The Spirit of Teamwork: The 17th Kurbads Employee Canoe Trip

Starting from Ape, with the legendary Latvian song lyrics "Vaidava, Vaidava, take the sorrows to the blue sea..." in the background, the 17th annual "Kurbads" employee and family canoe trip successfully took place. This annual event organized by Kurbads family is much more than a simple outdoor event – it has become an important tradition that fosters mutual understanding and trust, while also helping to replenish energy reserves for a new challenges. Team-building events are essential for corporations, as they enhance employee motivation and efficiency.

The traditional river cleaning contest also took place, during which many hazardous wastes were collected, including tractor tires, metal discs, glass bottles, and even a washing machine. This activity strengthened team bonds and promoted environmental care. This year, special awards for river cleaning were given to the Ikvildi, Hartmaņi, Goldbergi, and Latkovski families. Unfortunately, our experience shows that a part of society still fails to appreciate the uniqueness of Latvia's nature, polluting not only small rivers but also surrounding forests and meadows. "Kurbads" urges everyone to always take away all they bring when venturing into nature. Only through collective efforts can we keep our rivers and forests clean and tidy.

This year's event base was the small village of Vastse-Roosa, known in English as New Rose. The canoeists were warmly welcomed by Marianne and Meelis Mottus, the hosts of the Metsavenna Talu guest house. The historical significance of the village and the story of the underground bunkers of the Forest Brothers have attracted many visitors from various countries. This village, located between fields and forests, is home to only 30 residents, but in recent years it has been visited by thousands of people from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, the USA, Canada, Germany, England, as well as from India and Japan. Our employees had the opportunity to tour an authentic Forest Brother's bunker and learn more about the Estonian national partisans, who, in small but well-armed units, continued to fight against the Soviet occupation regime for several years after the end of World War II. Notably, many Estonians, like our ancestors in Latvia, hoped that the Western countries would not allow a second Baltic occupation and that the Soviet era would soon end. The father of the guest house owner, Meelis, was also a Forest Brother, who resisted Soviet power in the mentioned bunker for 14 years.

During the trip, sports games and activities were organized, allowing everyone to showcase their skills and talents. For example, archery was one of the activities that tested participants' precision and concentration skills. Another challenge was mini-golf with ice hockey elements, which brought much laughter and fun. Teams competed with great enthusiasm, and the results were very close, further intensifying the competitive spirit. After an active day of canoeing and sports competitions, everyone gathered around a campfire to share stories of their experiences and enjoy the evening. These moments spent together strengthened not only the work team but also family bonds. The sense of unity and support shown during this trip created an even closer connection among all participants, which will be a significant foundation for future cooperation and mutual understanding. It is delightful that this year, the canoe trip saw a record number of company drivers participating. The evening's climax was the delicious soup cooked over the campfire by our own hands. And as night fell, our hearts were warmed by the magical guitar sounds of Emīlija Kate Tomsone. She performed "Div' upītes," "Buramdziemiņu," "Rozā lietus," and other songs, which we sang and danced along to.

The second morning of the canoe trip began with the first rays of the sun and special pancakes made by Raimonds Dombrovskis with Lantes manor honey. On the second day, various-sized paddles were once again taken in hand to continue down the river. It should be noted that this year's canoe trip and sports games included not only the "Kurbads un Ko" team but also employees from "Kurbads Detailing," "Kurbads Kravas Serviss," HS "Kurbads," the "Kurbads" ice rink, and Lantes manor, along with their families. This broad and diverse group created a special atmosphere where prevailing friendliness and a sense of community further strengthened the company's culture and fostered employee loyalty.