Teambuilding Camping Trip Turns Bad

My companies management team recently decided to send a group of us on a a teambuilding exercise. The teambuilding exercise resulted in a couple of my colleagues resigning and one now facing disciplinary action.

Although attendance was not compulsory everyone signed up as they were worried that not going would be bad for their careers. There was a packed itinerary including archery, kayaking, climbing and orienteering. But no sooner had we arrived and things began to go downhill.

It was clear that there had been a breakdown in communications as many people had no idea what they were supposed to have brought along. Many people had arrived without sleeping bags and some had even omitted to bring any proper outdoor clothes.This resulted in arguments between some of my colleagues and one group decided it was time to go to the pub for a liquid lunch.

The organizers had kindly provided all of the main camping gear including some optional tents and even some Ray Mears style hammocks and tarpaulins, ideal for the tougher campers. I chose the log cabin option as this was comfortably fitted out with proper beds.

When my colleagues came back from the bar they had clearly had too much to drink. The afternoon was to be spent orienteering around the local woodland. The organisers had arranged a six mile treasure hunt taking us through the local woodland, following clues and instructions as we went. The group who had just returned from the pub weren’t keen on the exercise and instead chose to to carry on drinking from a bottle of whiskey that one of them had bought.

When the evening came it was time for us to prepare our evening meal over a campfire. They provided a selection of raw ingredients for our supper including several chickens and a range of vegetables. A few of my drunken colleagues decided that the menu was not to their liking so they got on the phone to a pizza delivery service in a nearby village. This was enough to cause the organizers to call a meeting with all of us in order to clarify what was expected of us while we were attending their campsite.

Things continued to go downhill, mainly due to the continued consumption of alcohol. The contingent who had chosen to go to the pub for lunch had missed out on bunks in the log cabin so they were expected to sleep in the tents. This arrangement was not popular and several said that they would be going to a hotel. When it was pointed out that this was not in the spirit of teambuilding they became belligerent and even threatened one of the organizers.

The outcome was that several of those who were unhappy with the trip ended up going home. Those of us who remained had a pretty good time, but it was clear that the organizers couldn’t wait to see us leave.

This sorry tale should serve to remind managers that you really need to be certain that you get the buy-in of everybody who attends a teambuilding exercise like this. Its really important to make certain that everybody knows what is expected of them and what is expected of the exercise.

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