Are you fed up with the same old Christmas Capers?

Are you looking for something different to do with your work colleagues before Christmas?

If so we have a brilliant, affordable Christmas Adventure that doesn’t involve jumping off cliffs or racing down mountains!

Our City Centre Christmas Treasure Hunt’s are ideal for organisations that want to spend 2 –3 hours having some fun with each other before the annual Christmas Party!  They make a brilliant Team Building Event and work equally as well as Team Bonding Experience.

Our Treasure Hunt’s are available in all major town’s and cities throughout Ireland with the following being our top 10 destinations:

• Belfast
• Derry/Londonderry
• Donegal Town
• Letterkenny
• Dublin
• Galway
• Cork
• Newry
• Dundalk
• Bangor

What you get:

• A Team Pack for each team that includes clues, camera and Top Secret tools!
• A CD of images from your event!
• A Christmas Celebration for your Team that will have them talking for weeks!
• Spot prizes!

Optional extra’s include:

• Whisky or wine tasting
• Visits to local tourism hot spots
• Team T-shirts

And with prices starting from as low as £20 per person this really is a cost effective team building event!

If you would like to book please feel free to email info@theadventureteam.co.uk or call 0845 5213145

Some photos of a recent Treasure Hunt around Derry/Londonderry!

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

Adventure Team Challenge

Your Team is randomly split in to sub-groups that compete against each other for points in a series of energisers, team games, team tasks and archery. The points are used to purchase raft building equipment in the afternoon and the challenge will finish with a raft race.

Usual times: 10.00am – 4.00pm

Cost: £25 per person (rate applies to delivery in Gortin only)

X Challenge

Your Team is randomly split in to sub-groups that compete against each other in an adventure style race that will cover a mixture of terrains; therefore involving activities such as running, orienteering, raft building and archery. The sub-groups will face a number of Team Building activities along the way that will challenge them physically, mentally and practically.

Usual times: 10.00am – 4.00pm

Cost: £30 per person (rate applies to delivery in Gortin only)

Challenge Xtreme

Your Team is randomly split in to sub-groups that compete against each other in an adventure style race that will cover a mixture of terrains; therefore involving activities such as running, orienteering, coasteering and abseiling. The sub-groups will face a number of Team Building activities along the way that will challenge them physically, mentally and practically.

Usual times: 10.00am – 4.00pm

Venue: North Coast or the Mournes

Cost: £40 per person

If your Team is ready for a Challenge call us on 0845 521 3145 or email info@theadventureteam.co.uk

As many of you may have noticed we have been running a 1/2 price sale which we have promoted through our Facebook Page.  And because it has been going so well we have decided to extend it until the end of January for all of you that subscribe to our newsletter.

Some of the ideas that have been booked already are:

Kids Birthday Party – 2 activities over 2 hours.  Choose from Archery, River Scrambling, Treasure Hunt, Team Games and Orienteering.  Standard rate is £150 for 15 participants and now you can get it for only £75!  (We can even come to you!)

Coasteering – this is one of our most popular activities by far!  Now you can book a session for only £23.50!  A definite bargain for those of you that want a good challenge!  Want to know more about coasteering? Click here

Kayaking – How about a 2.5 for you and the family?  In our sale you can book 4 places for the price of 2 – that’s £50 instead of £100!

Archery – Our 1 hour introductions to archery are extremely popular and at only £5 per person instead of £10 we think they will be even more popular.  Minimal number of 8 required for this.

Team Building – Does your team need a boost?  A full day of Team Building for 20 staff for £500 instead of £1000!

Don’t know what you want and don’t want to miss this offer?

That’s ok!  We have had families, individuals and youth organisations booking vouchers for this summer as well.  They don’t know what dates they want or what activities but they will now get them for 1/2 price.

If you would like to book some 1/2 price activities give us a call on 028 8164 8390 and if you have subscribed to our newsletter they are yours

If we were to play a game of word association and started with the word “Team” it is highly likely that the next word we hear would be something to do with sport – football, rugby, cricket or whatever…  That’s because the most obvious team that everyone knows about is a sports team.

In a sports team each member is working along with his/her team mates to beat the team they are playing.  They train together, they play together, they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, they have fun together and when everything is going well they are able to fulfil the strategies of the manager and coach and win!

The Team knows who their opposition is and they have very clear goals. And although there may be personality quirks and differences the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

But how does a Team get to this level?

There are many strategies that the Management of the Team need to put in place such as regular practice and training, friendly matches, develop and learn new strategies and practice being a team.

The latter is where we have been able to help Team’s reach their goals.  In the 18 months since we opened our doors we have worked with a wide range of male and female sports teams – Rugby, Football, Hurley and Gaelic Football. 

We know that the Team’s we work with have had a rewarding experience that should stand them well in their efforts to become the champs in their league!  But sometimes it is difficult for us to measure the real impact our Team Building programmes have on the people and teams we have worked with. 

That said, sometimes it is hard to miss the positive impact we have made – especially when it is in the press!

Big congratulations must go to Tyrone Minor’s who won the Ulster GAA Championship last Sunday.  We worked with them earlier this year and were recently told:

“…they had a fantastic time… The Adventure Team had a big part to play in their achievements!!!”

Now that really does prove that what we can help Sport’s Teams reach the top of their game!

Congratulations once again lads and good luck with the All Ireland!

We all know what it is like when things go wrong. When we are up against it and everything we are doing seems to be hitting the wall. We feel stressed. We worry. We can’t sleep? Sometimes we can’t even eat!

So why is it, that when we take groups Raft Building and their Rafts sink they are in no way put off by the experience? Why do they not get caught up in the feeling of failure? What makes them continue with the activity? In fact, why do they even try and swim their Rafts across the lake instead of turning back?

The answer may be simple – is it because they are enjoying what they are doing!

They have already connected with each other through the team building games and challenges we have led them through. They have learned that not being able to do something is NOT failure. They have learned that working together is fun and should be enjoyed even when the best plans just aren’t working out.

It really is amazing how a safe environment, free from judgement, can help people enjoy new experiences. By providing activities that are pitched at the right level we help people challenge themselves physically, practically and mentally.

But there is more to it than the careful selection of activities! It’s all about developing trust and not just between us and the group members. Trust among the group members is crucial. They must know that they can rely on each other and that they are all in the same boat (pardon the pun).

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

Today a local Gaelic Athletic Association brought all 45 of their under 13’s for a reward at the end of a very busy season!

Over the course of the day the kids, aged 6 – 13, all got to try River Scrambling (see the video), Archery and Team Games.  They were split in to three groups and each group got just over an hour on each activity making it a very energetic morning.  The leaders of the group had also arranged to borrow our BBQ and had a feast of burgers and hotdogs waiting for the kids finishing their activities.

For many of these kids it was their first time experiencing activities of this nature; indeed, two of the group were heard excitedly discussing how this was the best thing they had ever done in their lives!  Which proves that it is very easy to provide life long memories just by combining a little bit of imagination with some freedom and adventure…

This fantastic adventure only costs £15 per person and can be delivered at any time of the year as we have indoor facilities for Archery and Team Games and when it comes to River Scrambling nobody minds a little rain!