Activities:

Group dynamics and teambuilding in the winter environment of Jegersberg.

The day started with the same procedure as the week before. “Everybody grab a piece of wood, we’re heading to Jeger’s”. We devided the group up into four subgroups to attend a different activity each

First up was the snowman-challenge in which we focussed all our artistic skills to create a lifelike leg-day skipping bodybuilder in a wheelchair with a pet cataroo by his feet. Here, the work was divided according to sculpturing skills and experience which worked tremendously. More importantly, the comical theme helped to break the ice with the Norwegians and raised the mood. In fact, next to all groups erected statues with the goal to entertain.

Up next was a game in which we collected objects in the woods, blindfolded. Directions were given by the teammates. This exercise was a great way of strengthening group cohesion and again lead to numerous hilarious situations.

For the third game the Norwegians had laid out a small circuit on which teams of four competed in various ski relay races, including a normal race, a three-ski race, one-ski racing and a race without poles. Discussions on who should race alone and how to synchronize the movement in the three ski races and the team factor were thereby furthermore increasing the group cohesion.

Tarpolen and rope: Lastly we were challenged to build improvised snow shelters in 20 minutes using a tarp and ropes in teams of four in a stretch of forest at the side of the hill in. In this we decided to get as close as possible to a vertical rock wall to be out of the wind and attached the tarp to the trees next to the wall. We closed the sides off with walls of compressed snow and fixed the tarp on the floor with thin sticks and loaded the edge with snow to increase stability and insulation. The inside floor was covered with thin green branches and accommodated all four of us comfortably. The other teams built a triangular tent structure further downhill which was more exposed to the wind and provided less space inside.

Testing of equipment:

Tarpaulins and ropes are easy to use and very versatile in the outdoor environment and therefore recommended to bring on most trips.