1. Schoharie County Youth Bureau
PO Box 233
Schoharie, New York 12157
Phone: (518) 295-2057
 Fax: (518) 295-2094
George McDonnell, Director ………………..…………………georgemcdonnell@co.schoharie.ny.us
Nancy-Jo Brumaghim, Program Coordinator…………nancy-jo.brumaghim@co.schoharie.ny.us
JoAnne Boss, YB Assistant………….…..…….………………….jjorgensen@co.schoharie.ny.us
Team Building Workshop
Group: Berkshire Farms- Independent Living Program
Date: March 6, 2013
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Program Objectives:
To develop independent living skills to ensure a smooth transition from adolescents to adulthood.
Work Shop Participants: Youth ages 14-18
Number of Participants: 7 to 10
Location: Teen Town Cobleskill
Workshop by: Schoharie County Youth Bureau
Facilitators: George McDonnell- Youth Bureau Director
JoAnne Boss- Youth Bureau Assistant
Nancy Brumaghim- Program Coordinator
Workshop Proposal
Workshop Description: We will provide activities for the group that will promote
teamwork and trust. The Program will begin with some
icebreakers/ name games to help the group feel comfortable with
each other and start to move them out of their comfort zones to
allow growth and learning. From here the group will establish the
norms and behaviors the group will uphold. After the group has
decided on the norms we will work on teambuilding and trust
activities. We will end the workshop with a debrief on the day.
Skills/Knowledge: In this workshop students will work on building bonds and trust. They
will leave this workshop with a good understanding of what is expected
of them and the group for the remainder of the class.
Workshop Objectives:
To introduce the participants into the skill building class in a
safe environment
Set the norms the group will adhere to for the remainder of
the class
Introduce the idea of working as a group to achieve their
goals.
Develop trust among the group

2. Itinerary
3:00- 3:15 Youth arrive at Teen Town
o Nail Puzzle
o Wordles
3:10-3:15 Introductions
o Overview of the program
3:30- 3:50 Warm Up Activities/ Name Games
1. Get to know you bingo- get to know you activity
2. Group Juggle - name game
3. Hand Shakes - warm up/ introduction skills
4. Card Share- Get to know you activity
5. Have You Ever - Warm up Get to know activity
Goals:
o Start to create an environment of belonging
o Begin to form group bonds
o Ease the anxiety and tension of joining a new group
o Learn each other’s names
o Start to bring the group out of their comfort zones to their stretch zone, where
learning can take place.
3:50- 4:15 Full Value Contact
1. Goal setting (individual & group)
2. Introduction to Social Contracts
3. Introduction to Full Value Contracts
4. Develop Norms and Behaviors for group
5. Create groups Full Value Contract
Goals:
o To set the norms and standards that this group will follow to allow them to
reach their individual goals and group goals.
o Allow all group members to have a say in and create these norms
o Develop ownership of the program for the youth participating in it.
o Teach the responsibility of the group and individual to up hold what this group
has deemed of value.
4:20- 4:45 Initiative Session 1- Team Work
1. Penny Drop- teambuilding/ consensus
2. Helium Hula Hoop- cooperation/ problem solving
3. Partner Draw- communication
 We will do a short debrief after each activity
Goals
o Teach the importance of working as a team to accomplish their goals
o Cooperation vs. competition
o Think Win Win
o Bring group out of their comfort zones in the growth zone

3. If time allows Initiative Session 2- Trust
1. Trust Walk- Introduction of trust
2. Mousetrap Circle Activity- the importance of trust/ how our emotions affect others
Group will work up to this last trust activity. They must show that they are ready
for this activity through how they handle the first two activities. Not all groups
will be ready to proceed to this activity. This will not impact the overall outcomes
of the trust activities.
 We will do a short debrief after each activity
Goals
o Start to learn to trust yourself, and show others than you are trustworthy.
o Start to develop trust among the group so they can work together
o Take responsibility for our own feelings
4:45-5:00 Debrief
1. Chiji Card Debrief
o Reflection on what we did in the workshop and how these lessons can be transferred to
their daily lives and for the rest of the program
o Goals for the program
Logistics: An open area that will allow the number of each group to freely move
around. All Activities can be done inside or out.
Material: cones, webbing, tossables, large cards (1 deck), Poster board, 3x5 cards (25),
Pens, markers, easel pad, small tarps (2), Hula hoops (4), clipboards (8), cards
for partner draw, mousetraps (10), blindfolds, Chiji Cards (both decks),
pennies, eye droppers, dots
~ Promoting the development of happy and healthy youth ~