Blue Trail Breakthrough - by Bob Berk & Ari Berk (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Blue Trail Breakthrough is a leadership fable set in a fictional camp that explores the intricate process of building high-performing teams. Using the innovative Triangle Model, the book presents a flexible framework for aligning team efforts, fostering accountability, enhancing communication, and building trust. Using this model, teams learn to engage with tension, embrace responsibility, and cultivate clarity, authenticity, and integrity. Ultimately, the compelling narrative serves as a model for any team wishing for a new way to tackle challenges, grow together, and achieve collective success.

Maria had always loved camp. She began attending Camp Starry Sky as a young girl and continued as a counselor in her teenage years. She progressed to the rank of assistant director at Starry Sky before, with the financial and moral support of her mentors, acquiring the prestigious Camp Blue Trail to run as a director herself. At Blue Trail, Maria encounters an eclectic group of leaders and counselors who, though passionate, have overseen a sharp decline in the camp's enrollment. Maria must balance respect for the existing community and culture of the camp with the new ideas and strategies she wishes to bring to the table.

To Maria and the others on the Blue Trail team, camp is more than just a fun summer in the woods. It is an opportunity to build critical leadership and social skills, to make lifelong bonds, and to grow as a multifaceted individual.

Review Quotes

As someone who works tirelessly to promote respectful workplaces, I found Blue Trail Breakthrough to be an invaluable resource. The emphasis on trust, communication, and healthy conflict resolution directly aligns with the core principles of creating a positive and productive work environment. This book is a must-read for HR professionals and anyone committed to building thriving teams.

Catherine Mattice, Founder & CEO, Civility Partners

Bob and Ari Berk have written a book that provides a master class level of healthy team communication. Don't be fooled by the beautiful camp setting, this is more than a feel-good story. Leaders, team members and everyone else can learn about how to communicate better, support others, and simply be better humans by reading this book.

Lisa Maxwell, Director of Training, National Conflict Resolution Center

Blue Trail is a fantastic resource for teaching concrete, critical leadership skills to emerging leaders. It embeds complex leadership strategies into a story that draws you, providing a great read and a powerful learning experience.

Brad Lupien, President & CEO of arc Experience

Effective leadership is as much art as it is science. Bob Berk and Ari Berk promote a formula that embraces both. This is an easy to read and digest guide for group leaders striving to elevate their approach.

Mike Cohen, Former Owner and Director, Camp Timberlane for Boys