Leap of Faith

Alan Eustace made his "leap of faith" from the stratosphere 135,000 miles to earth. While we don't jump that far on the ropes course, you can take your own personal "leap of faith" at our ropes course.

Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Team Building at Upward

Last week a group of employees from The Adventure Park at Sandy Springs Friends School came out to our UEI's ropes course for some good old fashion team building. We went through our communication building and trust exercises and at the end of the day, everyone in the Adventure Park group walked away with a renewed synergy.

Both of our facilities have rope climbing and zip lines but our programs are very different. Where Sandy Spring provides pure adventure and adrenaline, Upward Enterprises provides the component of team building with a facilitator. We are geared for groups while they are more of an amusement park where individuals can explore independently.

Clive exploring The Adventure Park

In return, this week we were invited to The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School to have a day of fun. It was a challenge for our staff and a good break from the busy back to school team building season for incoming students from the around the Washington Metro area.

Thank you, Adventure Park for trusting Upward Enterprises with your team building training and for a great day at your facility as well.

Animals Have Problem Solving Skills Too

At the ropes course we frequently play problem solving games like "pass the hoop" to teach teams to work together. But humans don't have a monopoly on problem solving skills. This video below is of a crow named 0007 using his pint-sized brain to figure out how to get a piece of food out of a box is amazing.

So whenever you run into a problem, don't get frustrated and give up trying. Just remember, if a crow can figure out 8 separate problem solving stages, so can you.

A Good Day of Team Building

In July, Worx Graphic Design came out to our challenge ropes course for some team building. Afterwards they sent us this incredibly kind thank you card. Truly it goes both ways. When a group comes to our course, whether adults or kids, and they take in what we teach it's always gratifying to know we can make a difference.

Moral Thought Experiment

At the ropes course we often use the moral debate game we call "Cave Rescue" to generate discussion and opinion. We unearth what each individual in the team building group values in others. Why does one person stand up for another who is in peril versus letting another person, who they deem not as valuable, to suffer? It's a great thinking game that always provides lively discussion and interaction in the group.

Below is a great illustration of the same Cave Rescue game presented by BBC 4 Radio series History of Ideas. Take a look and let us know what's your philosophy.

Team Building Joke Tuesday - No "I" in Team

When it's cold and gloomy outside how about a little team building in a pool..... ahhhhhh

If only we had a pool at the ropes course!

Seize the Day

Before it gets too cold, come out to the UEI ropes course and play like a kid.

Team Building using your Smartphone or Tablet

Today in the Washington Post I found a story in the tech section that interested me. It was a review of an app for your smartphone or tablet called Spaceteams, a cooperative party game for up to 4 players (or if you want 4 teams of players).

After downloading the game to your devise, you are set to "blast off" in a virtual spaceship with your shipmates. You have to fly the spaceship with the help of the other players who shout out instructions to each other. If you fail to work as a team, your ship crashes. Sounds like a team building game that's a great way to get people to interact together rather than always keeping their nose buried in their phone. What do you think? Should we use it at the ropes course?

Crossing the Amazon

Group navigating the Amazon at
Upward Enterprises Team Building

Have you been out to our ropes course in Buckeystown, MD in 2014?

If your group has been out there working on your team building, you might have tried our new "Amazon" activity that Travis built over the Spring. The object of this activity is for the group to work together to retrieve an object on the other side of the creek (our mini Amazon).

At Upward Enterprises, we are always looking to update our course and add new elements, keeping our course fresh and interesting year after year.

Thank you to all our clients for the great feedback!

"Truly amazing experience at the ropes course this year and I don't think there is anything that we would have changed."
Eric H.,  Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Inc.

Spider's Web at Upward Enterprises Team Building

"I think the kids enjoyed themselves and learned a lot. Thanks Clive. Looking forward to working with you in the future."
Kristy N. Upper School Counselor, Friends School of Baltimore

"Thank you for such a great experience on Saturday! The tightrope activity was an especially good way to get us all working together."
Bridget, Georgetown University

"The students had a great time on the course. It was definitely one of the highlights of their weekend. Larry was a great facilitator and brought the students to a different level in their team building."
Chuck T. Programming Coordinator, George Mason University

Cave Jumping

Have you seen this? A network of underground trampolines installed in a slate quarry cavern in the Welsh mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Check it out and tell us what you think. No caves unfortunately at our Upward Enterprises ropes course.

Wholistic Woman Retreat at Upward Enterprises Ropes Course

Being Brave…Ready, Set, Go! ~ by Carol deLaski

Harnessed by strong cables, I found myself in an unusual position  high in the trees… facing upwards and glimpsing patches of blue sky.  A team of eight women had pulled me into this position and awaited  my decision to release the cord which would drop me into a free-fall  swing through the tree tops. Butterflies swirled in my stomach and  my breathing grew rapid as I allowed myself to fully experience this  strange suspension in the air. Time felt suspended, too, as I savored  this momentary mixture of calm and electrifying anticipation.

 Encouragement from the women below wafted up to my ears and I  knew I had the full support of my team. “You can do it!” and “Go for  it!” let me know that they believed in me.

To read the complete story of the Wholistic Woman Retreat adventure at the Upward Enterprises team building ropes course, click here.

Cyprus Friendship Program Team Building at Ropes Course

Last week a group of teens visiting the United States from the country of Cyprus came out to the ropes course for team building. They were taking part in the youth program Cyprus Friendship Program, a year-long peace building and leadership program that aims to build cross-cultural friendships between teens on this small island country in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. WUSA Channel 9 News came out to capture the event at our ropes course for a story on their 6 p.m. news. Check it out below.

Being a Leader

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.      

~Maya Angelou

Inflatable Cube to Climb in

Here at Upward Enterprises, we encourage our clients to climb. At the ropes course, we have elements such as the Static Tower and Climbing Wall as part of our team building course. On portable team events like at Smokey Glen Farm, we have a climbing wall for rent.

Check out this interesting massive cube inflatable jungle gym. A complex 3-D grid of string allows one to climb in an environment that visually looks like your floating in the air. You can read more about this project at String Prototype. It's a one of a kind but wouldn't it be fun to have one at the ropes course?

Team Building with Zombies

Zombies seem to be everywhere don't they? They even get into the act of team building. Enjoy this Tuesday funny.


 

Zombie Team Building from Evolution Arts on Vimeo.

Indoor Team Building

Cold weather doesn't stop team building opportunities here at Upward Enterprises. We can have just as much fun indoors team building at your facility or ours located at the Claggett Center. Anyone up for a fun ice breaker of multi-player thumb wrestling?

What are you Thankful for this Holiday Season?

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, it's that time of year to reflect with gratitude on all the wonderful things this year has brought. Let us know what you are most thankful for this holiday season.

Here are just a few of the things we are grateful for here at Upward Enterprises.

• The love of family
• Being able to work at a job that I love
• The smiling face of a child at our ropes course who just accomplished something they were scared to try
• Friendship
• Being privileged to watch Hudson grow into a little man
• Another day on Planet Earth

 

Team Building Joke Tuesday

Another team building funny. Enjoy!