Smells like team spirit

It’s a fact of office life that at some point you’ll probably find yourself slaving away at the computer hours after everyone has gone home to clear your in-tray paper mountain, or putting in relentless calls through your sacrificed lunch hour to bag that fantastic sales deal. But a little recognition can make all the difference between an unmotivated, unproductive and resentful workforce, whose idea of company loyalty is turning up to work every day, and employees who genuinely enjoy putting in the hard graft for the good of the company.

Incentives, rewards and teambuilding have all proved to be great ways to breathe new life into a stagnant corporate culture. Thankfully, this fact has also reached the ears of senior management, as companies in America spent over $20 billion on corporate team building events last year. It’s a win/win situation: employees see the more human side to their boss and can bond with workers they may never have even passed the time of day to in the corridor. And who wouldn’t want to spend a day out of the office doing fun, non-work related activities – not even realising that, subconsciously, you’re learning the everyday skills needed to make a firm more successful.

BMUS takes a look at some of the most popular activities companies are choosing and what they have to offer:

Booty call

What is it: Treasure Hunt.
What does it involve: Collect specific hidden artifacts using a series of clues.
What will I learn: Team strengths and weaknesses, importance of ground rules and deadlines, communication, problem-solving, defining roles, leadership, coaching, team support.

There are many variations on this simple game as it can be played indoors or outdoors, for as long as you want, with prizes set by the employer. If you don’t want the hassle of putting it together yourself, many professional organizers offer themed hunts at a predetermined location, or can set one up near to your office. If you want an event with a twist, the Scaventures Dirty Rotten Scoundrel treasure hunt encourages participants to break the rules and use every corporate dirty trick in the book to lie, cheat and scheme their way around the course. Each team is given a kit with instructions, which includes cameras and bribe money, and has to collect all the items on the list – sabotaging the other teams’ efforts along the way. They also meet ‘convicts’ on route, who get the teams to perform tasks that will help boost their score.

More information
Web: www.scaventures.com
Contact: David Goldstein
E-mail: david@teambonding.com
Tel: 1 888 398 8326 or 781 793 9700

Every which way

What is it: Orienteering.
What’s the aim? Using navigation skills to collect items and return to base.
What will I learn: Team strengths and weaknesses, importance of ground rules, communication, problem-solving, stamina, delegation, leadership, trust, team support, coaching.

Being dumped in the big outdoors with only a map, compass and a vague sense of direction to guide you back to base can be a scary prospect, which is why it’s the perfect teambuilding activity. Of course, there are clues dotted around to help you on your way, and you also get to see nature at its best as you navigate your way to each marker point. If you fancy even more of a challenge, Team Building USA offer the Canoeing Orienteering Adventure, which takes place in the swamps north of Key Largo. Teams are given life vests, treasure maps of the swampland area, GPS trackers with waypoints and a supply backpack to take onboard their canoes. The aim is to navigate the waterways to find buoy markers, which hold "treasure" or clues to the next waypoint. Teams can intersect at key points along the route to help each other beat their competitors.

More information
Web: www.TeamBuildingUSA.com
Contact: JT Taylor
E-mail: JTTaylor@TeamBuildingUSA.com
Tel: 866 351 8326

A new flame

What is it: Office Olympics.
What does it involve: Team members are pitted against each other in a number of different activities and races, such as throwing competitions and relay races.
What will I learn: Team strengths and weaknesses, coaching, coordination, stamina, delegation.

Don’t panic if you hated sports at high school, this is way more fun and has activities to suit all levels of competitor. Companies can host their own cheap and simple indoor events, such as tying chairs together for a ‘rowing’ event and a basketball style event with paper balls and trash cans. The more sophisticated outdoor events, however, can include giant inflatable objects and, well, just about anything! Outrageous Olympics offers a high-energy package, which opens with a ceremonial lighting of the Olympic Torch, followed by ten wild, relay-style competitions, such as Champagne Relay, Tug of War, Walk the Plank and Flipper Flash. The event is hosted by a professional MC and has a DJ to build a stadium atmosphere. Once all the heats and events have been scored, the olympics is closed with the traditional awards ceremony, in which the top three teams receive bronze, silver, and gold medals.

More information
Web: www.outrageousolympics.com
E-mail: info@outrageousolympics.com
Tel: 804 747 4777

Striking out

What is it: Bowling.
What does it involve: Teams are pitted against each other to knock down objects with a ball in a set number of games.
What will I learn: Coordination, stamina, team support.

It’s been around longer that your CEO would care to remember but bowling is still a great way for colleagues to bond whilst going for the kind of strike the boss would actually approve of. If you don’t mind disrupting the office, you can build your own indoor ‘alley’ using plastic bottles and a soft ball. Or, you can head down to your nearest ten-pin bowling center and let the professionals provide all the equipment. If you really want to experience some nostalgia, Event Team Inc can host a 50’s themed game. As well as bowling, staff dressed in poodle skirts and letterman sweaters lead contestants in games such as bubble gum blowing, hula hoop, limbo and Name That 50’s Tune. There’s even the option of having roller-skating waitresses to serve up your chocolate malts, burgers and beers. All games are scored, with trophies for the winners.

More information
Web: www.eventteaminc.com
Contact: Stephen Szoke
E-mail: stephen@eventteaminc.com
Tel: 1 888 889 3741 or 480 507 9140

Food for thought

What is it: Cooking
What does it involve: Improving culinary skills by creating, cooking and serving up tasty dishes without poisoning the diners!
What will I learn: Preparation, coordination, creativity, out-the-box thinking, communication, timing and accuracy, presentation skills, team support.

The one thing we all need to survive is food – it’s just that some of us are more Michael Myers than Michael Chiarello when it comes to having flare in the kitchen. Team cookery lessons are a great way to work on your culinary skills as well as learning the value of working together to run an efficient production line and keep the customers happy. Luckily, you don’t need your own kitchen to get started. There are a number of cookery schools and gourmet event organizers up and down the country that teach you to serve up a complete menu or host cook-off competitions. But if you don’t want to travel far, TeamCuisine is a portable option that can cater for over 300 would-be chefs by coming to a conference facility near you. There are various programs to suit those with a sweet or savory tooth and, better still, the chance to scoff some of the results.

More information
Web: www.teamcuisine.com
E-mail: info@teamcuisine.com
Tel: 888 308 8326 or 818 407 8883

High ambitions

What is it: Climbing/high ropes.
What’s the aim? Overcoming fears and exploring new territories.
What will I learn: Risk-taking, stamina, problem-solving, coordination, trust, coaching, communication, self-confidence, team support.

If you loved climbing trees as a kid then you’ll be in your element with high ropes, which gives participants the chance to discover the world from a new and much loftier perspective. Climbing activities vary according to each center but the event organized by Adventure Associates uses harnesses, cables, ropes and wooden beams strung 20-50ft high among trees or poles, to give participants the chance to walk across cable bridges, negotiate giant ladders or ride zip lines through the trees. It may sound like every acrophobic’s nightmare but while the perceived risk is high, the actual risk is low, and team support is actively encouraged. Facilitators are also on hand to monitor safety and help the teams recognize how each activity translates into a work context. Those who still prefer to be nearer the ground can take the low ropes course, which presents its own challenges.

More information
Web: www.adventureassoc.com
E-mail: info@adventureassoc.com
Tel: 800 987 5582

Making waves

What is it: Raft building.
What does it involve: Using limited materials to create a basic (and hopefully buoyant!) craft to race against competitors.
What will I learn: Coordination, delegation, team strengths and weaknesses, out-the-box thinking, creativity, leadership, communication, problem-solving, team support.

Those who don’t fancy getting soaking wet in the middle of a freezing cold lake might be better off trying the much drier, indoor version of this game. Small teams work together to build a small raft out of various material, such as good old-fashioned Popsicle sticks, string and cotton reels, that can propel itself across a water racetrack to the finish line. Of course, the more gung-ho amongst you can up the stakes and brave the outdoor challenge by substituting string for rope, sticks for logs and reels for barrels, and getting out there on the water yourselves to see how long it takes before your great invention is doing its best submarine impression. Leapfrog is one company offering both the indoor and outdoor versions of Ridiculous Raft Racing – just don’t expect the building materials to be quite so conventional!

More information
Web: www.teamdevelopment.com
Contact: Carrie Kuempel
Tel: 781 643 5380

Survival of the fittest

What is it: Survival course.
What does it involve: Gathering tools and using skills to complete different outdoor challenges.
What will I learn: Coordination, delegation, team strengths and weaknesses, out-the-box thinking, creativity, importance of ground rules, leadership, communication, problem-solving, trust, self-confidence, stamina, team support.

If you think being dumped in the big outdoors with only a compass and directions back to base is scary enough, try being taken to the middle of nowhere and re-enacting Survivor! OK, you may not have to resort to chomping on bugs but these multi-day field trips can involve complex activities such as building a shelter, fire-making and land navigation. Adventure Alliance offers the Texas Survivor excursion, where groups are dropped off in a remote and unfamiliar location. Each program is custom made but can include activities such as raft building, parachuting, rock climbing, food gathering, search and rescue, first aid, shelter building, and water gathering and purification. Mystery activities are also thrown into the mix to help teams score bonus points for each task. At least, if nothing else, you’ll start appreciating the plush trappings of the office a whole lot more!

More information
Web: www.adventurealliance.com
E-mail: john@adventurealliance.com
Tel: 512 864 9588

Lap it up

What is it: Racing.
What does it involve: Competing against colleagues in vehicles.
What will I learn: Coordination, out-the-box thinking, leadership, self-confidence, stamina, team support.

Things have certainly progressed since Indy racing, now it seems anything is fair game for the racetrack. Teams can still visit various specialist venues around the country to get behind the wheel of a racecar or try a few circuits in a go-kart. But if you fancy something more bizarre (and a little slower paced), some companies are offering the chance for corporate teams to race against each other on customized lawn mowers or on specially adapted, motorized beer kegs. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any weirder, Interactive Entertainment Concepts have managed to go that one step further and offer the chance for you to compete against your boss on a giant trike. If you’re really feeling flushed with success, however, you can even do a few laps on a customized potty – well, when you’ve gotta go….!

More information
Web: www.interactiveparty.com
Tel: 1 800 760 0724

Multi-tasking

What is it: Multi-activity program
What does it involve: Trying a range of different activities over a day or weekend.
What will I learn: A variety of skills, including coordination, delegation, team strengths and weaknesses, out-the-box thinking, creativity, leadership, communication, problem-solving.

If one event isn’t enough for you or you can’t make up your mind which to go for, why not retreat to an activity center where you can test your different strengths by trying your hand at a program containing multiple pursuits. Many companies offer a whole day of activities but you may also want to splash out and spread the activities over a whole weekend for the best bonding (and less tiring) experience. The Owls Corporate Learning Center combines workshops with activities such as rock climbing, fly fishing and mountaineering, all tailored to individual company needs.

More information
Web: www.owlsadventures.com
Tel: 406 551 4120 (8am-3pm MST)

Think you’ve tried all there is to offer when it comes to teambuilding events? Think again.

Ice breaker

Dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, igloo construction and ice sculpture workshops, ice fishing, sliding, and skating are just some of the activities on offer at Ice Hotel Québec-Canada. Made entirely of sparkling snow and shimmering ice, the 30,000 sq ft crystal cathedral is available next season between January 6 and April 2, 2006, with day or overnight programs on offer. Located in the community of Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier, near Downtown Québec City, the event facilities can hold up to 600 people, with room accommodation (including the ice hotel and cabins) on-site for 440 guests. It even has its own wedding chapel.

More information
Web: www.icehotel-canada.com
Contact: Maryse Cantin
E-mail: mcantin@icehotel-canada.com
Tel: 1 418 875 4881

Over a barrel

You can really get those juices flowing with the Cabernet Chaos grape-crushing competition. One team member has to climb into a huge vat of juicy grapes and frantically stomp on as many as they can while the other four team mates guide the liquid down a narrow copper trough into a small carafe, which is teetering precariously on a rocky cart that rolls backwards and forwards. The team that has vintage balancing skills and collects the most juice is also awarded the sweet taste of victory, with bonus juice added to the group with the most ingenious collection system.

More information
Web: www.totaladventures.com
Tel: 1 800 473 2686

In the saddle

Fancy yourself home on the range as a cowboy or cowgirl? Well you can get some practice in at a bonafide working cattle ranch, where there is the opportunity to acquire skills such as catching your mount, saddling up, basic riding techniques and a chance to drive the herd down the trail. The multi-day trip to Justin, Texas, will take you across varied terrain towards a makeshift corral, where you can ‘pen the doggies up’ for the night. Each participant gets a bedroll and a meal cooked on the campfire. After sleeping beneath the stars, its back on the trail to bring the herd back home.

More information
Web: www.teambuildinginc.com
E-mail: inquire@teambuildinginc.com
Tel: 610 358 1961

Office fling

Budding engineers can try their luck at frog catapulting. Not as gruesome as it sounds, the idea is for teams to design and construct a catapult with a spring mechanism that can hurl a beanbag frog the furthest. Not to get caught on the hop, they also have to design the contraption for accuracy. Each team is given an instruction sheet, tools and a certain amount of play money to buy building materials. After flinging the frog for distance, the team must then attempt to get as close as possible to a target ‘lily pad’. Recognition is also given for the best catapult design.

More information
Web: www.corpgames.com
E-mail: info@corpgames.com
Tel: 925 249 1081

Color of success

Be inspired and get in touch with your inner Picasso by painting your own ceramic design. Color Me Mine has stores across the country where you can choose from over 500 ceramic pieces. After pencil sketching the design you want, or choosing one of over 25,000 computer graphics, you can then select your underglazes and colors and get painting. As well as being a more peaceful activity it also encourages patience, individuality and creativity. Once your design is complete, it is fired in kilns on the premises so you can take your masterpiece home.

More information
Web: www.colormemine.com
Tel: 888 265 6764 or 818 505 2100