Corporate Training Programme 2
This was the second in a series of three training and development programmes designed to fully prepare corporate teams for charity competitions. With eight stages packed into three days, this was always going to be a very intensive programme which would challenge teams and test their stamina.
The programme began with an opening session and a recap on navigation techniques. Then it was straight into a night navigation exercise. Teams had to crack an opening puzzle before they could embark on their quest to visit as many checkpoints as possible in the time given. Some checkpoint locations were only revealed en route, forcing teams to re-evaluate their strategy and make key decisions while on the move.
The teams were up bright and early the following morning for another run around the forest. Again the aim was to visit as many checkpoints as possible but this time it was light and the teams could split up. This added a new dimension to the activity making teams think about their strategy and how best to deploy their resources to maximum efficiency.
After a hearty breakfast the teams had a long mountain biking stage, but first there were a series of puzzles to solve. During this frenetic opening period, teams had to think clearly and act calmly in order to make key decisions quickly. Then on bikes, the teams started off by visiting checkpoints in the sheltered shade of the forested valleys before emerging into the sunshine on the open hill tops where they were greeted by a strong, cold wind. There teams carried out various activities, designed to test their ability to undertake emergency repairs to their bikes, before descending to the finish for a late lunch.
In the afternoon, the teams attended a couple of training sessions; one on general team preparation for charity competitions and further development of team strategies, and the other involving both a theoretical and practical approach to construction exercises. The skills and knowledge learned in these training sessions was then put to the test in a competitive stage after dinner. With tight timescales and three separate activities to complete, the successful teams were those that remained focused and moved swiftly between exercises. The construction task was the highlight for many, which saw teams build catapults to fire a given object as far as possible.
The next day saw teams transfer to a nearby reservoir where the final stage took place. Unseasonably warm sunshine again greeted the teams and the wind from the previous day had dropped leaving near perfect paddling conditions. Communication and strategy were equally important in this stage, with teams being able to split between kayaking and trail running. Estimating the time it would take to cover distances both on the water and on foot was critical with teams having to rendezvous at various locations. A couple of teams cut it fine and had a mad dash to ferry their runners back across the reservoir to the finish in time.
Happy to have completed the programme, but exhausted from all their efforts, teams were in no rush to leave. They were content to bask in the warm sun, while they debriefed and reflected on their achievements from what had been a highly successful and very enjoyable training programme.
