Team Building Activities -- Orienteering - Upd Sept. 23, 2004

Julee's Gorge Tours has been offering this unique and inspiring program for the past two years. Corporate clients include Nike, Tektronix, Wells Fargo and Household Credit to name just a few! You can meet the orienteering instructors, and read their credentials, on the guide page of our website www.gorgetours.com.

TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITY

Orienteering Land Navigation - Map and Compass

Are you looking to increase your team's productivity and enhance employee relations while learning a practical new skill? Do you want your staff to get to know one another better while having fun? If so, this activity may be perfect for your group!

After an interactive 90-minute orienteering class, and an icebreaker or two, instructors take the group on either a hike, scavenger hunt, or snowshoe adventure so that participants can use their new skills, compasses, and topo maps. JGT works with the event planner to create teams and incorporate challenges based on the number of participants, group goals, and time frame. JGT provides instructors, maps, compasses, information packets, props and prizes. The cost ranges from $85-$160/person depending on numerous variables such as transportation, gear, meal options, number of participants, compasses and prizes.

Scavenger hunt description: JGT takes groups to either Rooster Rock State Park - exit 25 off I-84 in the Columbia River Gorge, Champoeg Park in St. Paul, OR, or Toll Bridge Park just south of Hood River. JGT can scout a course anywhere as long as there is advance notice. The event could take place at your corporate campus or a nearby park. Your group can be divided into as many teams as necessary. The most popular scavenger hunt is Pilot Down.

PILOT DOWN

Mission: Your team's pilot has gone down behind enemy lines and your mission is to work as a team to find and rescue him/her before the competition rescues their pilot. Teams are given approximately 45 minutes to save their pilot. They must use their newly learned orienteering skills and creativity while working as a team to find their pilot in the quickest fashion. Prizes are given to the winning team(s).

What will participants learn during the orienteering course?

• How to "stay found" in the backcountry
• Ten essentials for outdoor recreation
• How to use navigational tools including a topographical map and compass
• Maps: direction, scale, elevation contours and coordinates
• How to work together as a team to achieve a goal

Suggested follow-up questions:

1. Who became the 'leader' of the group and why?
2. Did you learn anything new about your teammates?
3. Did you learn anything new about yourself?
4. What was the most challenging part of the scavenger hunt and why?
5. Did you enjoy learning this new skill?
6. What role did each member contribute?
7. How can you take the skills you learned today and apply them to your work situation at your office?
8. If you could change 'one thing' at your office that would make your work day more enjoyable - what would it be?
9. Would that 'one thing' be an incentive to make you want to be more productive?
10. If you could change anything about the orienteering class or scavenger hunt - what would it be?

** These questions can be changed to fit your needs.

Suggested itinerary:

10-10:30am: Icebreakers - fun!

10:30am - noon: Orienteering class

noon - 1pm: Catered lunch

1-2:15pm: Scavenger hunt

2:15-3pm: Follow-up discussion and award ceremony

Julee Wasserman
Julee's Gorge Tours, LLC
PMB #303
4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97214

ph: 503-231-4058
cell: 541-806-1075

Website: http://www.gorgetours.com

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