For every event and activity, whether it is a “getting-to-know-you” type of function or team intervention that engages participants, the goal is the same - to create a fun and memorable experience.
clients are seeking,” noted Backal. “We also pay attention to what's hot in the enter- tainment world. For example, we have an activity called Intergalactic Adventure in which the participants must save the galaxy from an alien invasion. Teamwork, trust and open communication are required for success.”
Other themes include the building of cakes to replicate team values; discover- ing the martial arts and applying concepts such as chi (energy) and yin and yang to the workplace; making movies using cam- corders and an assortment of props; and solving a murder by using blood test kits and finger print analysis.
When people are traveling an event from around the country to a single location, Backal noted that planners often request Team Builders Plus’ GeoQuest High-Tech Treasure Hunts. “By navigating to points using hand-held GPS units, individuals get to know each other while discovering their destination city.”
“One of our most requested programs is our Wheels for the World. For this event, participants build bikes for children by earning the bicycle parts through fun team building activities. The highlight comes at the end when, unbeknownst to the attendees, we open the doors and in rush the kids. You can just imagine the looks on their faces when the kids arrive
and are awarded brand new bikes,” he continued.
For every event and activity, whether it is a “getting-to-know-you” type of function or team intervention that engages partici- pants, the goal is the same - to create a fun and memorable experience. “We want people to go back to the workplace the next day, still laughing and talking about what they did at the team building event,” said Backal.
One popular team program created by Team Builders Plus is its “Taking Flight with DISC” session. For this program, Team Builders Plus has taken a simple behav- ioral styles model and turned it into an interactive stand-up comedy routine that leaves people feeling entertained and sometimes even transformed.
“Based on Merrick Rosenberg and Daniel Silvert's book, ‘Taking Flight!: Master the Four Behavioral Styles and Transform Your Career, Your Relationships, Your Life,’ this session teaches people about themselves and their coworkers in a way that nothing has done before,” said Backal.
Team Builders Plus also offers an Adventure Series that Backal said has allowed them to provide theme-based team building events around the country. “While each of these programs can be conducted in a conference room, there's nothing like
holding a Battleship
Adventure on the deck of the Battleship New Jersey; Intergalactic Adventure at The Franklin Institute; Deep Water Adventure at the Adventure Aquarium; or a Jungle Adventure at the Philadelphia Zoo.”
“These activities are scalable,” he added, “which means that we can conduct them for twenty participants or for 500. And the best part is that the participants are engaged in non-stop action, even in a room with 1,000 other participants.”
Let Them Entertain You
John Dwyer and Kathy Reed, owners of Kathy Reed Productions and Murder on Cue, also produce a wide array of team building programs, as well as a host of fun and entertaining activities that keep atten- dees engaged and wanting more.
“Fun and laughter are really important components of an event,” said Reed. “After all, if people aren’t having fun, they won’t be engaged in the process. But if there is laughter and they are having a good time, they’ll pay more attention to the message and follow the agenda more closely.”
When it comes to choosing entertain- ment, she noted, “A lot of groups are going with food-based programs. Food-related events are very hot right now, in part because of the success of the Food Network and food shows on other cable networks.”
“We offer several of our own culinary events and have seen other companies producing great ideas of their own in this genre,” noted Dwyer. “We have our popular Foodie Game Show that is a big hit, while some groups want to engage in competi- tions like chili cook-offs and pizza making challenges. Then there are those who want to enjoy a wine tasting or wine appreciation event.”
“In addition to food themes,” added Reed, “we’re getting a lot of requests for casino nights and, of course, murder mysteries. Murder mysteries are as popular as ever, and they make for a fun, engaging and interactive experience for the audience.”
Regarding casino nights, Dwyer said that Kathy Reed Productions can put its own spin on the event with what they call their “Team Casino” program. Arranged similar- ly to a traditional casino night, it differs in that the group is broken into teams who then compete to finish with the most chips or tokens by the end of the evening. Each team strategizes and plays different games to try to earn the most, and at the end of the event, team members pool their winnings to see how they “stack up” against the competition.
“For the Team Casino event, groups don’t have to strictly play games of chance,” observed Dwyer. “They can earn chips or tokens through electronic trivia games and add to their team total that way also.”
The winning team is presented with a tro- phy, and the company holding the event can even add a “social consciousness” ele- ment by matching the winning team’s
Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 85
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