Mars Rover Challenge

Mars Rover Challenge provides a powerful and unique hands-on experience that allows participants to connect with the concept of collaboration at a deep and personal level. Participants are immersed in a team construction activity, whereby they are tasked by the World Space Agency to build a prototype rover for traversing Mars’ rocky terrain.

This Event Has Departed...

This event has bonded more teams than we can count but has finally run its course and is now considered part of The Departed. Below you'll find a scrolling list of additional events that are considered great alternatives. If you really loved Mars Rover Challenge and think it should be brought back from The Departed, let us know by voting using the button below!

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Available as

In-Person

Why this event?

Mars Rover Challenge provides a powerful and unique hands-on experience that allows participants to connect with the concept of collaboration at a deep and personal level. Participants are immersed in a team construction activity, whereby they are tasked by the World Space Agency to build a prototype rover for traversing Mars’ rocky terrain.

TWO VERSIONS OF THE MARS ROVER TEAM BUILDING GAME ARE AVAILABLE:

In the leadership version, participants work in teams to construct a rover, led by a team member who (unknown to the rest of the team) adopts one of three contrasting leadership styles—traditional (command-and-control), passive, and collaborative. Each of the three styles engenders very different feelings and emotions among team members. And together, they provide a very real demonstration of the effects different styles can have on morale, motivation, and performance.

The teamwork version again calls for participants to work in teams, only, this time, the Mars Rover game is played in two rounds. In round one, participants simulate working in siloed departments as they build the rover. In round two, they work together collaboratively. The end result in each round usually is markedly different, and the process and outcomes make for lively discussion and usually quite a few “Ah-Ahs!”

innovative team buildingMars Rover Challenge is an Innovation Lab program. We always have some fresh new team building brainstorm under development. Remember, every event we offer has to start somewhere. The opportunity for you? A deeply discounted, deeply memorable experience when you let us test-drive our latest creation on your team. Of course, we’ll want photos and video – you will, too.

Visit our Innovation Lab >

Team size
  • 12 - 18
Time needed
  • 4Hrs
Space requirement

The Leadership Version is a hands-on game that takes 4 hours to complete. Using a professional TeamBonding facilitator, leaders guide their teams passively, traditionally, or collaboratively in constructing the best Rover they can.

The Team Version is a two-part game that lasts 4 hours. In Part One, participants complete assigned tasks individually that contribute to the construction of the Rover. In Part Two, the participants collaborate on designing and constructing a Rover they think has the best chance of completing its mission.

 

Ideal for

Team Module:

  • Understanding the difference between groups and teams
  • Learning the importance of interdependence
  • Recognizing how communication impacts team performance

Leadership Module:

  • Experience the benefits of facilitative leadership
  • Learn how the facilitative style creates an atmosphere of teamwork
  • Discover the drawbacks of traditional or passive leadership

Let's talk.

For more than 20 years, we’ve been helping teams like yours enhance open communication and build team camaraderie. If you want to rekindle the bonds your team once shared, or you’re assembling a new virtual team for the post-pandemic world, we are here to help.

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