5 San Diego Team Building Activities to Increase Employee Engagement

Think of San Diego and visions of sailboats, sea gulls and beach volleyball come to mind. While the city ranks as a top destination for business meetings, fun team building experiences in San Diego are often part of the mix, and many involve corporate employees giving back to the community.

Corporate social responsibility is more than just a buzzword. “When companies pay their teams to assist local communities, they send a clear message that social responsibility extends beyond corporate locations,” says David Lengyel, managing director of Venture Up, who provides team building programs from his new San Diego office at Driscoll’s Wharf on Harbor Drive.

VIDEO:  VENTURE UP Bike Building Charity Team Building Event serves local kids in need:

Lengyel believes there has been a shift in corporate culture after the Madoff scandal a decade ago. “During the recession, clients began requesting more programs combining team building with community service, even when budgets were tight” he said. “Today, the economy is much better and more businesses than ever are incorporating social responsibility into their team building activities.”

In 1983, Venture Up became the first company devoted to building team relationships, coining the term, “team building company.” The firm also works in conjunction with client’s training organizations, such as PPG’s Franklin-Covey staff development program recently.

Here are 5 popular group programs in San Diego, all of which can promote corporate social responsibility and employee engagement.

1. Jam Fest – Throughout the ages, music has been a binding agent of all people. Jam Fest strikes a chord with everyone, as no prior experience is required. A popular conference energizer, this 45- to 90-minute event gets teams moving, shaking and jamming in harmony. Teams use boom sticks, go-go bells, jug drums and congas to catch a rhythm and jam together expressing their innate musical talents.

2. Bionic Hands -- This 3D design program gives teams a rare opportunity to change the lives of children forever. Born without hands, or with hands not fully formed, such children can now have functioning hands when execs team up to help them. Teams take on the intrinsic work of putting together bionic hands created by 3D printers. The program requires no prior experience, but commitment to detail is a must. The 2- to 3-hour program engages teams in service to others, a strong component to building and maintaining a viable corporate culture. Hands are often shipped overseas to kids in developing nations.

3. Boat Regatta

Building a cardboard boat is the easy part. Keeping it afloat is quite another. This program is suitable for hotel pools and waterways and requires an able swimmer at the helm. Teams compete with one another to create a seaworthy craft using cardboard boxes, floating features, inflatable toys, pvc pipes and lots of duct tape. As in many group ventures, too many cooks can sink the ship. Effective leadership and cooperation mark the successful team. Some vessels may sail smoothly, while others require a fight to the finish. In many cases, winners receive cash rewards to donate to local charities.

4. Bike Building for Kids

Bike Building for kids in need is a popular charity-based team building event nationwide. Venture Up clients have donated more than 15,000 bikes to underserved children in local U.S. communities. In many cases, the kids are high achievers who lack financial resources, or may come from struggling single-parent families. Lengyel expects Venture Up to expand its reach to developing countries, where adults and children use bikes as their main source of transportation.

Video: San Diego Team Building

5. Amazing Race

The Amazing Race is so popular in San Diego that Venture Up has developed more than 10 versions of this festive event. Inspired by the popular television show, the physical challenges are geared for the average Joe. Teams move at their own pace and players choose their own level of involvement, as they take on physical tasks and brain twisters to solve as many clues as possible. Each race is fun and challenging for all professional and skill levels, keeping creative minds engaged and focused on a big win.

Supai Canyon with Navajos & Tempe Dwellers

Havasupai Waterfalls Helicopter Hiking ... or just hiking

By Teresa Shaw Lengyel

Heading to Havasupai? Learn the easy way, from us. Leaving our Flagstaff retreat, we headed to Havasupai for a scouting trip to one of the coolest places on earth. Havasupai Falls is close to Flagstaff as the crow flies, but a bit complicated to reach. Venture Up has experienced an increase in clients seeking small corporate retreats for team building in Arizona. This trip tops the list.

A trip to Havasupai can be easy or hard. Our 2-day trip (not enough) was somewhere in between. Fortunately, our same group will return in August focusing on the waterside hikes only, which means a helicopter round-trip from the trailhead to the village. 

Havasupai Falls, AZ -- It's amazing how many picnic tables are in the most remote areas of this clean, well-equipped canyon. Photo: ventureup.com

Trekking down is not so easy for everyone. Once in the canyon, you will see plenty of hikers limping about, with canes and bandages who wish they took the heli instead of hiking down. If you are not in good physical condition, the heli is for you. You just can't reserve it and must be flexible because in Havasupai, little is on your own terms. Waterside hikes abound and, sadly, many hikers are too sore to walk extensively once they arrive.

Traveling with our long-time Navajo friends, Shannon Haskie and her 18-year-old son Jake, and Tempe dwellers, Brian Meller and Leticia Lebron, we left Flagstaff at 4:30 a.m. -- when coffee doesn't work --  and drove a lonely 166-miles to the trailhead.I-40 West from Flagstaff takes you to Seligman a 2-minute drive-by town hopping in Route 66 fame. The turnoff to the trailhead is tricky. If you are fully awake at dusk, you'll first see the sign below for the Grand Canyon North Rim. No, don't follow that sign. Take the "Indian 18" sign right after and continue right.There are no services on Route 18, and they are not kidding.We hiked down for 7 hours on Friday, with plenty of stops, and returned via a 10-minute helicopter ascent on Sunday. Helicopter rides are on a first-come basis. Cost is $95 one-way, $35 if you're a Navajo, and free if you're a Supai. The heli is a bargain, especially for those who end up with blisters and muscles so sore a flight up is the only way out. 

When you reach the trailhead, park in the higher lot, or off the street. Avoid parking in the lower lot like this white guy did below:

The hike is steep at first and flattens out. It's not too difficult, but you'll be walking 8 miles or so. This is not the time to try out new hiking shoes or sandals. Even those meant for hiking can leave you with blisters, but I won't name brands, chicos.

Sinyella Store is the first stop before entering Havasupai Village. Shopkeeper Mr. Sinyella also has a house in Flagstaff and knows some people we do. Small world, altho we're not so far away as the crow flies.

The store is on the outskirts of the village, has plenty of cold drinks and hot food, including hamburgers and breakfast. Cokes are $2. They don't charge enough. Picnic tables and awnings offer a welcome place to relax by the horse corrals and village homes.

Like many American Indians, these natives live in what larger society considers poverty. Most visitors here find happy, friendly people with much for us to envy.

The store in Havasupai Village has a good selection of snacks, frozen foods, cold drinks, and bottled water, but only offers instant coffee. Stop what you're thinking. It would suck if they had a Starbucks here. One thing you will experience in a few days is how to live with less, like our forbears, and our native peoples do now.

Havasupai Village Store. Photo: ventureup.com

A 2.5 mile hike takes you from the village to the campground. You will pass the Havasupai School, church, lodge (the only one) and Navajo Falls on the way.

Navajo Falls signals the way to Havasupai. Photo: ventureup.com

Arriving at Havasupai campground. Photo: ventureup.com

Do's & Don'ts you should know already. Photo: ventureup.com

Frybfread? You betcha! This campground hut opens 9-5 , banker's hours. Photo: ventureup.com

Brian Meller swims into Havasupai Falls and meets resistance. Who knew? Photo: ventureup.com

Window to Moony Falls. Photo: ventureup.com

Chains to Moony Falls. Photo: ventureup.com

Bridge on way from Moony Falls to Beaver Falls. Photo: ventureup.com

Havasupai Videos 

(if Blogger accepts them - eye roll .. still trying tho!)

Heli pad & community center 

(I know, hold camera sideways).

Heli lands at trail head 

Havasupai Falls

Descent to Moony Falls

Beaver Falls

Havasupai Panoramas

Navajo Falls area

Havasupai Falls

Moony Falls to Beaver Falls 

Hike from Moony Falls to Beaver Falls

Planning for Havasupai

Pack Light:  If ever there was a universal tip for any kind of travel, it's pack light. But do people listen? Nooooo, including Shannon Haskie who takes a kitchen on her back, with Wonderbread that arrives uncrushed. 

While we have tons of gear, thanks to Venture Up's clients and sponsors who like us to review their products, nothing ideal for this trip was in Flagstaff. So, I had to go retail. I got everything from Sportsman's Warehouse here, a national chain with good prices and service. A great spot for recycled gear is locally-owned Flagstaff Sports Exchange. Peace Surplus and pricey REI are also in town.

This is what I took to Havasupai:  

1.  Down sleeping bag:  A down sleeping bag, rated to 40 degrees F, is lightweight and packs more tightly than a larger bag for colder climes. Supai's coldest temp was 45 degrees F this March weekend. Cost: $100 Weight: under 2 lbs. Brand: Kelty

2.  Itty bitty sleeping pad:  A delightfully small inflatable pad will leave you lots of room for food and drink and lessen the bulk. Cost: $60 Weight: 18 oz. Brand: Static V

3. Net backpack: Net bags weigh next to nothing, allow wet things to dry, and you can see your stuff! Cost: $30 Weight: Nothing really Brand: Jansport

4. Hip Pack: This red hip pack is padded in back, has plenty of pockets, and has an extra cumberbund-type strap for extra support. Ok, it's not that fat or formal, but it does support well over long hikes, such as the Havasupai descent and the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike Shannon and I did in February. We took the Kaibab Trail (tough if  you have bad knees) to Bright Angel Lodge at the River, and  took Bright Angel Trail back to the rim. It supports the net bag well, which has no waste strap. Cost: $50.  Weight: Who cares? Brand: Mountainsmith

What I did not bring:

1. Tent: Why carry more weight when you can sleep under the stars? It's not like you're climbing K2. If you're concerned about being cold, get a sleeping sheet liner to add extra warmth and keep your bag clean ($18). If rain is forecast, get a bivouac sack to slip over your bag. If you can find a picnic table, or clear your own, you're in luck. Tables make a great level bed and keep crawly things at bay. In March, we saw a couple of bugs and two squirrels and bats flitting about at night. That's it. In summer, expect lizard conventions and a few crawlers.

The net backpack easily carries the sleeping bag and pad with plenty of room for food and clothes. These bags are fully packed and that's all I took to Havasupai!

Oh, in case you're wondering what I came home to after a glorious weekend in Havasupai, read about the AT&T Business Services experience.

Teresa Shaw Lengyel is a lifer at Venture Up and cannot get fired.

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New Orleans Businesses Team Up for Local Community

New Orleans is deeply notched in a culture of cooperation among neighbors, especially since Katrina brought native residents closer together, while others were forced to flee. Small businesses join hands with local non-profits, building relationships and keeping a team connection in New Orleans style. Visiting and local large businesses help the local community with organized teamwork.

The local CVB is proactive in facilitating volunteer opportunities for groups who wish to enrich team relationships while visiting New Orleans. Giving back to the community is often a part of planning corporate team events in New Orleans, says David Lengyel, co-founder of Venture Up, a firm hosting charitable team events in New Orleans since 1983.

Corporate and association teams visiting New Orleans may donate time, money and supplies, build bikes for kids in need, or create art for homeless shelters and half-way houses. “Colleagues who may not work shoulder-to-shoulder in one office, or staff who do work closely but never see eye-to-eye, may find themselves getting along smoothly while focusing on others outside the office boundaries,” says Lengyel.

When it comes to local flavor, the Crossroads NOLA program feeds into the festive Garden District atmosphere, providing streetcar food services. District Donuts and Sliders Brew are two local companies behind the effort, donating 100 percent of the proceeds to local children and teens in foster care.

The mission at Crossroads NOLA is to connect children and teens in crisis to the families, individuals, and opportunities they need to thrive. The team aims to recruit, develop and support foster families.

The Garden District food-on-wheels service, named “Streatcar,” offers donuts, cheeseburgers, fried chicken and a full range of coffee steps from the sidewalk. Want a beer? They’ve got brews too, if you’re of age and it’s the legal hour.

According to a recent Entrepreneur article by John Boitnott, there are four ways any company can benefit from giving back , as follows:

1. Building respect and a good reputation in the community.
2. Making your community a better place to live.
3. Employees respect leaders who do well.
4. Connections and networking benefits for the company and staff.

Looks like New Orleans is ahead of the game.

San Antonio – New Braunfels Takes Top Spot for America’s Most Engaged Employees

Smooth-running organizations require high functioning teams, and the San Antonio - New Braunfels area ranks highest with 38.1 percent of its workforce engaged, according to Gallup. The organizational culture of San Antonio is a model for building strong engaged teams across the U.S.

Gallup categorizes workers as "actively disengaged," "engaged," or "not engaged." One way to get teams actively engaged, says David Lengyel of Venture Up, is to infuse fun into corporate training and meetings. “Ongoing team building events can enrich and maintain strong relationships,” he says. Since 1983, Venture Up. has provided team development programs in San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Austin and Midland-Odessa.

Gallup considers "engaged" employees as those involved in, passionate about, and committed to their job. Such staff members are creative, proactive and fuel growth through continuous improvement and innovation, maintaining a healthy company. Research linking engaged employees to high performing organizations is indisputable.

Companies with highly engaged workforces outperform their peers by 147 percent in earnings per share and realize 41 percent fewer quality defects, 48 percent fewer safety incidents, and 28 percent less shrinkage. Turnover is 65 percent less with low-turnover organizations, and 25 percent less with high-turnover companies. Absenteeism is 35 percent lower.

Staff members who fail to get engaged hurt companies. The astute manager takes notice right away to correct the behavior or eliminate it altogether in by firing staff whose attitude doesn’t cut it. Coopertive team players are the foundation of a top performing organization.

Employees who are not engaged often have one foot out the door. Whether they quit or get fired, they cost the company money and continue to damage corporate culture the longer they remain. They fail to take ownership in the company, have less concern for clients, and inhibit productivity.

Actively disengaged staff may harbor an entitled attitude, feeling the company owes them. They strive to spread negativity onto others. If management is lax or ignores these effects, the negativity can spread like a cancer and bring the organization down.

Unhappy employees may undermine the accomplishments of productive staff, monopolize the manager’s time with petty grievances, and contribute to defects in the process and products far more than engaged employees.

Gallup research shows low levels of employee engagement means high levels of active disengagement, but the two are not the same. Unengaged employees may be passively so, while others are proactive in their efforts to break the system, if they are not detected and fired as they should be before the damage can spread.

According to Gallup:

• Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota was in the middle on active disengagement, but near the bottom on employee engagement.
• Richmond, Virginia showed a low percentage of actively disengaged workers, but not among the top 10 in engagement.
• San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas, had the highest level of engagement, but was not among the 10 lowest on active disengagement.

Gallup attributes the wide range of engagement levels to multiple factors, namely economic measures such as unemployment and underemployment. Metro areas with higher employee engagement tend toward having lower unemployment and underemployment.

A good manager is the ticket to developing happy, supportive team members, such as the team culture in the San Antonio - New Braunfels workforce. At least 70 percent of the range in staff engagement scores across business units, according to Gallup.

Corporate leaders must support continuous improvement by giving managers the flexibility and freedom to support engaged work teams. Many teams attribute the growth of the team building industry to the growing awareness that happy employees lead to profits in the end.