When it comes to team building events in San Diego, visions of beach volleyball and scavenger hunts may come to mind. But a fair number of clients are spending time indoors, kicking off their training conferences in San Diego with team building activities to engage their staff on day one.
VIDEO: Execs in action in Venture Up's San Diego Team Building activities.
When running team building activities for a conference, it’s always a good idea to engage employees by incorporating the meeting theme into the team activities. Corporate groups expect to have fun, especially in San Diego, but the purpose of the conference itself needs to be woven in throughout the program to drive home the point of the meeting, says an area expert.
Jayne Palmer, program manager for Venture Up, a team building firm working with San Diego conferences for three decades, uses the company language and the meeting tagline itself in facilitating each team activity. “The trick is keeping the event light and fun, without getting too heavy with training or corporate jargon,” she says.
Palmer often uses the following team building games in San Diego to energize corporate staff for the meeting ahead.
1. Hidden Fact
At conference team building events, some participants may know each other beforehand, while others may not. Either way, just as we all can learn something new from anyone, we can also learn something fascinating about someone we’ve known for years. Hidden Fact works well with teams of up to 10 participants. Each player makes three statements about herself, but only one is true. The others in the group must choose which one is correct. Players are encouraged to get as creative and edgy as they like, and not to be modest when telling the truth. This game is a popular ice breaker vs. a game requiring teamwork.
2. Tower of Power
A fun team game of patience and precision, Tower of Power challenges players to create the tallest structure possible with a pack of old-fashioned playing cards. A team with too many chiefs can be the downfall. Successful teams take it slow, taking turns to cut and shape cards to build a solid foundation. Any time the cards fall, the team must start over. Armed only with a pair of scissors and the 52-card deck, players have a chance to get creative and combine efforts to make the coolest, tallest tower in a set time limit. This is a great indoor game, as a windy day can spell disaster. The first team to build a stable tower using a minimum of 52 cards is the winner.
3. Falling Eggs
The Falling Eggs competition is ideal for large groups. Teams of up to 12 work to create a cushioned, protective package to keep an egg safe during a lofty descent – a drop from a balcony or second story window. Activity leaders supply each team with six eggs, which they may use for practice or the grand finale. Teams also receive cardboard, balloons, cotton, tape, straws, rubber bands, paper cups and string to build their protective parcel. Teams have 30 minutes to innovate, create and practice the egg drop. Teams may score points for the number of eggs they drop in safety. This activity is a favorite for engineers, IT staff and other innovative work teams.
4. Block Art
Memory and precision come into play in Block Art, a game challenging teams to imitate a pre-made sculpture made of legos or children’s blocks. The trick? Participants have only 45 seconds to observe the original sculpture. As the teams arrive, a sheet covers the original art form, soon to be unveiled, observed and replicated by teams. Before the unveiling, the program leader presents the simple rules: 45 seconds to observe the sculpture, 15 minutes to replicate it. Teams may discuss strategies and processes before the unveiling, but once the sculpture is covered up again, it is only shown upon completion of each team “objets d’art.” The final judge is the program leader, who awards the team with the best imitation. As an alternative, leaders may offer a “sneak peak” for one team representative toward the end of the event. The team rep takes a leadership role in informing the others how to correct errors in block arrangements, block sizes and sequencing and any factors building toward an accurate imitation.
5. Square of Fear
Square of Fear is a floor or field game where teams enter a checkerboard of danger, saved only by their trusted team members. Each game has 25 – 30 squares. Some squares are safe, others are infested with insidious creatures or disease. Representatives of two teams play at once, with only two players in each Square of Fear. Each representative is blindfolded and must be silent as they traverse the checkerboard. Both competing players are at the mercy of their teams’ direction. Proper planning, patience, and clear communication are key to keeping the team rep safe. The first player to safely cross the checkerboard wins. As an alternative, the game may be played barefoot. In such case, blindfolded ones will really want to avoid the “dangerous” squares, or risk stepping on jello, cotton balls, cruchy leaves, shaving cream or watermelon slices.
“Playing Square Fear barefoot can be an indoor game,” says Palmer. “But so far we’ve only done it waterside where they can easily rinse off.”
When running team building activities for a conference, it’s always a good idea to engage employees by incorporating the meeting theme into the team activities. Corporate groups expect to have fun, especially in San Diego, but the purpose of the conference itself needs to be woven in throughout the program to drive home the point of the meeting, says an area expert.
Jayne Palmer, program manager for Venture Up, a team building firm working with San Diego conferences for three decades, uses the company language and the meeting tagline itself in facilitating each team activity. “The trick is keeping the event light and fun, without getting too heavy with training or corporate jargon,” she says.
Palmer often uses the following team building games in San Diego to energize corporate staff for the meeting ahead.
1. Hidden Fact
At conference team building events, some participants may know each other beforehand, while others may not. Either way, just as we all can learn something new from anyone, we can also learn something fascinating about someone we’ve known for years. Hidden Fact works well with teams of up to 10 participants. Each player makes three statements about herself, but only one is true. The others in the group must choose which one is correct. Players are encouraged to get as creative and edgy as they like, and not to be modest when telling the truth. This game is a popular ice breaker vs. a game requiring teamwork.
2. Tower of Power
A fun team game of patience and precision, Tower of Power challenges players to create the tallest structure possible with a pack of old-fashioned playing cards. A team with too many chiefs can be the downfall. Successful teams take it slow, taking turns to cut and shape cards to build a solid foundation. Any time the cards fall, the team must start over. Armed only with a pair of scissors and the 52-card deck, players have a chance to get creative and combine efforts to make the coolest, tallest tower in a set time limit. This is a great indoor game, as a windy day can spell disaster. The first team to build a stable tower using a minimum of 52 cards is the winner.
3. Falling Eggs
The Falling Eggs competition is ideal for large groups. Teams of up to 12 work to create a cushioned, protective package to keep an egg safe during a lofty descent – a drop from a balcony or second story window. Activity leaders supply each team with six eggs, which they may use for practice or the grand finale. Teams also receive cardboard, balloons, cotton, tape, straws, rubber bands, paper cups and string to build their protective parcel. Teams have 30 minutes to innovate, create and practice the egg drop. Teams may score points for the number of eggs they drop in safety. This activity is a favorite for engineers, IT staff and other innovative work teams.
4. Block Art
Memory and precision come into play in Block Art, a game challenging teams to imitate a pre-made sculpture made of legos or children’s blocks. The trick? Participants have only 45 seconds to observe the original sculpture. As the teams arrive, a sheet covers the original art form, soon to be unveiled, observed and replicated by teams. Before the unveiling, the program leader presents the simple rules: 45 seconds to observe the sculpture, 15 minutes to replicate it. Teams may discuss strategies and processes before the unveiling, but once the sculpture is covered up again, it is only shown upon completion of each team “objets d’art.” The final judge is the program leader, who awards the team with the best imitation. As an alternative, leaders may offer a “sneak peak” for one team representative toward the end of the event. The team rep takes a leadership role in informing the others how to correct errors in block arrangements, block sizes and sequencing and any factors building toward an accurate imitation.
5. Square of Fear
Square of Fear is a floor or field game where teams enter a checkerboard of danger, saved only by their trusted team members. Each game has 25 – 30 squares. Some squares are safe, others are infested with insidious creatures or disease. Representatives of two teams play at once, with only two players in each Square of Fear. Each representative is blindfolded and must be silent as they traverse the checkerboard. Both competing players are at the mercy of their teams’ direction. Proper planning, patience, and clear communication are key to keeping the team rep safe. The first player to safely cross the checkerboard wins. As an alternative, the game may be played barefoot. In such case, blindfolded ones will really want to avoid the “dangerous” squares, or risk stepping on jello, cotton balls, cruchy leaves, shaving cream or watermelon slices.
“Playing Square Fear barefoot can be an indoor game,” says Palmer. “But so far we’ve only done it waterside where they can easily rinse off.”
