Nov 21, 2018

Brainstorming Session with Middle Schoolers After school enrichment

by Cindy Crean     


east-shore-middle-school-logo

Recently my colleagues and I were able to spend some time talking to students at the East Shore Middle School in Milford, CT. The students are taking part in the “First Lego League Challenge”. This challenge requires them to work together as a team to create a number of lego robots that meet very specific goals and requirements. However, it also requires them to tackle a more in-depth, abstract problem. This year’s project is focused on human spaceflight in deep space. The students were specifically tasked with: “Think about all the challenges humans must overcome to travel in our solar system for long periods of time. To name just a few: extreme temperatures; lack of air, water and food; waste disposal or recycling; loneliness and isolation; and the need for exercise in order to stay healthy. After you select a problem, find out about the solutions that we are already using to try to fix it. Why is this problem hard to solve? Can you think of a new solution? Can you imagine a way to improve a current solution?”

The group chose specifically to focus on the problem of morale and mental health while on a long duration space mission. They quickly realized that if they came up with an appropriate team building challenge that it would be a great way to improve morale and check in with each other during the flight. They discussed this with their advisor who agreed that it would be great to be able to bring in some experts to help advise the students. She reached out to True North and asked if we would come in for an afternoon to talk to the students about team building ideas and what might work within their framework. Together we spent several hours brainstorming new ideas and helping explain to the students what our process is when designing an activity! By the end of the session, the students were well on their way to having a clearer set of goals and requirements for the activity.

This meeting really helped reinforce for us that team building can take place at any age and any location. These students were motivated and well prepared with new, innovative team building ideas that they discussed with us during the meeting. It was a great opportunity for us to get out and help instill the ideas of team building in a younger group. We are looking forward to following up with the group in the future and seeing where their project takes them during the statewide lego league competition.

Nov 15, 2018

Bring Your Team Together This Holiday Season

by Cindy Crean     


ugly sweater - bring your team together this holiday season

Yes…the holiday season is upon us! Whether you decide to have your party in November, December or January it’s so important to bring your team together and celebrate all their hard work throughout the year! What better way to do this than with one of our many team building activities?!

Some of our most popular programs this time of year are:

Holiday Bar Wars – Stir things up as your teams compete against other teams to create winning holiday-themed cocktails.

Toy Bins For Charities – One of our most popular programs! This program encourages networking while building toy bins and filling them up with a variety of toys to be donated to local charities, just in time for the holidays.

Red Wagon Build & Toy Donation– Teams work together to build kids wagons and then fill them up with a wide variety of toys, sporting goods, crafts, books and more.

CanSculptures– Help fill local food pantries with this creative giving back event. Teams build themed sculptures out of canned goods that will get donated to a local food bank. The is an ongoing need at local food banks… before and after the holidays.

Holiday Bistro Battle– Teams compete to create a signature cocktail and cold appetizer to accompany it. After the creation of their cocktail and dish, each team will present their creation, but only one team will be awarded the winner!

Networking Lounge- Bring the fun to your office or meeting space when you transform the room into a giant lounge, full of games such as Wii tennis or bowling, ping pong, corn hole, giant Jenga and so much more!

Holiday Lip Sync Battle-  Teams compete head to head to see who is the best performer.

Ugly Sweater Cookie Decorating Contest– See who can create the ugliest sweater cookie out there.

 

Contact us today:

203-730-0606

Truenorthteambuilding.com