Field Trip Grants for Groups for Team Building Day at Ropes Course

Thank You cards from students who loved our ropes course

Are you a school group looking to come out to our team building ropes course in Buckeystown, Maryland for a day of learning and fun but need help with the financing? There are many corporate and government grants that are available.  Target, for example offers field trip grants up to $700.00 that can help you defray the cost of bringing your group to our course. Kohl's is making available grants ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 for field trips for the 2013-2014 school year.

Learning outside the classroom is a great way to engage students in a challenge-by-choice environment. Recently we welcomed Brunswick High School, Tuscarora High School, Gov. Thomas Johnson High School and Middletown High School's Special Education Departments out to our course thanks to help from a grant. The kids had such a great experience team building, they sent us "Thank You" cards in appreciation.

The Qualities of Leadership

As a small business owner with a team building company, I frequently contemplate my leadership roll. Over the years I have had many employees, facilitators and even clients out at the ropes course who have looked at me as more than just a boss or the leader of a team building exercise. I become their mentor. While sometimes that leadership roll can feel overwhelming, I try to bear that honor graciously knowing that my leadership skills can help others which is a truly rewarding experience.

What makes a successful leader? In my opinion, it is the ability to empower others. "All for one and one for all" the cliché goes. A well functioning team like a sports team does its best when individuals
work together as a group instead of in isolation. And as I look around, I see more and more isolation in society. We isolate in our homes never knowing our next door neighbors. We isolate in our social life using Facebook to stay in touch with "friends" over phone calls or going out to lunch. And we can isolate at work staying in our cubicle or if we telecommute at our desk in the basement.

As a leader of many different groups, it is my responsibility to draw people out, get them to open up and shine. I was inspired by Deepak Chopra's book The Soul of Leadership: Unlocking Your Potential for Greatness . He uses the acronym L.E.A.D.E.R.S. to layout the skills he believes necessary for a successful leader. These are skills that I try to use every day at my ropes course to inspire people to come out of their shells, participate as a group and feel the power that a well function group of individuals can have.

Extreme Teamwork

This 25-person drum corps from Switzerland is an amazing example of extreme teamwork. Take a look at this performance. It's a great example of what a group of humans can accomplish as a dedicated team. While we don't use drums on our ropes course, we do work on group dynamics to get your team working in synchronicity. Knowing what and when to do it takes hard work and can't be learned overnight to get it right.

Never be Afraid to try Something New at the Ropes Course

What an inspirational story of a man who was born without legs and arms. Yet despite this, nothing stops him from living life to the fullest. Take a page from his book next time you are at our ropes course in Buckeystown Maryland and you feel the butterflies in your stomach. Don't be scared. Just stretch your wings and fly.

 

Team Building Joke Tuesday - Ziplining

Of course at Upward Enterprises we operate REAL zip lines and we promise the only electricity you will feel will be from your own excitement.

Team Building Should be Every Day, Not Just a Once a Year Event

Most of the groups that come out to our ropes course for team building, we only see once a year. As great as we are of facilitating a team building event, I always encourage our groups to come out for a series of events. Why? Because team building should not be once a year event. You have a group that needs to function as a team every day and that needs constant attention. Coaches, bosses or group leaders need to foster open communication, diffuse conflicts amongst group members and encourage the group to rely on each others strengths to help the group accomplish its goals.

Most clients that leave our course are energized by the end of the day but that energy might fade without re-enforcement. I'd encourage monthly meetings to keep the bond and energy going that was created on the ropes course. Those meeting can be any thing from a catered lunch around a conference table to keep the lines of communication open to coming out to our ropes course quarterly for a few hours just to have fun and ride our zip line canopy tour. At Upward Enterprises we offer SDI evaluations and portable desktop events at your location. Keep your team strong, successful and cohesive with regular team bonding events.