Team Building and Bonding, Highlands Aerial Park

Written By: - NONE - | Issue: 2018/04 - April

Highlands Aerial Park has discovered it can offer both individual fun and games as well as experiential team-building education.

The first appeals to the traditional family out to have a good time that creates memories, while the second finds its audience in organizations, schools, corporations, government bodies, businesses, etc.

The latter is divided into Team Building vs Team Bonding.

Bonding is basically leading a group through the park’s Ziplines, Giant Swing, and other elements just to have fun and blow off steam.  Recent example is the Clemson Golf Teams, both men’s and women’s, combined a morning of Zipping with an afternoon of Golf prior to the start of their fall season.  Coaches and players agreed it would become an annual event due to the spirit it instilled.     Kelly Hester, the Head Women’s Golf Coach at Clemson University, recently had this to say about their team bonding experience at Highlands Aerial Park:

 “Our golf team had a great time zip lining and swinging on the Highlands Canopy Tour. The guides were knowledgeable and fun. Using zip lining as a team building activity proved to be both valuable and enjoyable! Two thumbs up from this coach!”

Team Building is a much more involved process. The desired outcomes or objectives of any particular group need to be determined in advance and then a program is custom-designed to achieve those objectives. It’s important to create activities that provide opportunities for individuals to support each other and create a sense of interdependence.  Organizers recognize that not all in the group will be capable of participating in the more physical aspects, but activities such as ground support with radio contact  and transport by ATVs makes it possible for all to contribute to achieving the objective.  Recent example of a hugely successful event is Chick-Fil-A, which wanted to address the multi tasks, overlapping schedules, variety of supervision, and demand to bring it all together for “an outrageously positive experience for every customer every time”.  Their endorsement of the program speaks for itself:

“Our leadership team needed an experience that pushed their comfort levels and challenged them mentally and physically.  I chose Highlands Aerial Park.  I expected a fun outing where they could bond as a team; what we received was a lesson in humility, vulnerability, teamwork, encouragement, and selflessness that I never thought would happen organically.  The HAP team were amazing at developing a leadership experience that has strengthened the leadership culture at Chick-fil-A in Clayton, Georgia.  We are better because of our experience at HAP!”

Team Building requires a skill set of the facilitators beyond Team Bonding. HAP has a qualified team specifically for this purpose.  Groups may provide a third-party leader for ground phases of the course if the subject is technical or objective specific.

If you think your group or business would benefit from participation, whether it be a morale boost, conflict resolution, or any other objective, HAP is offering a discount through May 2018 to members of the Highlands, Cashiers, Franklin, Rabun Chamber of Commerce as well as school and youth groups.  

For more information, email info@highlandscanopytour or call (828) 526-8773.