Outbound Training Programmes

NEF OBT Program Go Outdoors!

With such a sound experience in outdoor education, NEF has now devised a module called ‘Outbound Training’ (OBT).
In this module the corporate employees are trained in management and interpersonal skills through the medium of outdoor education.

Experiential and Participatory Learning: Since the training entails involvement of participants, they tend to retain a lot of information they learn
Physical Freedom and Movement: The participants tend to learn better in a stimulating environment that encourages them to think
Physical and Mental Activities: The OBT program activities bring to the fore the Endurance, Determination and Resourcefulness of the participants
Pain can be fun: We believe work can be pleasurable, depending on YOUR approach to it. This idea gets imbibed during OBT program.
Supervised observations by experts: Since the camps are conducted in informal settings, the experts can supervise the participants at their (participants’) spontaneous best.

The work atmosphere in the corporate set up today is far too complex and competitive. This obviously implies that there is greater stress on the employees to perform better every time. Due to the tight working schedules the employees hardly find any time to unwind or make up for their lost energies. Also the crammed offices spaces have there own impact on the general psyche of the employees. The Outdoors comes forth as the panacea for most of these issues. The Outdoors provides physical freedom of space and movement that helps one to think in an open and free manner. The proximity with nature refreshes the mind. The time spent in the outdoors is a welcome break for the Corporates from their busy schedules. The activities in the outdoors involve some amount physical activity that works as an antidote against mental stress and pressures.

Why NEF Conducts Outbound-training Programs?

NEF Outbound training programs, the methodology of outdoor education can be very effectively harnessed in facilitating change in Corporates and Executives. Outdoor education has been employed as a proven tool to bring about constructive change in people. Corporates all over the world are subscribing to this method of training to maximize their efficiency and output of their personnel, which in turn reflects in the company’s increased profits.
The following questions and their subsequent answers will elucidate the concept of Outbound Training Programs.

Why Outdoors?

How does Outdoors help?

The edifice of Outdoor education is based on the foundation of experiential learning. The famous Chinese thinker Confucius said,
"Tell me something and I will remember some of it, show it to me and I will remember most of it, involve me and I will remember all of it."

Outdoor education involves the trainees into the process of learning. This is called participatory learning. Through carefully designed games and activities certain situations, analogous to the situations at the workplace, are simulated. The reactions of the participants are closely monitored and analyzed by qualified facilitators and Outdoor Experts (OE). These facilitators and OEs are like catalyst in this "Human Reaction’.

They subtly steer the activity in the desired direction. In this manner change is brought about by the way of self-realization rather than by external inputs.

In the ‘outdoors’ the Nature, which is regarded as the best teacher, plays its own part. This helps in refreshing the mind; in turn making it more receptive to learning and change. This break from the daily routine gives the employees the much-needed recreation, which is as important as learning itself. The recreation is in the form of a ‘change of work’ rather than trivial ‘merry-making’. The simulated challenges and adventure tasks in the training are analogous to the real life.

Problems and creative problem solving can thus be practiced. The activities and tasks involve a great deal of interaction with other people, either in groups or on an individual basis. In these exercises the participants are made to tackle situations, which test and also help enhance their interpersonal skills.

How will the company benefit?

Outdoor Education helps resolve most of the issues that corporate today have to confront. Firstly the employees can relax and refresh their minds by ‘moving out’ of the same old office environment. Primarily a training program in the outdoors revitalizes the participants. Hence there is a marked increase in the level of enthusiasm at the work place. This enthusiasm brings out the creativity in the employees, which naturally enhances the efficiency in their work.
Through the various games and sessions the participant employees get to know their colleagues better, which is not possible in the formal office atmosphere. Hence it helps to reduce the inhibitions and apprehensions, which may be present amongst them. The participants are able to blend more easily with each other, which is very necessary for successful working. The interpersonal communication within the participants improves, which generates a sense of comradeship within the group. The participants get an idea of their strengths and weaknesses, which helps them to have a clearer image about their own self. This realization is beneficial to every individual and also the team. All of these changes reflect in the company’s increased profits and productivity as well as contribute in generating a healthy work environment.
Thus, outdoors is indeed an effective tool in facilitating positive change in individuals.