14 Amazing Team Building Activities in Raleigh

Are you in search of team building activities in Raleigh, North Carolina? Look no further! We’ve compiled 14 of the best options for you and your workgroup.

We’ve curated this list of team building activities in Raleigh to help your team experience the city’s charm, history, and vibrant culture.

From exploring the city’s iconic murals to competing in office Olympics at Pullen Park and beyond, these activities are designed to strengthen your team bonds while enjoying the best that Raleigh has to offer.

Check out our 14 recommendations.

1. Picnic and Games at Dorothea Dix Park

Plan a relaxing and engaging team picnic at Dorothea Dix Park, one of Raleigh’s most beautiful open spaces.

Encourage everyone to bring their favorite picnic foods, blankets, and outdoor games like frisbee, cornhole, or spikeball.

This laid-back setting fosters camaraderie and provides a great opportunity for team members to bond and unwind in a picturesque environment.

2. Picnic Party Games

While you’re hosting your picnic, you can take it to the next level with a Picnic Party Games team building activity in Raleigh.

With Picnic Party Games, you and your team will compete through a series of fun outdoor events, including:

• Catapult Cuisine: Use a utensil to launch a bite-sized food item into another person’s mouth from 10 feet away.
• Tree Hugger: Snap a photo of someone hugging a tree trunk like a koala bear. Legs and arms must be completely off the ground!
• Spoon Relay: Participate in a relay race while balancing a small rock on a spoon.

These games can be done all at once or spread out throughout the day.

3. DIY Raleigh Mural Tour

Take advantage of Raleigh’s vibrant street art scene by organizing a DIY mural tour. Map out a route featuring iconic murals like:

• The “All Are Welcome” mural on Salisbury Street
• The colorful “Raleigh” mural on Hargett Street
• The “Before I Die” wall on South Saunders Street

Split into teams and see who can find and photograph the most murals within a set time frame. To make it more engaging, ask participants to create a short story or caption for each mural they find.

Then, meet back at a local coffee shop, such as Sir Walter Coffee, to share photos and stories.

This team building activity in Raleigh promotes teamwork, creativity, and an appreciation for local art, offering a unique way to explore the city.

4. Cooking Challenge at Lake Johnson Park

Do you have a group of foodies in your company? Are you looking for a team building activity in Raleigh with a culinary component?

If so, we’d recommend hosting a fun and interactive cooking challenge at Lake Johnson Park.

Split your team into groups and provide them with basic cooking supplies and a selection of ingredients. Then, challenge them to create a picnic dish using the provided items, perhaps incorporating a local ingredient like North Carolina sweet potatoes.

Provide some inspiration for dishes like:

• Sweet potato and black bean salad
• BBQ chicken wraps
• Fresh fruit and yogurt parfaits

Once the cooking is complete, enjoy a group picnic where each team presents and shares their dish.

To add an extra element of fun, appoint judges to taste and score the creations based on presentation, taste, and creativity.

5. Historic Walking Tour with a Twist

Immerse your team in Raleigh’s rich history with a self-guided historic walking tour. Create a list of notable sites to visit, such as:

• The North Carolina State Capitol
• The Mordecai House
• The City of Raleigh Museum

To make it more interactive, prepare trivia questions related to each location for teams to answer as they visit.

You can ask trivia questions like:

• In what year was Raleigh established as the capital of North Carolina?
• What was the original purpose of the building that is now housing the City of Raleigh Museum?
• What major event does the museum’s exhibit on Fayetteville Street cover?
• Who was Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope, and why is he significant to Raleigh’s history?
• What year was the Pope House built?
• What unique item can be found in the Pope House that showcases Dr. Pope’s profession?
• Who built Haywood Hall, and in what year?
• What is the architectural style of Haywood Hall?
• Name one of the notable artifacts or pieces of furniture found inside Haywood Hall.
• What year was the Tucker House constructed?
• What is the architectural style of the Tucker House?
• Who was the original owner of the Tucker House, and what was his profession?
• When was Christ Church established in Raleigh?
• Who was the architect behind the design of Christ Church?
• What is the significance of the stained glass windows in Christ Church?
• In what year did Raleigh City Market open?
• What was the primary purpose of the City Market when it first opened?
• Name one type of vendor or shop that was historically part of Raleigh City Market.

You can also offer small prizes for the team that answers the most questions correctly.

6. Corporate Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are exciting team building activities in Raleigh that foster problem-solving, quick thinking, and collaboration in a fun, high-pressure environment.

If you’re looking for an amazing corporate escape room, Outback offers two unique options.

Escape Room: Jewel Heist

Who will be the first to find the stolen jewels? In order to crack the case, your team will need to quickly uncover the hidden clues and then solve a series of brain teasers that require collaboration, creative problem solving, and thinking outside the box.

Escape Room: The Mummy’s Curse

Uncover the secrets of Ancient Egypt to retrieve the talisman and lift the mummy’s curse! Using mysterious items provided, your team will be challenged to strategize, problem-solve, and communicate as you solve a series of puzzles… before time runs out.

7. Nature Hike and Clean-Up at Umstead State Park

Combine team building in Raleigh with community service by organizing a nature hike and clean-up at Umstead State Park.

Equip your team with gloves, trash bags, and grabbers, and set off on one of the park’s scenic trails, such as:

• The Company Mill Trail
• The Sycamore Trail
• The Inspiration Trail

As you hike, collect any litter you find and dispose of it properly.

This activity not only promotes teamwork and physical activity but also helps preserve the natural beauty of the park.

After the clean-up, consider having a picnic or a reflection session to discuss the importance of environmental stewardship and how the team can continue to make a positive impact.

8. Outdoor Photo Scavenger Hunt in Downtown Raleigh

Discover the heart of Raleigh with an outdoor photo scavenger hunt. Divide your team into small groups and create a list of specific items, landmarks, and unique scenarios to capture with their smartphones.

Include must-see spots like:

• The Raleigh Convention Center’s Shimmer Wall
• The North Carolina State Capitol
• The giant acorn sculpture in Moore Square

Encourage teams to interact with the environment by snapping a photo with a friendly street performer or capturing a candid shot at the bustling City Market.

Set a time limit and meet back at a designated café like The Morning Times to compare photos and share stories.

9. City Chase

Interested in a scavenger hunt team building activity in Raleigh but don’t want to plan it all on your own? We’ve got you covered.

City Chase offers teams an exciting and interactive adventure through the vibrant streets of Raleigh.

With a smartphone app as their guide, participants embark on a scavenger hunt, completing challenges, solving puzzles, and exploring unique places.

From iconic landmarks to hidden treasures, City Chase encourages teamwork, creativity, and quick thinking as teams strategize their way to victory.

This exhilarating urban adventure provides an unforgettable team building experience that fosters camaraderie among colleagues in the dynamic environment of Raleigh.

10. Team Volunteering Day at Raleigh Food Bank

Organize a day for your team to volunteer together at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina in Raleigh. Tasks can include:

• Sorting and packing food donations
• Preparing meals
• Helping with administrative work

Volunteering together not only strengthens team bonds but also instills a sense of purpose and community.

After your volunteering session, gather for a group lunch at a nearby restaurant, such as The Pit Authentic Barbecue, to reflect on the experience and discuss how your team can continue to support local initiatives.

5. Random Acts of Kindness

While we’re on the topic of giving back, we’ve got a team building activity in Raleigh that’s right in line with that goal.

Feel like getting out and spreading some kindness and cheer in Raleigh? We recommend it!

Doing good in the world is good for you. In fact, it actually builds team morale.

Random Acts of Kindness fuses the scavenger hunt concept with a philanthropic twist. This team building activity gets teams racing against one another to try and complete as many good deeds as possible before time runs out.

12. DIY Craft Workshop at Artspace

Set up a DIY craft workshop at Artspace, a visual arts center in downtown Raleigh. Choose a simple craft project, such as:

• Painting plant pots
• Making friendship bracelets
• Creating vision boards

Artspace often has open studios and art materials available, making it an ideal location for a creative team building activity. Provide all the necessary materials and let creativity flow.

This activity allows team members to relax, express their creativity, and enjoy a break from their usual work routine.

If you want to level up this activity, you can consider inviting a local artist to provide a brief tutorial or inspiration for the projects.

13. The Olympiad Challenge

Bring the excitement of the Olympics to Pullen Park with this high-energy team building activity in Raleigh.

With The Olympiad Challenge, you and your group can take the stage and compete for gold at your very own Olympics-style team building activity.

Your group will break out into “nations,” choosing your national symbol and creating a custom flag before partaking in an Olympic Oath rooted in integrity, fairness, and sportsmanship.

Next, you’ll tackle challenges inspired by the ancient athletic games using supplies provided in your team bag, earning points for each one successfully completed.

The team that earns the most points throughout the competition will be named Olympiad Challenge Champions!

14. Book Club and Discussion at Quail Ridge Books

Start a book club within your team, choosing a book that everyone will read over a set period.

Schedule regular meetings to discuss chapters, share insights, and relate the book’s themes to your work or personal experiences.

Host your discussions at Quail Ridge Books, a cozy local bookstore with a welcoming atmosphere.

Looking for some Raleigh-centric books to read? Here are a few to consider:

• “Blue Blood, Black Heart” by Richard Conner: This novel, set in Raleigh, combines historical fiction with a gripping mystery, exploring the city’s past and the complexities of its social fabric.
• “The Land Breakers” by John Ehle: Although not exclusively set in Raleigh, this classic novel delves into the early history of North Carolina, providing context and background that enrich the understanding of the state’s development, including Raleigh.
• “A Walk Through Durham History: The North Carolina City of Medicine and the City of the Future” by Stephen Eric Bronson: This book offers an insightful look into Raleigh’s neighboring city, Durham, providing a broader perspective on the region’s history and development. It’s a great complement to understanding Raleigh’s own historical context.
• “Carolina Table: North Carolina Writers on Food” edited by Randall Kenan: This collection of essays by North Carolina writers, including some from Raleigh, explores the rich culinary traditions of the state. It’s a delightful read that highlights the cultural and gastronomic diversity of the region.
• “Blood Done Sign My Name” by Timothy B. Tyson: This powerful memoir and historical account focuses on the civil rights movement in North Carolina, with connections to Raleigh. It’s a compelling read that sparks important discussions about race, history, and social justice.
• “The Last Ballad” by Wiley Cash: Set in North Carolina and touching upon the state’s labor history, this novel provides a deep, moving story that resonates with Raleigh’s own working-class heritage and the broader struggles for workers’ rights in the region.
• “Handling Sin” by Michael Malone: This humorous novel follows the adventures of a man from Raleigh as he embarks on a wild road trip across the South. It’s a fun, engaging read that showcases the author’s love for Raleigh and the quirks of Southern life.
• “The Light Between Oceans” by M.L. Stedman: While not set in Raleigh, this novel is a favorite among local book clubs and frequently recommended by Quail Ridge Books staff for its beautiful writing and compelling story. It’s a great choice for sparking meaningful conversations about morality, love, and loss.

This activity promotes intellectual engagement, open communication, and can help team members find common ground and interests outside of work-related topics. Plus, the setting of Quail Ridge Books adds an extra layer of charm and inspiration to your meetings. Consider meeting monthly and rotating book selections to keep the discussions fresh and engaging.

If you’re planning to host a team building activity in Raleigh, you’re in luck. The city’ss unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty provides the perfect backdrop for memorable experiences with your workgroup.

So, get out there and enjoy all that Raleigh has to offer while building a stronger, more connected team.

Learn more about team building activities in Raleigh.  

If you’ve got questions about how to facilitate unforgettable team building activities in Raleigh, North Carolina, reach out to an Employee Engagement Consultant.