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The origin of this new business venture can be found in the United States where the phenomenon is known as outdoor training. At first, it was a training technique exclusively aimed at improving the company's long term results, but it has gradually become a reward that many companies decide to offer their employees as compensation for an exhausting or difficult period of work. Outdoor training is based on the playing of different games, physical activities and group sports that aim to promote a series of skills and behaviour that will be useful in the day to day functioning of the office.

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The list of activities offered by specialized companies across Spain is wide and varied: river descents, group strategies, paintballing, archery, 4x4 expeditions, mountain biking, canoeing, orienteering, climbing, abseiling. All these take place in natural surroundings, where the participants feel totally relaxed and the only requirement is that the activity is enjoyable so that the participants have a fun day out and a break from the rigid norms of work. Also, wherever possible, skills that can later be applied to the office can ideally be developed: strengthening teamwork, solidarity, decision-making, calm under pressure, avoiding stress and improving relations with colleagues.

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Group activities
The organization of these activities is carried out on similar lines. The participants are divided into groups and given points for each activity to add the competitive and teamwork components. Teams thus work together to beat each other but all in a cordial and sporting atmosphere. The activities can be enjoyed by groups of 10 to 200 people. All have special monitors that offer appropriate advice before starting, and during the activity ensure that safety is guaranteed.

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To carry out each activity a set amount of time is given and rudimentary materials used. An objective is defined (which could be reaching the top of a mountain, cover the opposing team in paintballs, etc.) and steps to achieve it are thought out.

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If used as a method of improving the employees' performance within the company, the aim of these fun activities is to learn to survive hostile conditions, force the participants into taking decisions and take on risks. Another aim is to reveal such aspects as lack of communication, absence of organizing leaders, planning shortage, the way some people participate actively while others remain on the margins.Thanks to these activities, both managers and workers discover that these roles are the same as those that can be observed in the workplace and that certain attitudes and group behaviour can lead to success while others lead to failure.

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Clearly, after such an exhausting day of fun and training outside the daily office routine, both organizers and participants end up discussing their impressions of the day over a large meal.

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