By Mark Hojegian
We understand that flying your entire company out to Colorado for a meeting brings a ton of pressure and expense. The agenda is jam-packed, and you need to get through the agenda to get a return on your investment. But this doesn’t mean that meeting participants are not allowed to leave the meeting room and have a great time.
Colorado is a very beautiful place, and we feel it’s a shame to travel out here for a meeting and not get a chance to explore the surroundings. Plus, it feels great to give your employees a fun reward for working so hard. That’s where team building comes in.
Embrace your immediate surroundings – Some of the most successful programs happen right outside (or even inside) the conference room; you certainly don’t need to travel far.
- Exploring a ski resort or city on a GPS Orienteering adventure allows you to take in the sites and fresh air.
- Competing in an Urban Amazing Race highlights the hotspots of downtown that you would never see on a lunch break.
- And if you really want to get off-site, put together a Road Rally where vehicles pick up the group and take them to explore local historical sites and parks.
Collaborate on something fun and inspiring – The engaging team building programs of today are designed for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. You don’t need a physical ropes course to build a cohesive team. You simply need to allow your employees to cooperate on an activity that has nothing to do with work!
Consider charitable team building – A growing trend over the past few years is charitable team building. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has resulted in many requests for opportunities to give back to local communities.
- Building and donating bikes for local children gives them freedom and confidence. Donating nonperishable items to local food banks is a lifesaver in some communities.
- Showing up at the Denver Rescue Mission with toothbrushes, soap and other everyday items certainly puts a smile on a homeless person’s face.
- Providing a child in need with clothes, backpacks and school supplies is an amazing feeling!
Check in with your hotel and resort planners and ask them for team building suggestions. Most times, they have a preferred vendor that knows the area and has delivered great results with past clients. Some team-building vendors will even go so far as to create custom programs that piggyback on your conference agenda and topics.
At the end of the day, whether you are engaging in a rugged Colorado-inspired adventure or giving back to local charities, it’s simply nice to spend time with your coworkers and not have to actually work for a half day!
Mark Hojegian has been producing, managing and operating team-building events with CBST Adventures for over 10 years. CBST Adventures provides team experiences in every town and resort in Colorado.