By Dale Strother – Group Adventures Coordinator
Last year, the coach of an NCAA Division 1 women’s lacrosse team brought her athletes to USA Raft Adventure Resort for a weekend of team building. We asked the coach for an “after action review” of the outing. She had a lot of great things to say as well as some suggestions, but one comment really resonated with our team at USA Raft Adventure Resort.
“My athletes play a very physical sport at a very high level, but they will still sneak their phones on the practice field tucked in their shorts. However the day we spent on the river they left their phones behind and focused on communicating and working with each other. This was one of the greatest team building activities we have ever done.”
So, what makes a successful team building event? We believe that experiencing something new, exciting, and that requires teamwork to succeed together are the most basic requirements. It is important that all members of the team be equally engaged in the event. It is important to recognize that not everyone brings the same skill set or ability to an activity, so the activity should be designed to leave no team member behind or unable to contribute to the success of the team. The end result of the activity should allow everyone to celebrate the team’s accomplishments together. Outdoor recreation activities allow teams the chance to connect, collaborate, and learn from an experience together.
This perfectly describes a day on the river with USA Raft Adventure Resort. We are situated along the banks of the beautiful Nolichucky River, which has been rated one of the 10 best whitewater rafting rivers in the world! Rock walls tower 1000 feet vertically above the river in some places. Wildlife is frequently spotted in the gorge, including deer, bear, falcons, and osprey. “Rafting the gorge” is 9 miles, 15 named rapids, and 4+ hours of true white water rafting. The rapids range from class 2 to class 4+. This is the real deal. Our well-trained and experienced guide staff make this a safe and enjoyable experience that is doable by just about anyone who is up for the challenge. The average tenure of our guide staff is 10 years and some “OG’s” (old guides) have been around the company for 40 years! We know the river!
Is your team up for a bonding experience so they can tackle new challenges together? Take them rafting! USA Raft Adventure is conveniently located just off I-26, only 30 minutes from Johnson City, TN and 45 minutes from Asheville, NC. Our location is an easy drive from most anywhere in the Southeast USA. We are also located directly on the Appalachian Trail for hiking excursions. Riverside glamping accommodations are available. More information about our offerings can be found at www.usaraft.com.
Please contact me for more information on how to offer your team the experience of a lifetime.
Dale Strother
423-341-9422
dales@usaraft.com
