We didn’t start the fire

Survivor Games at Oak Openings

What better way to build a strong team than being thrown in the woods for one hour, given tasks to overcome, all with the goal of being the first to build a fire? That’s exactly what the Madhouse team did on a chilly December day.

The Madhouse staff ventured out to Oak Openings Metropark to participate in the new programming opportunity known as Survivor Games, which is inspired by the popular reality TV show, Survivor. The Metroparks Toledo programming staff led the participants through the instructions, then gave them an hour to complete the various assignments and successfully start a fire.

There were three teams of four, and each had to complete different missions at five stations around the park. At each location, the groups were charged with earning an item that would ultimately help them build a fire. The challenges included identifying a tree, filtering water, building a shelter for Barbie, throwing an atlatl, and opening a lock through clues.

While all three teams accomplished the assignments at the five stations, only two of the teams successfully built a fire. The third team struggled and eventually got the fire going, but only after major hints were dropped and help was given. So it might be said that not everyone “survived.”

Not only did the game require teamwork, but it provided the chance to get away from computer screens, get some exercise, and be outdoors, which was a nice break from the usual work week. And there was a celebration afterwards with pizza and drinks at a cozy little joint in Whitehouse. Not a bad way to spend a hump day in December.