How to turn group outing into team building

________________

I recently set out on a weekend getaway with a batch of 10 travel enthusiasts. 

We chose Oguzulu Resort Beach and Camping Site in Mukono district. The pictures of its beauty flashed all over social media and captivated us. 

Maureen, our coordinator had drafted an itinerary, and travel plan plus the costs involved and shared them in our WhatsApp group. 

The next day, the group was buzzing with excitement. The sh150, 000 budget was affordable to all.

Come Saturday, by 8:30am we were heading to Mukono. It is an hour’s drive; 27 kilometers from Mukono town along Katosi road but due to the heavy traffic jam, it took us two hours to get on the marram road that snakes through villages to the resort. 

Outing turns into team building

After, a three-course breakfast, Joseph Sserwadda, an instructor, briefed us on the activities they had prepared for us. We formed two groups, each with six people. 

I led Kabalega and Maureen led Mwanga. What followed was an intense competition punctuated with chanting, slips, stumbles, falls, and some bruises. 

Kabalega won in the obstacle course. This involved members running as fast as they could or taking long strides through the different obstacles, starting with the metallic swings into the tunnel, hanging ropes, ladders, military net, and climbing rope. We also did the millipede game.

Sserwadda says these games help to exercise the body. The participants also learn to navigate through life challenges as a team with persistence, focus, and hard work.

Thereafter, we fitted in helmets and harnesses, ready for the ropes course and ending with zip lining. It was intense more so, for the first timers but they pushed on.  

Some ropes are high and hard to hold firmly while others are wide apart. By the time we went through the seven challenges, we were drenched in sweat.

Enjoying Caribbean experience

From the games, we walked to the beach. It is a few meters down the hill. 

We found the dining set out courtesy of Chef Shakur Lumala, and his team. However, we first changed into our swimsuits, soaked our drained bodies in the water, and basked in the white sands. The hunger pangs had set in. 

Lumala invited us to the Oguzulu Caribbean experience, their local exotic cuisine. This customized meal comes with three slices of meat, three foods, pineapple juice, fruits, and salad. 

The meats include; pork, beef, goat's meat, and chicken. These are served with matooke, cassava, sweet potatoes, rice, and potatoes, and served with juice in a pineapple.

It was such a memorable experience.