Team-building activities with kayaks on Lake Karapiro


Logo of the Boatshed Cafe and Kayaks

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Three kayaks rafted up securely by hand and paddle power.

What We Offer
Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Karapiro, the Boatshed provides business specific programs and a host of adventure activities that make the most of the area. We provide the ideal learning environment to facilitate positive interaction, encouraging both individuals and teams to reach their true potential. We can enhance your team by providing you with…

  • Programs that are tailor made to fit your needs
  • Activities that mirror work-place challenges
  • Professional business coaches
  • Experienced and qualified adventure facilitators
  • Up to date equipment and safety management procedures
  • Superb venue serving you delicious 'homemade' meals

Unique Programs
At the Boatshed, you can enjoy either:

  • Adventure Team-Building
  • Business Development Programs
  • Or a dynamic program including both Adventure based learning and Business Development Programs

Your people will pull together as a strong supportive team and your business will benefit from new skills, inspired staff and proven business development processes.

Benefits of our Programs
The benefits of our business development and adventure team-building services includes the development of:

  • Stronger team identity
  • Improved communication skills
  • Group problem solving techniques
  • Working together in challenging and stressful situations
  • Making decisions and plans
  • Understanding the importance of roles within the group to achieve the overall success of the project
  • Motivation and performance skills

Team-Building & Business Development Packages
Our team-building and business development packages are customised to your needs and business requirements.

They are tailored to meet…

  • Your individual needs and objectives
  • The specifics of your group
  • The time of year
  • The time you have available
  • Your financial investment
  • Reflective of your business environment

Our programs are Designed to exceed your aims and objectives.

Adventure Team-Building

Our Adventure programs are designed and administered by our professional facilitator, Wendy Chrisp and her team of instructors.

We offer a range of practical adventure activities through a series of physical, creative and mentally stimulating challenges.

Our programs incorporate experiential learning, using adventure and initiative style learning practices. Our programs are effective, fun and an extremely rewarding process.

Wendy Chrisp - Team-Building Facilitator

Wendy Chrisp is a highly motivated facilitator, with 12 years experience in designing and facilitating experiential based learning programs for corporate clients and elite sporting teams.

“Effective teamwork begins with a personal commitment”

Wendy specialises in Personal Effectiveness and Team Development programs, tailor-made to maximize personal potential.

Water Based Activity Examples:

Bridge to Boatshed
We transport your team to the Hora Hora bridge at the top of the Lake Karapiro. You paddle back to the Boatshed beach, using our fast but stable adventure race double kayaks. Paddling as a group, this will take no longer than 1 ½ hrs. Great scenery, and the food and coffee at the Boatshed will be much appreciated. We can provide a support boat plus driver if required at extra cost.

  • Price $40 pp
  • Support boat and driver $80 per group
  • Maximum group 18 people
  • Minimum 6 people

Guided Waterfalls Trip
A guided trip to two local waterfalls and an inlet only accessible by kayaks. This scenic trip is suitable for anyone regardless of fitness levels.

  • Time frame 2hrs
  • Max No. people – 25.
  • Minimum 5 people.
  • Cost - $35pp

Additional Activites
One or two additional activites can be added to a guided kayak trip. The activities will depend on conditions but could include some of the following:

  • Kayak Sail Race $10 extra pp
  • River Crossing $10 extra pp
  • Kayak Polo $20 extra pp

Time frame 3½ - 4hrs
Optional extra of afternoon tea on the water is $7.50 pp

Kayak Sail Race
This activity obviously depends on a bit of wind and is usually run either on the way to the waterfalls or returning depending on wind direction.
Time frame ¾hr.

River Crossing
You must get your team across to a pontoon using resources available. We teach you a few rope skills that might help. Teams come face to face, across a “raging torrent”. To make any progress, and to avoid getting wet, they will have to work together! What are we trying to achieve? Who has the right resources? Has anyone got appropriate experience? A sure way for teams to appreciate the value of working together towards common goals.
Time frame ¾hr

Kayak Polo
This is ideal as a short activity on the water. The game is based at the kayak beach below the café. Be prepared to get wet if you have competitive staff members! This activity is lots of fun using both sit in and sit on kayaks. This activity can be run on its own or in conjunction with the Guided Waterfalls Trip. Time frame 1 - 1½hrs Minimum number of people is 8. Maximum is 20. Cost $20 pp

Kayak Rogaine
You’re given a map, checkpoint locations and description of each checkpoint and its points value, you choose your own route to visit whatever checkpoints you choose; the idea being to maximise your total points. However, you need to make sure you get back before the time limit expires, as there are hefty penalties for being late.

At each checkpoint there will be a code to be recorded on a score sheet. Rogaining is a team sport and teams must stay together for safety and fairness.

  • Time frame 3½hrs
  • Max No. People – 25
  • Cost – up to 10 people $75 pp; between 10 & 25 people $50 pp

Raft Building
Build your own watercraft then sail or paddle around a course. Lots of room for innovation.

  • Time frame 1½hrs
  • 5-7 people per team, maximum of two teams.
  • Cost $15 pp

Land Based Activity Examples:

The Bomb Squad
Can your team reach the bomb in time to defuse it? Does the team look for an innovative answer, or will they try the traditional approach? Does everyone understand the rules? How does your team go about it?

The Bog of Eternal Stench
Needing to cross to the other side of ‘the bog’ by way of some planks, and the odd tree stump, each team will need to consider its approach carefully. This activity best emphasises both different problem-solving approaches, and striving for 100% quality.

The Spiders Web
The task is to enable team members to maneuver through a vertical fabricated web. There is a limited number of holes and the right people need to be passed through the appropriate hole. Planning is crucial to the success of this activity. There is a limited number of holes available and time waits for no one.

Ropes Course
Choose between a high and a low ‘jungle-gym’ to test your team working skills. The elements are suspended via ropes and cables and they vary from 1/2 a metre to 15 metres off the ground. All elements require the support of team mates both in a moral and physical sense. It’s a superb activity for any team looking to develop their team working skills.

“SNAP”
A simple team ‘competition’, utilising polaroid cameras. Each team has a series of photo’s to take, criteria to fulfil, and points to earn. It requires creativity, ingenuity and its fun!

Hairstyles
You can hardly get more creative! It’s your organisation’s First Annual Hair styling Competition - with colour, gel and all the props. You can make a mess but the only lasting effects will be increased team spirit, For added energy and lasting memories (plus a few photos).

Corporate Events Examples

Corporate Triathlon or Multisport Races
Using or large grounds (10 ha ), we organise several short course events combining swimming, off road running, or walking, mountain biking, and of course kayaking. This is a great way to get all your staff involved, with an emphasis on participation, and supporting your team. These events are ideal for large groups, and can be run in conjunction with your Christmas function at the Boatshed.

  • Price –enquire and we will quote depending on your requirements

Corporate Kayak Rogaine
Your team of 4 paddlers is given a map, with checkpoint locations and description of each checkpoint and its points value. You choose your own route to visit whatever checkpoints you choose; the idea being to maximise your total points. However, you need to make sure you get back before the time limit expires, as there are hefty penalties for being late. At each checkpoint there will be a code to be recorded on a score sheet. Rogaining is a team sport and teams must stay together for safety and fairness.

  • Time frame 3½hrs
  • Max No. People – 25
  • Cost – up to 10 people $75 pp
  • Between 10 & 25 people costs $50 pp

And plenty more . . . contact us for a personalised programme!

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Another programme offered by Wendy Chrisp is "The Health Kick" for increasing employee effectiveness, in association with:

Mark Sutherland Business Coaching
Gold medal graphic stating "Gold medal performance strategies for business and personal success"

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SparkHouse We offer a unique, fresh and meaningful internal branding approach to evolving your company's lifestyle, build stronger teams and improve the customer experience.
Contact Sparkhouse

Success is not achieved through spontaneous combustion. You have to set yourself on fire!

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The Boatshed Café and Kayaks - Richard and Robyn Clark,
RD2 Amber Lane, Lake Karapiro, Cambridge, New Zealand,
Phone: (07) 827 8286 or Mobile - (027) 2758724 Or Email us here