While every group that comes to Lakeside Retreats enjoys fresh air, beautiful vistas,
affordable rates, and myriad activities, many of our facilities and features appeal to specific kinds
of groups. We also have lots of ideas to help groups plan something really special. If you don't see
your particular group mentioned here, please contact us for info and ideas on how a Lakeside Retreat
can be designed for you. Our goal is to create a memorable experience for all.
Some Info about Team-Building
If you aren't already sold on the concept of planned activities as a way to build communication and group
skills, well, read on.
What is Team-Building?
In a true team-building activity participants work together to face "challenges" and complete tasks.
General Features of Team-Building
Typically outdoors and outside of "the box" (in a different environment
than the group usually functions)
Facilitated by a professional who guides the group through the activity but
does not "do" the activity or solve challenges
Communication and teamwork are intrinsic to the activity. Rather than talking
about how to build these skills, participants are exercising their use of these skills at all times during
the activity
Some activities often require individuals to move out of their comfort zones
(ever ride down a 200' zip line?). In doing so people often come away with the idea that limitations can
actually be self-imposed: facing these limitations in a non-typical, non-threatening environment helps
individuals and teams to think about and deal with similar challenges in their everyday lives.
Some activities require a certain degree of perceived "risk" (never unsafe!).
A team-building program teaches that reasonable risks are important to break through barriers and bring about
real change – this applies as much to a high school football team trying to win a championship trophy as
it does to a group of corporate managers trying to increase company sales.
The atmosphere is non-threatening and often non-competitive
Excitement, humor, challenge, and fun
The most common type of team-building activity is the Ropes Course, sometimes called a Challenge
Course or Adventure Course. A Ropes Course is a series of outdoor stations (called elements) in which group members
must complete an activity or goal. Elements can be as "simple" as a Blind Mans Walk (helping a team member to walk along
a low rope while blindfolded) or as complex as a Tightrope Walk (walking across a rope suspended 20' in the air with
full safety gear and your teammates spotting you on safety lines). Most of the Lakeside Retreats properties have a
Ropes Course on site.
If a Ropes Course doesn't float your boat, there are many other types of team-building activities that can be designed
to meet your specific interests. Some ideas:
Scavenger Hunts. Can be customized to include problem-solving
(figuring out the items to be found first from clues and then going out and finding them)
Steeplechase Challenges. Steeplechases are similar to an obstacle course
but each element is typically completed by a different person on the team, rather than everyone doing the
whole race in succession. Each team must negotiate who does what up front before the race is run. Problem-solving
exercises can be incorporated, as well as crazy and fun stuff, such as ending the race with a no-hands,
pie-eating contest.
Field Games
Canoe Races
And more
All these activities are fun and thought-provoking. They can be designed to be competitive or
non-competitive, depending on your inclination and your goals.
