it
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