The Island Challenge – Building bridges connecting teams
Team bridge building challenge
Overview The Island Challenge is an engaging team experience where small groups are placed on separate “islands” surrounding a central HQ Island. Success depends on communication, trust, and knowledge sharing as teams work together to achieve a common…
Challenging Experiences
Communication Skills Practice
Construction/Building Activity
Cooperative Problem-Solving
Goal Alignment
Group Activity
Workshop
Description
Overview
The Island Challenge is an engaging team experience where small groups are placed on separate “islands” surrounding a central HQ Island. Success depends on communication, trust, and knowledge sharing as teams work together to achieve a common goal. This activity highlights how aligning individual and shared objectives creates collective success and demonstrates the power of teamwork in a tangible, hands-on way.
How It Works
Teams are split into sub-groups, each with limited materials. Their task is to build bridges to connect with other islands and reach HQ. Collaboration, resource-sharing, and strategic planning are essential, as no single team can complete the challenge alone. Roles such as builder, problem-solver, and communicator are assigned based on team members’ strengths, encouraging participation and leveraging diverse skills.
Why It Stands Out
Unlike traditional problem-solving exercises, this activity physically separates teams, making communication and collaboration critical. It’s a memorable, high-energy experience that reinforces how teamwork drives results.
Benefits
Key Benefits
🔹 Transparent communication — Share information effectively to achieve common goals.
🔹 Strategic thinking — Plan ahead, anticipate obstacles, and adapt strategies in real time.
🔹 Resource management — Optimize limited materials to maximize team performance.
🔹 Role clarity & strength-based teamwork — Assign roles to match individual capabilities.
🔹 Shared achievement — Build trust and camaraderie through collaborative success.
Typical Outcomes
By the end of the session, teams gain:
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Stronger collaboration and coordination skills
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Sharper strategic and adaptive thinking
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Enhanced problem-solving abilities
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A tangible sense of accomplishment and team unity
Perfect for teams looking for a fun, interactive way to strengthen trust, collaboration, and collective problem-solving.
Additional Experience Info
Outdoor area of 300 - 600 m2 needed
Hosted by Jeroen Tholen
About the Host
Jeroen Tholen is a workplace experience and operations leader with 20+ years of international experience across hospitality, construction, tourism, and corporate environments. He specializes in optimizing operations, elevating service delivery, and building high-performing, people-centric workplaces.
A multilingual manager (EN/FR/NL), Jeroen has coordinated complex projects, VIP events, and cross-functional teams across Europe and Australia. Known for his structured, empathetic leadership style, he strengthens client and supplier relationships while ensuring smooth, efficient, and high-quality execution.
Passionate about learning and team development, Jeroen is an accredited team coach and facilitator trained in NLP, DISC, Belbin® Team Roles, and Collective Intelligence. He also holds EU certification to lead outdoor corporate learning experiences.
His mission is clear: to help teams build engaging, resilient cultures that drive performance and sustainable growth.
Travel Locations
Travel & Logistics Overview:
I deliver workshops across Europe, with travel options tailored to the type and duration of the session.
All my offerings and formats are available for the cities of Geneva, Lausanne, Neufchatel, Bern, Interlaken, Lyon, Grenoble and anywhere in between.
Workshops Requiring Car + Trailer Transport
The following five activities require road transport due to equipment size:
• Island Challenge
• Bridge Building
• Team in Balance
• The Maze (Outdoor version)
• Team Challenge
All other workshops and activities can be transported by train or plane.
Travel by Car:
Half-Day to Full-Day Workshops – For sessions up to 1 day, I travel by car to:
Switzerland: Basel, Zurich, and all regions in between
France: Dijon, Valence, Clermont-Ferrand, and surrounding regions
1-Day (Large Groups) or 2-Day Workshops – For longer or large-scale workshops, I travel by car to:
All of Switzerland
France: Strasbourg, Paris, Clermont-Ferrand, Marseille, and surrounding regions
Car travel rate: chf 0.70 per kilometer (invoiced based on actual distance).
Travel by Train or Plane:
I am available to travel anywhere in Europe for:
Minimum half-day workshops, or
Short 2-hour workshops if the flight is no more than 2 hours (one-way)
Travel expenses (invoiced at actual cost):
Parking at Geneva Airport (GVA)
Train or plane tickets
Taxi/ground transport from destination airport to the venue and back
Accommodation
Any required hotel or overnight stay will be charged to the client at actual cost.
Certifications & Credentials
I have a BA in Outdoor sports management, European qualified (EQF5) that allows me to practice and train all types of outdoor sports. All our activities are considered within our Professional Liability insurance. We work under NDA’s with our clients when requested. Besides this, I am fully accredited in Team coaching, NLP, Collective Intelligence, Belbin(r) Team Roles, DISC & EQ, NVPF Change Facilitator.
Client Requirements
Depending on the groupsize - experience (activity). Example: group up to 16 persons, full-day experiential workshop; projector, flipchart and an indoor or outdoor area of 80m2- 120m2 would be appreciated
Past Clients
UN, IOM, CERN, Givaudan, JTI, Movenpick, Baxter, Unilabs, Constellium, STMicroelectronics, KONE, COTY, France Boissons, Cegelec, Group RATP, Shell, Migros, Medtronic, ACER
Focus Areas
Creative/CultureWell-being/HealthDevelopment/Coaching
Location
Geneva, Switzerland
Languages
English, French, Dutch
Corporate Experience
Significant
Session Types Offered
Interactive & Passive
Past Experience Doing Sessions
Yes - Interactive
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