Nick Bannon

Nick Bannon

Nick Bannon’s involvement in the Personal Discovery Program, an adventure-based teambuilding program at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., couldn’t have come at a better time in his life as he was making the transition from high school to college and from the hearing world to the deaf world. Faced with learning a new language, American Sign Language, and being among his new deaf friends was an exciting, yet a challenging time.

The Personal Discovery Program provided a set of experiences in nature and teambuilding that created the bridge between the way life was (being dependent on family, being in the comforts of home, school, and old friends) to the way life was going to be (finding independence, new friends, and even a new world). This so-called bridge and culmination of experiences became the pillar of strength, the crutch, the glimmer of hope for any upcoming challenge life has to offer. The lessons learned through teambuilding then became the positive source that success will follow the effort you put in.

Having experienced the power of teambuilding and wilderness, Nick became a Personal Discovery Instructor the following year. Since 1986, Nick has facilitated numerous students of all ages through teambuilding activities and challenges, and has led students on wilderness backpacking, camping, rock climbing, caving, and canoeing trips.

Nick has provided teambuilding workshops at various colleges and universities, high schools, and schools for the deaf, parks and recreation departments, and hospitals in California, Texas, New York, Washington, D.C., including teambuilding workshops for health care professionals, students, teachers, counselors, psychologists, and religious clergy in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yaroslavl, Russia.

Nick also is an avid triathlete and has organized The Texas School for the Deaf’s Ranger Triathlon in the spring as well as a monthly 5K run also at TSD. Nick also takes time to kayak, cycle, run, and swim with his wife, Sarah, and children, Josh and Mia.

Certifications: CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid; California and
Texas Teaching Credentials, K-12

Current Residence: Austin, Texas

Years of Teambuilding/Facilitation Experience: 24

Years of Teaching Experience: 20

Skills: Fitness/wellness, event planning, triathlon, mountain biking, photography, kayaking, coaching, and spending time with my family