Outdoor Activities: Outdoor Team Building Games

There are so many fun outdoor activities to choose from. You can design the exercises your self or take the group to professional guides.

Your team work learning comes from the quality of the questions asked during the workshop, not the activity itself. In fact, competitive games can alienate teams if not used constructively. Whereas cooperative games encourage team work but may not provide enough real world simulation. (The real world competes – so team members need to learn to be their best in all kinds of environments)

How do I choose the best outdoor team building exercise?

1. Know the main and specific outcomes you want to achieve

2. Which issues, interpersonal skills or leadership styles do you want to develop?

3. Why choose an outdoor team building game or activity?

4. Set up safety measures and get buy in.

5. Plan your debriefing questions.

Check out some free team building exercises or choose some indoor games

Outdoor team building ideas

GAMES AT A GLANCE

Adventure games, horse riding, kayaking, paintball, rampage, rock climbing, amazing race, mountain biking, summer camp, white water rafting,

Who are the outdoor team building games aimed at?

• Outdoor family activities
• Outdoor activities for children
• Outdoor activities and the environment
• Self directed outdoor activities
• Corporate outdoor exercises

Facilitator's Tips

Have fun with team building. Choose the appropriate exercises with the objectives you have in mind. Most importantly design the questions you want to use to extract the best learning or catalyze change. There will be people in the team who dislike the outdoors. They will need extra safety measures.

This is where buy in is important. A well planned session in nature will rejuvenate the spirit as well as enhance team work. Ultimately most people love being near nature. They just sometimes need a little nudge. Plus you don't need the most extreme exercise to get the job done.

I seldom use adventure games. I like to keep it simple, and easy enough for everyone to do. I like to stretch every individual outside of their comfort zone without alienating people who are not use to more physical tasks. Some tasks may not be physical at all. Set any problem solving activity under the trees, ask the team to take their shoes off, and already it is new. Unless of course the group usually spend time under the summer sun.

Yes, challenge is important. And when we are pushed, our best and worst will be shown. But the 'pushing' doesn't have to be physical.