River and Trail's New Approach to Affordable Team Building Activities Deliver Powerful Team Work Results for Washington DC Corporate Groups

    KNOXVILLE, MD, August 08, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- It is a common misperception that team building programs mean participants have to tackle physically-demanding challenges, like clip in to intimidating high ropes courses, scale sheer walls through teamwork, etc. River & Trail specializes in team building activities and corporate outings that everyone can do, even physically-challenged employees.

"Going rafting on an easy river with your work colleagues is a proven facilitator of improved understanding, communication, and respect among participants. This translates into better team work in the office, and better company results," says Lee Baihly, Founder, River & Trail Outfitters.

River & Trail's team building activities demonstrate that effective team work begins with effective social interaction. In America today, work place teams rarely experience each other outside of the work place, which means they cannot experience the skills and capabilities a team member possesses that aren't being utilized or are under-utilized by his or her current position. Corporate outings that have largely social goals are proven to be effective at stimulating social exchange back in the work place.

"I just wanted to write and let you know that our summer corporate event yesterday white water rafting was a huge success! We had a turnout of 22 employees and they unanimously agreed it was our best corporate event ever!" -Bonnie Hanger, Operations Coordinator, Baywood Hotels

River & Trails' team building activities tap into the hidden skills and leadership styles of the company's or organization's employees. Programs energize and inspire the participants through land- and river-based games and adventures, including rafting, tubing, biking, scavenger hunts, orienteering problem-solving, and puzzle challenges. Team building activities are fun, cost-effective ways for a corporate group to cultivate the skills that lead to improved collective performance: effective communication, creative thinking, hands-on collaboration, shared decision-making and honest reflection on group performance. Skilled team building facilitators, trained by industry experts, lead all programs and facilitate desired program goals. Team building activities are very affordable at under $100pp for full day programs, and $60-70pp for half day programs. Customization is River & Trail's specialty and a range of picnic options are available to suit each group's needs. Popular corporate outings include River and Trail's "Paddle and Wine" and "Boat and Brew" events.

About River & Trail Outfitters

River & Trail is one of the oldest licensed outfitters in the Maryland-West Virginia- Virginia tri-state region near Washington DC. Founded by Lee and Eunsook Baihly in 1972, this family-owned company specializes in affordable, day trip paddlesports recreation with teambuilding, including whitewater rafting, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddling instruction near Harpers Ferry, WV on the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and Antietam Creek. River & Trail also offers bike rentals for the nearby renowned C&O Canal towpath, a portable climbing wall, and hiking and biking trips throughout the historic Harper's Ferry region. Located just over an hour's drive outside of Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD, River & Trail is an environmentally-conscious outfitter with a comprehensive green program that includes buses operating on bio-diesel, river conservation funding, and inner city youth programs. For more information, visit http://www.rivertrail.com or call 888-i-Go-Play (446-7529).

# # #