Teambuilding

The 4-H Center offers cooperation and teambuilding programs for youth, adolescents, and adults. The primary purpose of these programs is to challenge members of a group to overcome a series of obstacles by working together. As the group overcomes each obstacle in their course, teamwork will increase dramatically. All programs conducted on our challenge course are physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging. Every group that visits our Center is different, therefore, each groups individual program can be structured for the needs of that organization. Concentration on certain areas can be emphasized for the greater development of the organization. All facilitation, instruction, and equipment is provided by the 4-H Center. Our facilities are ACA approved and our instructors are fully qualified to adapt a program specifically for your organization. For more information, or to schedule a cooperation and teambuilding program, contact Chris Smith at (540) 721-2759, or email cksmith@vt.edu.

Program Objectives

1. To foster mutual support and teamwork within a group and the importance of each member's contributions within that group.
2. To develop and increase trust with every member of the group.
3. To facilitative and improve goal setting and problem solving by individuals and by the group.
4. To encourage group members to identify the value of individual differences.
5. To encourage safe, appropriate risk taking in a caring environment.
6. To promote feelings of personal confidence, accomplishment, responsibility, leadership, and self-worth.
7. To develop communication and cooperation among members of the group.
8. To build a strong foundation for a group to develop on.

A Good Day

As you take the scenic entrance into our facility, you will be comforted by the well kept shorelines of Smith Mountain Lake Virginia and the amazing wildlife that surrounds our Center. Your group will begin by doing some icebreaker games to help loosen up the participants and get them comfortable around one another. Our recreation fields offer the perfect environment for introducing groups to the team process, before moving to the beautiful strand of mixed hardwoods in which the Low Ropes Course lies and the next stage of our process begins. The pavilion at the start of our course makes for a great meeting and discussion area as we relax in nature and discuss our goals and objectives for the days activities. As the groups begin tackling obstacles, the challenges will get harder and harder. After each obstacle a short debriefing will occur to discuss the points of interest of that obstacle. As the group finishes up the day, our staff and the individuals participating in the course will discuss the overall effects of the day's challenges and their reflections.

Who Can Participate?

Groups of all sizes, ages, and backgrounds can benefit from many of the various Teambuilding Program options available. People from ages 9 to 90 can be involved and serve intricate roles in organizations, therefore, they serve intricate roles in your challenge course groups. We work with corporate groups, professional organizations, school groups, college/university organizations (residential life, fraternities, sororities, etc.), civic organizations, and Church groups. All organizations can benefit in some way from a challenge course.

• Many local Chamber of Commerce organizations, brain storming teams, and heads of large industries have used our challenge course to better the teamwork of their organization.
• School groups from 4th grade through High School have used our course to develop teamwork among classes and help their students to prepare for the SOL's.
• Several Greek organizations choose our challenge course to build a better family atmosphere among their organizations. Also several university leadership councils such as SGA, BOCUS, Student Leader Association, Residence Life, and FCA enjoy the bond formed at our challenge course.
• Local youth and adult groups from various religious denominations have had great success in developing their programs through the use of our challenge course programs.

What can we do for YOU?

Every group that enters our facility has a different need addressed. Our well-trained staff can develop programs to provide a variety of possible outcomes. Possible points of interest that can be built and shaped through a challenge course are trust, unity, communication, cooperation, organization, thought process, stopping office gossip, self confidence, group confidence, etc. We can specialize our programs according to the specific needs of any group.

School Groups (4th grade to 12th grade)

• Group Dynamics (4th Grade & Up) - To introduce the concept of teamwork and affirm the value of each individual. Through prop and non-prop activities, students are encouraged to cooperate with one another. Focus: trust building, goal setting, group challenge, problem solving, fun.
• Low Ropes Course (5th Grade & Up) - The challenge course is a teaching instrument designed to help students learn how to better use and incorporate caring, helpfulness, understanding, cooperation, communication, and reliability in their lives. This course is physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging. Focus: trust building, goal setting, group challenge, problem solving, self-esteem, fun.
• Climbing and Rappelling - The climbing wall challenges students' problem solving ability as they grapple with our 25 foot wall. Multiple levels of difficulty challenge new and experienced climbers. Focus: safe risk taking, self-challenge, trusting others, and gaining self-confidence. There is an additional fee per student for this activity. (Group limit: 30 per day)

University / College Groups

• Low Ropes and Initiatives - These programs combine initiatives and low ropes course programming into one experience. Using man made obstacles to simulate real life experiences, our course helps groups to develop and expose individual talents for the growth of the group. Through exploring individual talents of the group members, an organization can improve on its organization, communication, cooperation, and development. One day (6-7 hours) and half-day (3-4 hours) programs are available.
• Climbing Tower - The climbing tower challenges students' problem solving ability as they grapple with our 25 foot wall. Multiple levels of difficulty challenge new and experienced climbers. As the individuals overcome our wall, the group will learn communication and support for one another. (Group size may be limited for this component).

Corporate and Adult Groups

Are you looking for a program to promote unity in your office or business, or a way to foster cooperation among employees, managers, or administrators? Is your organization lacking unity and communication among its employees? Our Program Department offers corporate and adult ropes course programs. These programs are used by millions of organizations world wide to develop groups of individuals into one working team. By placing individuals into safe but challenging situations, qualities of individuals emerge that could have otherwise stayed hidden. Programs incorporate group initiatives, low ropes course elements, and debriefing into a half-day (3-4 hours) or full day (6-7 hours) experiences.

Availability

This is a year-round offering, with most availability between August & May. Programs are available seven (7) days per week and adapted to fit your schedule.

Costs:

• 3-4 hour teambuilding program (Low Ropes only--meals are not included) is $15/person, $250 minimum.
• 6-7 hour program (Low Ropes and Climbing Tower--meals are not included) is $25/person, $500 minimum.
• Custom teambuilding programs tailored to your group's needs are available as well--please contact us to discuss your needs.
• Meals can be provided for an additional cost.