BUILD-A-BOAT
The byline for this program is: Your crew should build your boat that will allow you to row to your victory. Every participant is expected to use this byline as his or her mantra for the team-bonding exercise.
Program Details
This program is designed for a group size of between 10 to 120 people who are divided into teams, with each team having between 4 to 8 team members. The program is planned to last for about 3 hours. With regards to space requirements, this program basically requires a calm water body such as a lake, bay, or pool; with the space at the shore of the water body being used by team members to build their boats. The program features an optional debrief which is provided by a trained facilitator who highlights the strengths of the team, as well as emphasizes the importance of the team members working together.
Ideal Use
- Annual meetings.
- Project motivation.
- Team Retreat.
- Company celebrations.
Benefits and Results
- Develops communication skills.
- Promotes collaboration.
- Fosters brainstorming and free expression of ideas.
- Fosters team spirit and celebrates team success.
- Enhances resource management skills.
- Boost leadership skills.
Boat Building
The build-a-boat team bonding exercise is designed to provide an unparalleled swim-or-sink experience. The teams collaborate, and sometimes compete, in this raft regatta to build sea-worthy vessels. This allows the teams to build trust and express their creativity while engaging in a fun exercise.
In this exercise, the participants are grouped into project teams. Each team is then required to build a seaworthy raft using a limited supply of materials which includes ropes, tarps, PVC pipes, and related inflatable materials. Teams collaborate to create unique team flags, and when crafting paddles for their rafts. The plans of each team, as well as team collaborations, are documented, and then assessed and evaluated for level of brainstorming, creativity, and safety; and then rewarded appropriately, including for the skills and sportsmanship showed during the exercise.
Once each vessel is afloat, it should be able to carry all members of the team while displaying the team flag; and team members must paddle the vessel with their captain directing the course that the team must navigate before returning to the shore.
Each team will be judged and rated appropriately using a set of criteria that includes most attractive raft, fastest raft, and best team flag. Depending on the quality of the raft built, and level of collaboration among team members, each team can expect its members to paddle across the water body with relative ease, or to get soaked with water, and in the extreme sink in the water body. This safe adventure allows the participant to nurture team spirit through levity and entertaining experiences.
Build A Boat
