CAPS Connect

On 31 August 2026 at 5:00 PM, the Gazebo at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus transformed into a vibrant arena of enthusiasm, camaraderie and team spirit as students came together for CAPS CONNECT, a ninety-minute team-building programme organised by the Centre for Academic & Professional Support (CAPS). Guided by the inspiring motto, “From strangers to teammates — from today we build memories,” the programme was designed to break social barriers, encourage meaningful peer relationships and foster a healthy spirit of competition and collaboration among students.

The event was led by four energetic student anchors who worked in coordinated pairs, taking on the roles of The Host, The Hype, The Game Master and The Crowd Controller. Their enthusiastic engagement helped maintain a lively atmosphere throughout the programme while ensuring smooth transitions between activities. The session began with an arrival and gathering phase, during which participants were encouraged to visit the Photo Booth and contribute messages, doodles and personal notes to the shared Memory Board. These informal activities created an inviting environment and gave students an opportunity to interact even before the formal activities commenced.

The energy increased further during the grand kickoff, where the anchors engaged participants in a spirited cheer-off by dividing the audience into competing sides. The activity generated excitement, encouraged audience participation and established an energetic tone for the four challenges that followed.

The core of CAPS CONNECT comprised four interactive team-based tasks, each designed to test and develop different skills. The first activity, Human Knot, challenged participants to untangle themselves without releasing their teammates’ hands, requiring coordination, flexibility, communication and collective problem-solving. The second activity, The Chameleon, introduced an element of strategy and deduction as participants used one-word clues to identify the secret topic while attempting to uncover the participant who did not know the answer.

The third challenge, Acoustic Minefield, focused on trust and non-verbal communication. Blindfolded participants navigated an obstacle-filled area while relying entirely on sound-based signals such as claps, snaps, hums and stomps from their teammates. This activity encouraged teams to create their own methods of communication and demonstrated the importance of trust, coordination and attentive listening.

The final activity, Spill the Tea, Spot the Lie, invited teams to analyse unusual personal statements and determine whether they represented genuine experiences or carefully constructed fabrications. The activity encouraged observation, questioning, active listening, intuition and interpersonal interaction while generating considerable excitement and amusement among participants.

Following the completion of all four tasks, the anchors interacted with students through spontaneous feedback and reflections while the scores were being tallied. Participants also received another opportunity to contribute to the Memory Board and capture photographs. The programme concluded with the announcement of the winning team, felicitations and encouraging words from faculty members, recognising the participants’ teamwork, sportsmanship and enthusiasm.

The event ended with all participants gathering for a commemorative group photograph, bringing CAPS CONNECT to a memorable close. Overall, the programme successfully combined recreation, experiential learning and team-building, creating an engaging environment that strengthened peer interaction, encouraged collaboration and helped students build meaningful connections and lasting campus memories.