Team building 2024: Rain? Who cares!

We had it all planned out: we would go rafting on the beautiful Mrežnica River, which is still somewhat of a hidden gem in central Croatia. Then we would visit Crikvenica, a seaside resort of the northern Adriatic. But just a few days before our trip, heavy rains and flooding got us worried. The skies didn’t seem to be on our side. Still, we were determined to make it happen. 

Mrežnica River: The kind of rafting we didn’t quite expect

We go on team-building trips like this once per year, typically in September. We put in time and energy into planning them, as we like to see new places and stuff, and we don’t settle for ordinary experiences.

On Saturday, we started our rafting adventure on the Mrežnica River. Despite the rain and a changed route due to high water levels, we put on our wetsuits and headed down the river. Several of our Swiss colleagues joined in. 

Skippers taught us how to paddle and what to do if someone fell into the water (a scenario we hoped to avoid). Rafting is pure teamwork: everyone has a role to play. That is how you navigate the rapids and stay afloat.

But it wasn’t all hustle and bustle. There was a very special moment when we all stopped in a wide part of the river for four minutes. It seemed like the world had come to a halt. We could only hear the soothing sounds of nature and rain, and that was pure joy. Mrežnica was warm, so we could actually swim back to shore.

The evening warmup started with a pub quiz. It was both competitive and fun. Then the DJ arrived and the party started; we had a blast until the early morning hours.

Crikvenica: Yoga, drumming, city challenge?

We spent our Sunday by the sea. Crikvenica is a place where history and natural beauties come together in a miraculous way. Our day was packed with activities in smaller groups; everyone chose what they liked best:

• Yoga session: They say it is a great way to relax. Some of us were happy to try it, and it was a fantastic choice.
• Creative workshops: Want to try your hand at painting? Believe it or not, we worked in pairs to create one big painting at the end. More into music? You could learn basic drumming from a drummer of a well-known regional rock band.
• City Challenge: In this one, teams raced around the city, solving tasks and taking photos as proof. They had limited time to complete challenges, so they didn’t lack excitement.

As we headed back to Varaždin on Sunday, we simply had to give credit to our Rina Travel agency for coordinating everything and making sure we got the most out of the trip. Our Swiss colleagues said they enjoyed it, and we certainly look forward to the next one. Some interesting suggestions have already been made - stay tuned!