What team building activities would you suggest for teenagers? I work for the YMCA and am going to pitch a class on Team Building for teenagers. Any suggestions?

The Team Doc Says…

Today’s teens have been raised in a team building environment. From preschool on, they were taught to work together and collaborate to get the best outcome.

Rather than focusing on activities, how about pitching a program?

I don’t think today’s young people understand how team building skills would transfer to the workplace. You could help them make that transition by focusing on the key elements of a team — goals, accountability, communication, diverse skills — around a business scenario.

Make a game out of establishing a business environment and having them create and manage the business using team skills. I’m thinking along the lines of what Junior Achievement does. These skills would be very valuable for them to grow into the future.