THE TRAINING AIDS WE OFFER

Team Building and Leadership Training
Group Physical Challenges
Community Service-related Team Building
Outdoor activities and Recreation

TEAM BUILDING AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Using experiential activities, we provide opportunities for clients to gain self-confidence and learn the skills that are crucial to their organisation’s and their own career development. Individuals will learn how to work as a team, developing skills that will greatly assist them in their future actions e.g. leadership, communication and responsibility.

The benefits of these activities are obvious and important. Any organisation who visits the Corporate Development Facility will leave with a much better understanding of team work and of the advantages of tackling problems with a structured and systematic approach.

Programmes are designed using a combination of the activities available from the Corporate Development Facility and the Bamboo Man Adventure Club. They include an exciting array of outdoor and indoor activities that will test each participant’s physical, mental and team working abilities.

LEVEL1: Ice Breakers

We have compiled an extensive combination of approximately 50 icebreakers ranging from “Getting to know each other”, “Group based fun”, “Team Based fun” to training related activities. We offer these in a team building park environment and they are designed to let individuals from different groups, departments or countries to get to know each other.

The exercises are also designed to ensure that the participants have fun while building their levels of trust.

Examples of exercises:

Spider's Web The objective is to get each member of the team through a hole in the net to the other side. This has to be done without the person being passed through the net touching the net itself. Each hole in the net can be used more than once. Each hole in the net is accorded a score, the higher and/or smaller the hole, the higher the score. The objective is to accrue the highest number of points within a given time frame.

The leaking pipe The objective is to retrieve a table tennis ball from the bottom of a pipe. The pipe is 6 inches in diametre, 4 metres high and has a number of holes in it at different levels. The ball must be retrieved by filling the pipe with water while simultaneously blocking the holes to avoid water from leaking out. The team is provided with a water hose that does not quite reach the challenge site so A leaking bucket is provided to transfer water from the hose to the pipe. Teams are awarded points on a scale of 1-10, based on the time taken from start to finish of the exercise.

LEVEL 2: Team Development

These activities build upon the skills gained at the ‘ice breaker’ level and begin to test the team via situations of intermediate difficulty. Often, leaders emerge during these activities as barriers have been removed and the team begins to function effectively together. More advanced management skills such as delegation, decision making and planning also begin to appear in certain team members.

Examples:

The Chinese Puzzle Teams are provided with a 30 metre length of 2" diameter manila rope. The team members must grasp the rope equidistantly along its length. Each team member must move, still holding the rope, as directed by their team leader. The team must attempt to replicate the increasingly complex patterns depicted on a large blackboard in front of them. Each individual puzzle completed is accorded a given number of points.

The minefield A 20 litre water bottle is placed within a pile of car tyres stacked three high with just the neck and cap of the bottle showing. The tyres and bottle are within a 3m x 3m roped square - a 'no go' area. The team is provided with various objects, ropes/bamboo sticks etc. and they must remove the bottle from the square without dropping it in, or letting any member step into the square. Points are awarded on the time taken to undertake the exercise. Nobody, other than the appointed team leader is allowed to talk during the exercise.

LEVEL 3: Team Work

These are the most challenging activities and really bring out the best (and worst) in participants. Roles are often secured within the team by this stage, but this does not mean that success is guaranteed.

These activities require a high degree of decision making, brain storming, speed, mental agility and planning. Leadership qualities are tested to a great degree in the activities, whilst also allowing a great degree of enjoyment. The results of these activities often prove to be the most interesting and useful in organisations.

Examples:

Pole and Tyres Using 30cm long batons, the team must remove 6 motorcycle tyres from the 4 metre high pole, place them on a small pole, and then reverse the process. The tyres cannot be touched by hand and the tyres cannot touch the poles. Scoring is time-based.

 

Assault course The teams must compete against the clock over a military style assault course consisting of 8 to 10 individual obstacles. Time penalties are accrued for obstacles missed or not completed.

Click here for more schematic examples of team building and leadership training activities/challenges.

REFLECTION AND DEBRIEFING

This activity is crucial if the team building and leadership training activities are to impact upon the lives, careers and attitudes of those involved. It is often upon organised reflection and analysis that individuals begin to understand what they have learnt and how team working can benefit them in the future.

It is important that we raise pertinent questions to encourage the group to review its actions and evaluate any mistakes they have made. They are also given the chance to congratulate each other on the things they did well as a team. Management issues can be addressed directly and participants can relate what they have learned to the workplace.

We highly recommend this activity as it provides an effective way of reflecting upon the days events. They can be held after each activity, each day and after the entire course, depending on what you see as suitable.

A NOTE ON LEADERSHIP

Leadership skills can be monitored throughout all of the activities, with the results made available for yourselves and, if you wish, the participants.

The level of leadership displayed during the activity and course can be measured and analysed for each individual or team in several ways:

1. All members are equal at the beginning of a task and the instructions are read out to all of them at the same time. Leaders often appear out of necessity here.

2. One person is delegated leader for the task and the instructions are then read out to just him/her or to the entire team. This is an effective way of ensuring that all members attempt a leadership role.

3. Two or three members of the team can be read the instructions and then left to explain these to the rest of the team. This often provokes conflict over leadership and it is interesting to see how it is dealt with.

4. One, two or several of the team members are robbed of their sight or ability to speak, resulting in communication challenges.

GROUP PHYSICAL CHALLENGES

We offer a selection of activities of varying degrees of difficulty designed to both encourage team work and to increase the levels of self confidence in individual team members.

The mountain bike trials circuit

The teams compete against the clock over a 750 metre custom designed mountain bike trials circuit. Teams accrue time penalties fopr each obstacle missed along the way.

The assault course

The teams compete against the clock over a military style assault course consisting of 8 to 10 individual obstacles. Many of the obstacles are of a 'build and use' design, encouraging the use of both teamwork and leadership skills.

Time penalties are accrued for each obstacle missed or not completed by the individual contestant, or all team members.

The rock climbing wall & cargo net descent

The team compete against the clock by undertaking a rope assisted climb of our 14m rock climbing wall and then descending the opposite face using a Manila rope cargo net.

Time penalties are accrued for either phase missed or not completed by the individual contestant, or all team members. Time taken from start to finish counts.

The obstacle course

A custom designed obstacle frame consisting of a high (6m) rope & beam course (with safety net at 3m), and a low (1m) rope, beam and swinging log course, over a water pit.

Teams compete against the clock over a pre-set number of circuits. Time penalties are accrued for each component missed or not completed.

Note* Schematics depicting the adventure club layout, the assault course, obstacle course, mountain bike trials circuit, and rock climbing wall are shown in the bamboo man adventure club section of the website.

BAMBOO MAN CHALLENGES - Action Adventure Decathalons

Effective Mid April 2001 our company will, through our 'Bamboo Man Adventure Club', introduce a range of BAMBOO MAN CHALLENGES aimed at raising money for charity.

The challenges are for individuals, and for 2 or 4 member teams, the latter being a mixed team event where there must be at least one female member per team.

The challenges (action adventure decathalons) are designed to test physical, and mental abilities as well as leadership qualities.

Bamboo Man Challenges are an effective team building tool and both the content and degree of difficulty can be custom designed to suit individual client company groups.

Note* Specific details of the standard challenge format are given in the 'Bamboo Man Adventure Club' section on this website (section nine).

COMMUNITY SERVICE-RELATED TEAM BUILDING

There is much to be gained from putting a group of employees together in an environment where they are working together to complete a project. Such projects are effective means through which to determine the leadership and are sure to highlight many other skills individual members bring to the team.

Although the project might be unrelated to their normal field of work, it is of great benefit both to those undertaking the project and the beneficiaries of those projects

We offer a range of activities that involve the local community. We would like to emphasise that the range of community development projects available at any given time will vary, and that we are very flexible in developing a project to suit your needs.

Here are some examples of the projects:

MAE AI ORPHANAGE

Participants may visit the Mae Ai Orphanage, for either a half or a whole day, where they can assist in looking after the daily needs of the children. Some of these children have AIDS or HIV, have lost their families to the virus or are homeless.

The orphanage houses some 700 children, and is in desperate need of assistance in many areas, from food and clothing to housing and further education opportunities.

Participants may also visit the Mae Ai Old People's Home and assist with the needs of the elderly.

WATER SYSTEM INSTALLTION - HILL TRIBE VILLAGE

Many of the hill tribe villages in the area, living at the higher altitudes, are without access to clean water. In numerous instances, water sources (permanent seeps/streams) within a radius of 2 – 3km of the village could be dammed, and the water piped into holding tanks constructed in the village by means of small diameter flexible piping.

Regardless of the actual number of days the project takes, it can be designed so that the team is involved at the various stages (as dictated by their available time), and culminating in the completion of the project.

MINOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS – classrooms, shower blocks,
playgrounds, water storage tanks, roads etc.

These relate to organisations such as the Mae Ai orphanage, and participants would be involved in providing basic infrastructural assistance to them. These projects are also applicable to some of the remote hill tribe villages in the area. The physical nature of these projects ensure that teamwork and leadership are crucial to their success.

MAEKOK RIVER VILLAGE INITIATIVE

The Initiative involves bringing children from the local orphanage to participate in a 12-month schooling and training course where they will learn about organic farming (in our organic farm), handicrafts (in the custom-built workshops), hotel management and traditional Thai dance.

They will live here and work on the project for 12 months and will leave with a wealth of knowledge. Corporate groups have the option of spending 2-3 days working on the farm and learning about the benefits of the initiative.

The initiative is planned to be operational in April 2001.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY EXPEDITIONS

We have been appointed by the Mae Ai Epedimiological Foundation to conduct a two part task.

1. The in depth quality of life studies in all the 100 plus villages (hill tribe and indigenous Thai) within the Mae Ai area. The post survey reports to then be used in evaluating the needs of each village.

2. The implementation of projects (as highlighted in the quality of life survey), that will bring about an increase in the standard of living in each village.

Corporate groups may include tasks from either part 1 or 2 into a team building / staff development programme.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND RECREATION

We have a variety of outdoor activities and recreation for clients enjoyment.

TOURS

Full-day and half-day tours can be arranged for clients. Tours to the caves, orchid and butterfly farm, handicraft markets, tea plantation, Golden Triangle and much more can be arranged for your enjoyment.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Survival studies

These activities include learning about jungle craft, survival, map reading and orienteering. Learning these types of skills, and participating in these activities, is incredibly advantageous to any individual. They encourage confidence, self awareness and planning.

First Aid

We offer a first aid and paramedical course to all corporate clients. It addresses important issues including life saving, rescue and tending to the injured.

Nature studies

Participants may take part in nature walks and flora and fauna studies. This is both educational and enjoyable and will help individuals gain an appreciation of the diverse eco-system in Northern Thailand.

Enjoyment

These are activities that involve pure enjoyment. Activities such as trekking, mountain biking, canoeing, rafting, rubber ringing and 4WD instruction can be organised, with varying degrees of difficulty. These often provide an exciting break from pure ‘team building’ activities.

RECREATION

Sports

Sports that can be enjoyed include beach volleyball, beach football, table tennis, underwater hockey (in a shallow water pool), swimming and darts. Participants can use these at their leisure or we can organise a multi-sport team based competition.

River Barge trips and elephant rides

Clients can travel down the Maekok River on one of our custom-built river barges whilst enjoying the stunning views. This can be combined with the ‘must do’ elephant ride through surrounding jungle.

Other recreation

We can also organise for clients to play golf in nearby Chiang Rai, participate in Thai cooking, Thai massage, Tai Chi instruction or basic meditation lessons at the resort.