I received a message the other day and it made me smile from ear to ear!

Yes we do still get out on the water, not much in the winter though: too cold for the kids. We have clocked up plenty of hours since you taught us the basics. We have paddled north and south of Ireland, we paddled with Fungi the dolphin in Dingle bay the other year. We have taken our boats to France to paddle the Dordogne, the Ardeche and the Lot. To the lake district in England a couple of times. To Sweden to paddle Dalsland lakes. To Norway to paddle the fjords (with whales). Last year we were in Scotland paddling Lomond, Glen Affric and many others. Hopefully taking a ferry to Denmark this summer and spend some time paddling in Sweden again. We love to wild camp but you have to get away from here to get a bit of ‘wild’.

I guess you should feel a sense of pride that sharing your talents has brought many years of fun and satisfaction to our wee family. (wee in stature not wee in number: we have 4 kids now)

I will have to send you some photos of some of our trips. I will also send you some photos of our tree climbing.

Regards,

Ben

I had taken Ben and his wife Heather for some canoe lessons about 6 years ago – they wanted to learn some skills so they could take their kids canoeing.

I smiled about all the adventures they have enjoyed since and can think fondly of the places they have mentioned.  I have canoed on some of the rivers and lakes mentioned and others are still on my to do. 

I smiled even more when Ben mentioned the sense of pride I must feel knowing that I have brought many years of fun and satisfaction to Ben and his “wee family”.

Ben is right, I do feel proud and I am still smiling some 24 hours after reading this. 

I often talk about the positive impact I make on people through the activities I deliver.  I know this when I meet people on the street and they still remember my name and eagerly start recounting their adventures with me.  I know it when I receive emails like the one from Ben.  And I know it from how long it takes to say goodbye at the end of an adventure. especially when it is goodbye until the next time.

Yes, I love Adventure but I love seeing people challenging themselves, pushing the limits of their comfort zones, experiencing new activities, learning and having fun!  There is so much more to Adventure than meets the eye!

Hears to 2012 and many more positive experiences!

Stephen

Coasteering is the fastest growing Adventure Sport in the UK and we are at the forefront of its development.

Our Team have been delivering Combined Rock and Water Activities for over 15 years and have explored miles and miles of our coastline in the pursuit of finding the best coasteering venues for our customers.

We are keen to share our knowledge with other practitioners and those who are interested in the delivery of Coasteering. We are also keen to learn from all those who attend this weekend – this is a best practice workshop not a course.

We are going to have an immense time jumping off cliffs, swimming and scrambling and we are going to learn – together.

When is it?

23rd – 24th September 2011

Day 1 Times: 9.00am – 7.00pm
Day 2 Times: 9.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: £180 per person

Accommodation and catering is not included

Participants must have logged a minimum of 5 coasteering trips before joining this workshop. If you are less experienced you may be allowed to participant following an assessment of your experience and ability via telephone.

At this level we expect participants to have their own equipment but are happy to supply whatever is necessary.

For more information or to book your place call 0845 5213145 or email info@theadventureteam.co.uk

Did you know that one of the primary aims of The Adventure Team is to Make Adventure Accessible?

Admittedly, that possibly sounds like a load of jargon and idealism… But we recently spent some time examining what we do and how we do it and we are pleased to say that it is still one of our primary aims and we are even more pleased to say that it is an aim that we achieve day in and day out!

Making

- the activity of somebody who makes something

- something that causes somebody’s success or progress

Adventure

- an undertaking involving uncertainty and risk

- the participation or willingness to participate in things that involve uncertainty and risk

Accessible

- easy to enter or reach physically

- able to be obtained, used, or experienced without difficulty

Adventure has many different levels and these are dictated by the individual participating – what one person thinks is really adventurous may feel very tame for another.  I think bungee jumping is nuts and at the same time I know a bungee jumper who thinks canoeing down a white water river is nuts – doesn’t figure, huh?

Anyway, back to the point – making adventure accessible. Adventure activities are “good for the soul”. They can help us move out of our “comfort zone” which teaches us about ourselves and they can help us work more effectively as part of a team. There are lots of other reasons but our all time favourite is that they are fun and anything fun is bound to be good for you – within reason of course!!!

With so many benefits we think it is a shame that there are people in this world who will never manage to explore their own sense of adventure. Now it must be known that we are very realistic and are in no position to begin bringing adventure around the world (yet) but we can do our own best…

We provide top quality instructors and facilitators who are dedicated to providing adventure experiences that will be remembered by the participants and for all the right reasons.

We make sure to meet your own individual needs even if you come to us as part of a group

We provide a wide range of activities and the level of adventure in each activity can be altered to suit YOU! All the activities are suitable for all ages and abilities and we even have some indoor activities.

We will do our best to provide activities that meet your budget.

We have a base and a mobile service so we can come to you.

Be sure to let us know if you need help accessing adventure!

There are many reasons why a company, sports team, charity or youth organisation would consider participating in a Team Building Event:

1. Get to know each other and bond together

2. Make the workplace more enjoyable

3. Energise, motivate and inspire the team

4. Help participants to learn more about themselves as individuals as well as a group (strengths and weaknesses)

5. Identify and utilise the strengths of team members

6. Improve communication

7. Get everyone "singing from the same hymn sheet"

8. Improve team productivity

9. Practice effective collaboration with team members

All of this can be achieved through a variety of Energisers, Team Tasks, Problem Solving, Team Games, Trust Exercises and Team Challenges. And all of these Team Building activities are designed to develop “Team” members and their ability to work together effectively.

But what is the purpose of Team Building activities?

Team Building activities assist teams in becoming cohesive units of individuals that can effectively work together to complete tasks.

Our Team Building Events use lots of energisers and games (at the beginning of an event to focus and connect a group, in the middle of an event as a transition point from one activity to another, and at the end of an event to leave the group with a stimulating experience) as well more intricate and novel tasks that are designed for specific purposes such as looking at communication or collaboration.

By combining lots of Team Building activities we can create complex Team Building Events that last anywhere from a few hours right through to a few days!

Would my team benefit from a Team Building Event?

YES!

Team Building Events are useful for all kinds of teams.

We have Events that are designed for small teams and large teams. Some Events are designed for new teams while others focus on specific areas that an established Team would like to work on. It is worth noting that Team Building Events are suitable for all age groups and we take care to ensure we pitch our Events at the right level.

If you would like more information on our Team Building Events feel free to give us a call on 028 8164 8390 or email info@theadventureteam.co.uk.

Our next post is an insight in to the transfer of learning.

I have to admit that if I was sitting in my office right now listening to the howling wind and driving rain I would not be overly excited about going outside to deliver a Team Building Event. Indeed, I am sure anyone driving to that Team Building Event would be asking themselves “what on earth am I doing here today? It’s going to be cold, wet and miserable…”

Geographically we are very lucky – we have plenty of rain, the lakes and rivers are rarely dry and we have lush green countryside. That’s why we have so many visitors from around the globe. But that doesn’t make the idea of going outside in the pouring cold rain for Team Building any more attractive.

That’s why we have indoor facilities at our base in Gortin! We know that you don’t want to be wet and cold (equals miserable); we don’t want to be either! We know that the weather can affect each and everyone of us so we have almost 20 indoor events! With many more on the way!!!

People learn at times when they are under pressure and while adverse weather provides this we believe that Team Building Events can do this regardless of the weather. Hence our efforts in providing indoor Team Building Events that will promote fun, learning and camaraderie!

Did you know?

We organise alternative venues close to you to save you time travelling!          

We have developed indoor activities that can last as little as 30 minutes!

We can provide events anywhere in Ireland, North or South!

We provide a complimentary CD of images after every event!

The 5 most popular indoor events of 2009, so far:

Archery – Get on target and try your hand at this age old sport

The Apprentice: “You’re hired!” – Undertake a range of Team Challenges to see “who’s fired” and “who’s hired!”

When in Rome – Pit your wits against the Senators in a bid to build the greatest Roman Empire ever

School Sports Days – Take a walk down memory lane and enjoy what had to be the best day of the school year!

Team Drum – Beat out new energy, new learning and new life!

The Fashion Fiasco ­- Form your own “Fashion House” and put on “a show to remember…”

If you are interested in finding out more about our indoor Team Building Events for businesses, schools and youth organisation then please call us on 028 8164 8390 or email info@theadventureteam.co.uk

Over the years I have witnessed poor provision of adventure activities in Northern Ireland and further afield.  This has been in the delivery of Team Building Events, School’s programmes and Residential’s for Youth Groups as well as during the booking process…

So, I decided that I would make use of these experiences which is why I follow these simple rules when it comes to doing what I do!

• We provide top quality instructors and facilitators who are dedicated to providing adventure experiences that will be remembered by the participants, and for all the right reasons.
• We are not a “conveyor belt centre” where we need to get lots of people through the centre to cover our overheads! 
• Even if you come to us as part of a group we make sure to meet your own individual needs.  A common example is how we can provide water based activities and can still include non-swimmers!
• We provide a wide range of activities and the level of adventure in each activity can be altered to suit YOU! All the activities are suitable for all ages and abilities and we even have a wide range of indoor activities.
• We know that not everyone has enough spare cash to get out and enjoy themselves and we will do our best to provide activities that meet your budget.
• We have a base but if you can’t travel to us for some reason we can come to you.

And although all of that sounds like a sales pitch please believe me when I say it is all true – test me if you don’t believe me.