Virtual Activities
Greg's story has been shared in books for different reading levels. The Silhouette Man is geared to adults. The First Thirty is for 5th - 12th grade reading level (and adults who prefer shorter books). The Milkshake Man is geared to Kindergarten - 4th Grade reading level (including ESL / adult learners) as well as kids at heart. A Place To Sit is the companion workbook for The First Thirty or The Silhouette Man. One Lunch is the companion workbook for The Milkshake Man. SCROLL DOWN.
Greg normally travels to different places to teach or speak at companies, schools, camps, events & conferences. When the pandemic limited his ability to travel, he looked for ways he could make a positive impact from home in different communities around the country & beyond it. He now continues to participate in many Virtual Activities.
SCROLL DOWN to see some examples & scroll to the bottom of the page for a photo gallery with additional pictures & examples.
SCROLL DOWN to see some examples & scroll to the bottom of the page for a photo gallery with additional pictures & examples.
(1) BOARDS, STAFF, DONORS, VOLUNTEERS, MEMBERS & CLIENTS
Nonprofits, foundations, companies, Chambers and other organizations order the books through this Shop for Board members &/or staff &/or for specific donors / volunteers / members of their organization and/or their clients. Then, Greg does a private Zoom Q&A for that group of people after they read the books.
Nonprofits, foundations, companies, Chambers and other organizations order the books through this Shop for Board members &/or staff &/or for specific donors / volunteers / members of their organization and/or their clients. Then, Greg does a private Zoom Q&A for that group of people after they read the books.
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To order copies of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
(2) NONPROFIT TEEN PROGRAMS, CAMPS, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, HIGH SCHOOLS & COLLEGES
Nonprofits, organizations & camps that serve teens - as well as - middle schools, high schools & colleges order the books (and companion workbooks) through this Shop for students in specific programs, classes or grades. Then, Greg does a group Zoom Q&A for those students (with a faculty/staff member as moderator)
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To order copies of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
(3) YOUNG PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS, LEADERSHIP/YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS
Organizations & Chambers order the books through this Shop for participants in adult & youth leadership programs as well as young professional programs. Then, after those people read the books, Greg does a Zoom Q&A session with that group (with a member of the group's faculty/staff as moderator)
Organizations & Chambers order the books through this Shop for participants in adult & youth leadership programs as well as young professional programs. Then, after those people read the books, Greg does a Zoom Q&A session with that group (with a member of the group's faculty/staff as moderator)
To order copies of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
(4) ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, KIDS CAMPS & YOUTH PROGRAMS
Nonprofits & camps that serve youth - as well as - elementary schools order the books (and companion workbooks) through this Shop for kids in specific programs, classes or grades. Then, Greg does a Zoom Q&A for those kids (with a member of the faculty/staff as moderator).
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(5) CIRCLE OF FRIENDS &/OR CIRCLE OF CLIENTS
In some cases, a person has orders the books & workbooks through this Shop as gifts for their circle of adult friends or for their child's circle of close friends - or - a business owner has gotten books for a group of their professional clients. In selected cases, Greg has signed on to take part in a Zoom Q&A with that groups after they read the books.
To order copies of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
(6) SENIOR GROUPS
Greg has been teaming up with senior communities & other organizations that involve older adults on a 2 part project. Part 1: group orders the books through this Shop for the seniors to read as a 'Common Read'. Part 2: Greg does a private group Zoom Q&A for those seniors. For more info, click here.
Greg has been teaming up with senior communities & other organizations that involve older adults on a 2 part project. Part 1: group orders the books through this Shop for the seniors to read as a 'Common Read'. Part 2: Greg does a private group Zoom Q&A for those seniors. For more info, click here.
To order copies of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
(6-b) INDIVIDUAL SENIORS
In addition to many groups ordering the books for groups of seniors (#6 above), individual people & families have ordered copies of the books & workbooks through this Shop -- and then left it to us to identify seniors who receive them as surprise gifts
In addition to many groups ordering the books for groups of seniors (#6 above), individual people & families have ordered copies of the books & workbooks through this Shop -- and then left it to us to identify seniors who receive them as surprise gifts
(7) VETERANS & MILITARY-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
Greg has partnered with groups that support Veterans &/or that were founded in honor of a Veteran (as well as youth centers for military members' kids) on a 2 part activity: The group gets the books through this Shop for Vets &/or for donors & volunteers who support their organization (&/or for military members' kids). Then, Greg has signed on to do a private Zoom Q&A for that group of people after they read the books.
Greg has partnered with groups that support Veterans &/or that were founded in honor of a Veteran (as well as youth centers for military members' kids) on a 2 part activity: The group gets the books through this Shop for Vets &/or for donors & volunteers who support their organization (&/or for military members' kids). Then, Greg has signed on to do a private Zoom Q&A for that group of people after they read the books.
To order copies of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
(8) NEW GRADUATES
Greg has participated in virtual projects for students who are completing programs or schools. For example, schools, nonprofits, organizations & families order copies of The First Thirty or The Silhouette Man through this Shop for students graduating from a program or a school, Greg has written letters to those graduates. In one instance, he teamed up with a baker. Thanks to some generous sponsors, selected high school graduates in a town in Minnesota received a copy of The First Thirty, a letter of congratulations from Greg & a graduation cake from the baker. For more information on the books' connection to scholarship recipients & new graduates, click here.
Greg has participated in virtual projects for students who are completing programs or schools. For example, schools, nonprofits, organizations & families order copies of The First Thirty or The Silhouette Man through this Shop for students graduating from a program or a school, Greg has written letters to those graduates. In one instance, he teamed up with a baker. Thanks to some generous sponsors, selected high school graduates in a town in Minnesota received a copy of The First Thirty, a letter of congratulations from Greg & a graduation cake from the baker. For more information on the books' connection to scholarship recipients & new graduates, click here.
(9) SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Greg has partnered on book-related virtual activities with organizations that provide students with scholarships. For example, in a town in Alaska, an organization got copies of The First Thirty for its newest scholarship honorees. As an added surprise, the students got to hear from Greg virtually. To arrange this, email us here. For more information on the books' connection to scholarship recipients & new graduates, click here.
Greg has partnered on book-related virtual activities with organizations that provide students with scholarships. For example, in a town in Alaska, an organization got copies of The First Thirty for its newest scholarship honorees. As an added surprise, the students got to hear from Greg virtually. To arrange this, email us here. For more information on the books' connection to scholarship recipients & new graduates, click here.
(10) LIBRARIES & LITERACY / ESL PROGRAMS
Greg has teamed up with libraries, literacy groups & ESL programs. First, through this Shop, they order copies of The Silhouette Man for their staff, Board, volunteers or donors -- or -- order copies of The First Thirty for students (youth &/or adults who are 5th to 12th grade reading level) they serve -- or -- order copies of The Milkshake Man for students (youth &/or adults who are Kindergarten-4th grade reading level) they serve. Then, Greg does a private Zoom Q&A for the people they gave the books. In some instances, libraries have specifically done this for a group of "future authors" or "aspiring writers.
Greg has teamed up with libraries, literacy groups & ESL programs. First, through this Shop, they order copies of The Silhouette Man for their staff, Board, volunteers or donors -- or -- order copies of The First Thirty for students (youth &/or adults who are 5th to 12th grade reading level) they serve -- or -- order copies of The Milkshake Man for students (youth &/or adults who are Kindergarten-4th grade reading level) they serve. Then, Greg does a private Zoom Q&A for the people they gave the books. In some instances, libraries have specifically done this for a group of "future authors" or "aspiring writers.
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To order copies of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
(11) INTERGENERATIONAL GROUPS
The books focus on an intergenerational bond (the main character and his grandparent). That has led to a virtual intergenerational activity. Organizations that work with people of different ages have ordered the different books & workbooks through this Shop for adults and students with different reading levels. Then, Greg has done a Zoom Q&A for that intergenerational group of adults & students to participate in together.
The books focus on an intergenerational bond (the main character and his grandparent). That has led to a virtual intergenerational activity. Organizations that work with people of different ages have ordered the different books & workbooks through this Shop for adults and students with different reading levels. Then, Greg has done a Zoom Q&A for that intergenerational group of adults & students to participate in together.
(12) GLOBAL PROGRAMS
Greg has tried to make the most of technology to take part in positive virtual experiences in other countries. For example, he did a Q&A via Zoom for university students in their final day of a communications course in Turkey. For more on Greg's experiences in other countries, click here
To order copies of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
(13) INTERNSHIPS Each semester, Greg typically has 1 or 2 off-site virtual interns from high schools or colleges around the country. During this era, he has offered extra off-site student internships. Recent off-site virtual interns have included great students from and/or attending school in Missouri, Georgia, Illinois, Oregon, Indiana, Oklahoma, Florida, Virginia, & Wisconsin. To read more about previous interns, click here.
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To order copies of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
(14) LONG DISTANCE HELLO
For groups that can't do Zoom for one reason or another, Greg has teamed up on an alternative 2 part virtual activity: (1) Group gets the books (and in some cases, the companion workbooks) through this Shop for the people they serve, and then (2) Greg provides a link to a brief (usually around 3 minutes) "Hello" video that can be played for those people before they read the books. The participating groups have included shelters for youth, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, organizations involved in foster care, nursing homes and other organizations & companies that support seniors all around the country.
For groups that can't do Zoom for one reason or another, Greg has teamed up on an alternative 2 part virtual activity: (1) Group gets the books (and in some cases, the companion workbooks) through this Shop for the people they serve, and then (2) Greg provides a link to a brief (usually around 3 minutes) "Hello" video that can be played for those people before they read the books. The participating groups have included shelters for youth, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, organizations involved in foster care, nursing homes and other organizations & companies that support seniors all around the country.
(15) FAMILY ACTIVITY
The book series shares the story in different forms for different reading levels. So, families have been able to use the books (& workbooks) as an full-family activity at home: the kids (depending on their age) read The Milkshake Man or The First Thirty while the parents read The Silhouette Man. And then, the parents & kids can do the workbooks together & discuss the story's lessons together. Greg has picked some of these families for surprise Zoom visits. To order the books & companion workbooks for your family, click here.
The book series shares the story in different forms for different reading levels. So, families have been able to use the books (& workbooks) as an full-family activity at home: the kids (depending on their age) read The Milkshake Man or The First Thirty while the parents read The Silhouette Man. And then, the parents & kids can do the workbooks together & discuss the story's lessons together. Greg has picked some of these families for surprise Zoom visits. To order the books & companion workbooks for your family, click here.
To order copies of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
(16) HOSPITALS & HEALTH CARE
Greg has teamed up with multiple hospitals on virtual activities. The hospitals have ordered the books & workbooks through this Shop for some of their child patients. In turn, Greg makes a video that specific hospital can play for the kids (& their parents) before they read the books. In other places, hospital & health care-related foundations or nonprofits have ordered copies of The Silhouette Man for staff or valued volunteers or Board Members. In turn, Greg has signed on to a private Zoom Q&A for the people they gave the books.
Greg has teamed up with multiple hospitals on virtual activities. The hospitals have ordered the books & workbooks through this Shop for some of their child patients. In turn, Greg makes a video that specific hospital can play for the kids (& their parents) before they read the books. In other places, hospital & health care-related foundations or nonprofits have ordered copies of The Silhouette Man for staff or valued volunteers or Board Members. In turn, Greg has signed on to a private Zoom Q&A for the people they gave the books.
To order copies of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
(17) BIRTHDAYS
During the pandemic, many kids were not able to have big birthday celebrations. So, families tried to come up with alternative ways to make their kids smile on their special day. As a way to help with that, when people got the books through this Shop for someone celebrating their birthday during the pandemic, Greg began adding personal birthday notes or virtual messages to go with those books. He continues to do it in certain instances now. In addition, people celebrating their own birthdays have 'paid it forward' by ordering copies for kids celebrating birthdays during the pandemic. If you want to get the books for someone's birthday, send a message here so the order can be flagged & Greg can write a note to them.
During the pandemic, many kids were not able to have big birthday celebrations. So, families tried to come up with alternative ways to make their kids smile on their special day. As a way to help with that, when people got the books through this Shop for someone celebrating their birthday during the pandemic, Greg began adding personal birthday notes or virtual messages to go with those books. He continues to do it in certain instances now. In addition, people celebrating their own birthdays have 'paid it forward' by ordering copies for kids celebrating birthdays during the pandemic. If you want to get the books for someone's birthday, send a message here so the order can be flagged & Greg can write a note to them.
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To read additional reviews
on the books, click here * For the Readers Gallery, click here * To order any of the books or workbooks, visit the Shop
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