What is Teambuilding? |
| Teambuilding refers to the process of using interactive excersises and follow-up discussions to build a greater sense of collaboration and trust between individuals within a group (see also Group Dynamics). |
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Teambuilding is done using problem-solving tasks, presented through ground initiatives (see below), ropes course elements and other group games. Usually these tasks are not able to be completed without collaborative effort. The most effective teambuilding requires careful preparation:
- Individuals within the group should be selected carefully, based on the overall aims of the teambuilding retreat
- The group's competencies should be assessed by the facilitator in preliminary 'test activities'
- Group goals should be well established prior to each activity and the overall teambuilding session
- Each activity should be debriefed, with reflective input from the facilitator and the group participants
- Skills should build on each other from activity to activity
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What Are The Skills That Can Be Developed Using Teambuilding? |
Teambuilding is an effective way to help groups and individuals within groups develop interpersonal skills:
- Communicating - speaking & listening - taking turns while speaking, speaking clearly, listening carefully, comprehending and being comprehendable, initial ideas produce more advanced ideas
- Participating - the activities usually will not work unless everyone participates in the team.
- Persuading - exchanging, defending and rethinking ideas
- Sharing - sharing leadership roles, sharing ideas, sharing 'time in the spotlight'
- Respecting & Understanding - considering each member of the team an equal player, with opportunity to suggest ideas, to be heard, and to participate, understanding other members of the group and their ideas and attitudes
Leading & Following - knowing when to take the lead, knowing when to follow, giving opportunities for both, knowing the strengths of a good leader and a good follower
- Encouraging - helping others achieve goals and contribute to the team, no one left behind
- Trusting - helping team members rely on each other, helping team members to be trustworthy
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What are the Different Types of Activities? |
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Good facilitators run 'test activities' to assess how the team functions, and then manages activities from there. Any of these activities can be tailored to use with children, teens, young adults and corporate groups.
Teambuilding activities are typically categorized as either being ground initiatives or ropes course activities, the latter also being known as 'adventure-based' teambuilding.
Ground initiatives can be further subdivided as:
- Icebreakers - primarily designed to help participants learn about each other and feel comfortable with each other. Common examples include Memory Circle and Commonalities.
- Deinhibitizers - primarily designed to break down barriers between individuals and help them work together. Common examples include Impulse and Screaming Toes.
- Trust Building Activities - primarily designed to develop trust between group members. Common examples include Trust Walk and Yurt Circle.
- Problem Solving Activities - primarily designed to develop problem-solving skills and communication skills. Common examples include Human Knot and Catch the Dragon.
- Large Group Activities - primarily designed to break the ice and learn something about each other in the large group setting.
Common examples include Smaug's Jewels and People to People.
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What Are The Extra Benefits of Teambuilding? |
In addition to all the benefits above, teambuilding provides group members to learn about each other, observe each other and work together in a new setting. Each of the participants starts in neutral territory - on equal footing. They must work together to achieve goals. They solve the problems themselves. They develop confidence. They build on their skills. They learn about themselves and each other without realizing they are learning. They have a ton of fun and they spend the experience focused on each other. |
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What sets Berkshire Outdoor Center Apart From its Competitors? |
Tailorable Programs - The key difference between the Berkshire Outdoor Center and other outdoor centers is that we tailor our programs for every group that attends. While our package still include the major focal points - Teambuilding & Group Dynamics; Nature & the Environment; Recreation & Adventure - any of our activities can be added to any of our packages. For example, a few schools that attend our fall programs prefer the Teambuilding & Group Dynamics focus, but like to add beaver ecology (nature) and kayaking (adventure) to the activities for their students. Full Listing of Activities Offered by Berkshire Outdoor Center
World-Class Facilities - The Berkshire Outdoor Center operates world-class facilities in a gorgeous rustic setting in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts.
- Our ropes courses are state-of-the-art and are located on each of our two beautiful camps - Camp Becket and Chimney Corners.
- Our brand new $5.5 million Chimney Corners Dining Hall is the perfect venue for meals and meeting spaces. One of our three climbing towers is even located inside this magnificent building!
- Our rustic Camp Becket Dining Hall overlooks the beautiful Rudd Pond for simply gorgeous views.
- We have three spectacular ponds, and we own all the land around each of them, so activities on the ponds are exclusively those of the Berkshire Outdoor Center.
- Our camps are on 1,350 acres of forested conservation lands. The property includes an extensive wetlands system and even a pristine peat bog - the perfect venues for Environmental Education programs.
- Our accommodation includes more than 70 rustic cabins arranged into 7 villages - with over 700 beds and four winterized lodges with up to 165 beds.
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Exceptional International Staff - Our instructors are the best asset to our programs. A diverse range of staff from a variety of countries return year after year to run our Outdoor Education programs. The extensive cultural diversity and interesting perspective each of them brings to our organization and to our guests is truly an exceptional contribution to the programs. And our seasoned veterans are the best staff in their field, passionate about living and working here in the Berkshires. |
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