Jungle Escape

The Ultimate Team-Building Experience

You can stand in front of your audience and tell – even push – them to be better team members, but we have a better idea. Let them experience it through a team-building activity.

Whisk teams away from the traditional with Jungle Escape, one of our best-selling team-building games that's been a favorite among trainers since it was first introduced more than 30 years ago. Now, the product comes with even more items to create a fully immersive experience!

In this survival scenario, teams are challenged to work together to build a makeshift helicopter with only limited parts and each other. Jungle Escape's hands-on design enables players to discover and practice critical group-process skills such as team planning, problem solving, decision making, and conflict resolution. Before they know it, they've experienced first-hand the differences between a cohesive team and one that's fragmented or divergent. Participants will accomplish all of this through one of our best team-building games.

How It Works

Stranded in a jungle after surviving an airplane crash, teams are challenged to build a helicopter to exact specifications using only toy parts, limited access to an assembled model, and teamwork. Starting with a planning phase, they discuss how to execute the project, and then the construction begins!

When the team believes they've properly built their aircraft, the facilitator checks the helicopter for accuracy and then records the amount of time dedicated to planning and construction. The winner? The team that spends the most time planning is typically the team that completes the project the fastest. Following the activity, team members take part in a discussion about team dynamics, offer insights, and create an action plan for improvement.

The Jungle Escape kit is packed with all the team-building activities and tools you need to deliver an interactive, 90-minute exercise that educates and engages participants. The kit includes a comprehensive Facilitator Guide, colorful toy parts, a useful participant guide, support materials, an action video, and a travel suitcase. Jungle Escape provides team-building games and materials that will help develop your team into an effective unit capable of overcoming any obstacle. We even added a water bottle for trainers with a thirst for learning!

Jungle Escape is easy to facilitate, whether you are a novice or a seasoned trainer. Use the customer service team-building games of Jungle Escape as a powerful way to introduce basic team skills, improve productivity between multiple work teams, or energize mature teams.

Inter-Team Version

The Jungle Escape Inter-Team Version is designed to teach multiple teams from different areas or departments how to work with each other more effectively. If your participants would benefit from a cross-team, rather than direct-team, training experience, you should give our Inter-Team Version a try! The standard Jungle Escape Facilitator Guide includes discussion questions, normative data, and instructions for administering the Inter-Team Version – all you need to do is purchase the Inter-Team Participant Guides to conduct your session. All other kit components for running the game are the same.

Uses and Applications

Jungle Escape can be used as a standalone team-building game or as part of a more comprehensive training program. It was developed specifically for new and intermediate workgroups, but it's also an excellent refresher and energizer for more mature teams. You can also use the game to:

• Introduce the elements of effective teamwork.
• Kick off a team-building workshop or seminar.
• Improve productivity between multiple work teams.
• Identify group issues or concerns that block team performance.
• Energize established work teams.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will gain valuable insights into team dynamics, learn key elements of successful teamwork, and hone crucial group processes for optimal productivity. Armed with a deeper understanding of how individual behavior can affect team performance, participants will be able to: 

• Understand the difference between cohesive, fragmented, and divergent teams.
• Learn and practice the nine elements of effective teamwork.
• Experience vital group-process skills.
• Demonstrate the balance between planning and implementation.
• Recognize the impact of individual behavior on group productivity.
• Establish action-planning steps for improved team performance.

Product Details

What to Order

Deluxe Game Kit

Order one game to get started. The Deluxe Game Kit is packed with everything you need to train up to three teams of six players at one time, including a comprehensive Facilitator Guide, 3 bags of Helicopter Parts, support materials, and an initial supply of 18 Standard Participant Guides. (Materials for Inter-Team training sold separately.)

Also included is the Prop Pack. This suitcase is filled with many fun and reusable props to create an immersive team-building activity. It includes safari hats, inflatable palm trees, a jungle backdrop, burlap twine, camo netting, binoculars, compasses, stuffed monkeys, snakes, parrots, and bugs that will completely transform your training space into a jungle scene.

Please note: The carrying case you receive may be slightly different in design or color.

Standard Version Participant Guide 5-Pack

Order one pack for up to five participants. The Deluxe Game Kit includes an initial supply of participant guides, but you will need to replenish them when you run out. Order one per participant.

Inter-Team Version Participant Guide 5-Pack

Order one pack for up to five participants. The Inter-Team Version of Jungle Escape is designed to train participants who work in a cross-team environment from different areas or departments. Facilitation guidelines for running the Inter-Team Version are supplied in the Deluxe Game Kit. To conduct Inter-Team training, order one Inter-Team Participant Guide per participant.

Extra Helicopter Kits (Standard and Inter-Team Versions Available)

The Deluxe Game Kit contains enough materials to train 3 teams of 6 players each. If you are running the workshop with more than 3 teams, order one Extra Helicopter Kit for each additional team. Each Extra Helicopter Kit comes with 6 Participant Guides and 1 bag of Helicopter Parts, and you may choose from Standard or Inter-Team versions based on your training needs.

About the Author

The HRDQ Development Team creates soft-skills learning solutions that help to improve the performance of individuals, teams, and organizations. At HRDQ, we believe an experiential approach is the best catalyst for adult learning. Our unique Experiential Learning Model has been the core of what we do for more than 40 years. We combine the best of organizational learning theory and proven facilitation methods with an appreciation for adult learning styles. Our philosophy initiates and inspires lasting change.

Additional Information

• Infographic | 5 Ways Games Increase Productivity

If building cohesive teams feels impossible, this webinar is for you! Join training expert Gary Turner as he showcases how Jungle Escape can be used to develop essential skills like team planning, problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution.