Any decision maker, human resources director or company executive knows that that the easiest way to bring workers together and promote comradeliness and teamwork is to plan an event outside the office. It can be challenging, though, to plan an event that achieves these goals while being both memorable and fun. For instance, a party at a local restaurant could be a nice break from the drudgery of work, but it may also divide wallflowers and introverts who don’t feel well-situated trying to communicate with more socially aware types who naturally form their own cliques and conversations. Rather than “just another party,” an executive who desires to treat their employees to an event they’ll remember lovingly should consider a company treasure hunt.

A treasure hunt frees employees from their cubicles and gets them out doing something active. It is a group activity that inspires team work and provides a change from the normal that just could help a formerly unknown leader come out of his or her shell. Also, modern satellite and GPS technology has broadened the scope of the classic treasure hunt to include just about any place in the world a bunch of employees can get to. Ultimately, by making use of common resources available on the web or in the phone book, a treasure hunt is both cheap and simple to plan.

To begin a GPS treasure hunt adventure, the first stop is the Internet to find a venue. Many websites list areas where valuable gems, metals and other materials have been found, complete with GPS coordinates to plug in to a hand-held receiver. Others advertize areas where pre-designed treasure hunts have already been laid out and supply pre-prepared inventories of secret items. Wherever the treasure hunt will occur, it is very important to remember the venue should be compatible with the GPS devices being used. A wide open area with an unobstructed view of the sky will work for most units, while treasure hunts in dense forests will require increased sensitivity to satellite signals.

A growing treasure hunt trend well-suited to a corporate event is the increasingly favorite pastime of geocaching. Geocaching permits independent hobbyists to plant their own “treasures” for other GPS pros to find. It also offers a fun social element as forums and conversations spring up among those who have discovered the same geocache.

Once the location and specific sort of treasure hunt are confirmed, there are some more details to attend to before employees can break into groups and set off with their GPS units and satellite signals as their guides. Chief among these details are safety precautions. A treasure hunt in a remote area shouldn’t begin till the local park service or other authorities have been alerted to the group’s presence in the area. Having a strategy for communication among different teams is essential should an emergency arise. And whether in a city or in the wild, each employee should be matched with a “buddy” to prevent individuals from getting lost or wounded alone. With attention to these basic, common-sense security precautions, a company treasure hunt should be a successful office outing staff won’t soon forget.

Tom is a key contributor to the base data, as well as, to the growth and enlargement of Satellite Treasure Map Information overlaid on Google Maps. Tom has accumulated this data thru many years of seeking out concealed truths through many diverse sources.