Visit Oceanside, the CVB for Oceanside, Calif., recently debuted a teambuilding program that allows groups to experience what it’s like to be a firefighter.
Groups participating in the “Firefighter for a Day” program meet at Oceanside’s Command Training Center, an advanced fire training facility that is one of only a few in the nation with high-tech video simulator capabilities.
The program includes a simulated fire emergency and hands-on activities such as operating a fire hose and rescuing a “victim” from a burning building. Groups work with a team of firefighters who coach the attendees and offer advice on how to manage and approach the incident.
The aim is to focus on leadership, trust and accountability as well as communication. At the end of the day, groups participate in a debriefing that lets them reflect on how they can apply those teambuilding concepts to their own workplace or organization.
The firefighter experience is an addition to Visit Oceanside’s popular “Hero for a Day” teambuilding program that also includes a Navy Seal-type boot camp and Marine-inspired activities at Camp Pendleton. Hero programs range from three to four hours and are available to groups with a minimum of 10 participants.
