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I'm On A Boat!

Jun 11, 2012 | 2847 Comments | Filed under: GeneralEventsCommunity

Written by: Jeremy Flewelling, Social Media Ambassador

Last month, I joined MPI BC for “Bring On The Groups,” a stellar daylong extravaganza filled with dynamic and memorable Vancouver group experiences.

We began our day atop the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, inside a beautifully renovated meeting space with sweeping views of the North Shore Mountains. While we enjoyed delicious breakfast items, Canadian Outback Adventures and Events debriefed us for their Wild Goose Chase, our first activity of the day.

After splitting into groups and downloading the 'Wild Goose Chase' smart phone app, we took to the streets of Vancouver. We had an hour to win points by completing outrageously fun challenges (i.e. “handstands in elevators” and “kissing live lobsters”). The more outrageous the challenge, the more points your team got.

Naturally, my team won this challenge. ;-)

We reconvened at the Hyatt before boarding a modern International Stage Lines bus. We were whisked less than 30 minutes away from Downtown to the base of Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver.

Grouse Mountain is one of my favorite year-round destinations – perfect for skiing in winter and ideal for hiking and sightseeing in summer.

A short gondola ride to the top of Grouse Mountain afforded our group breathtaking views as far as west as Vancouver Island. We then enjoyed a chairlift ride to the Eye of the Wind, a striking wind turbine and observation deck that supplies up to 25% of the mountain’s energy.

Our next challenge was to, in new teams, collaborate on a painting that would represent our group. Admittedly, it was hard to concentrate on our canvas with 360-degree awe-inspiring views of the Lower Mainland below.

I blame the distracting views for my team losing this challenge.

Finally, we ended our time at Grouse Mountain with a beautifully prepared lunch and (more) drop dead gorgeous views from The Observatory, the mountain’s fine dining restaurant and private event venue.

The next stop on our itinerary was at Lighthouse Park in nearby West Vancouver where we met tour guides from Rockwood Adventures. They took us through the local Vancouver rainforest, educating and quizzing our teams on the beautiful plants and trees surrounding us. At the end of our hike, we were treated to a peaceful waterfront view from the lighthouse.

MPI BC ended our day with a splash. Our last activity for the day took place at Sewell’s Marina, also in West Vancouver, where we sampled their Sea Safari/Sea Quest group activities.

Looking very chic in our orange life preserver suits, we divided into three high-speed inflatable boats and set out on an exhilarating scavenger hunt in Howe Sound. As we set out to navigate coastlines and islands, one event professional exclaimed, “I’m on a boat!”

Sewell’s ended our experience with all three boats racing and doing epic figure eights in the water. Yes, while some ladies may have ruined their hair, this activity was undeniably fun!

If you find yourself planning a group or team-building activity in Vancouver, I seriously recommend you take it outside. In a city where you really can ski and swim in the same day, there’s no reason to keep your attendees locked inside a boardroom.

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