66 Team Outing Ideas for Workgroups
With a little bit of planning and the right team outing ideas, you can get your workgroup out of the office to enjoy a change of scenery while creating a healthy work culture, boosting employee engagement, and sharpening essential professional skills.
Updated: March 26, 2024
Don’t get us wrong: hosting social gatherings in the office is never a bad idea. But every now and then, it’s fun to mix a team outing into your company’s calendar.
The right team outing ideas let you and your team escape the office, enjoy a change of scenery, and spend constructive quality time together in a new and exciting way.
So, we wanted to share a few steps to help you plan your next out-of-office team event as well as a few team outing ideas for in-person, remote, and hybrid workgroups.
Why Are Team Outings Important for Your Workgroup?
Planning a team outing and spending time away from the office with your colleagues is incredibly valuable for creating a healthy work culture, boosting employee engagement, and sharpening essential professional skills.
Here are a few benefits of hosting team outings for your group.
Improved Communication
According to a study by the MIT Human Dynamics Laboratory, communication plays a significant role in a team’s success. Team outings can break down formal barriers and foster open communication, leading to better collaboration when back in the workplace.
Elevated Employee Engagement and Job Satisfaction
A Gallup poll found that close work friendships boost employee satisfaction by 50%, and people with a best friend at work are seven times more likely to be fully engaged in their job. Hosting thoughtfully planned team outings for your group can help facilitate and nurture these valuable interpersonal connections between colleagues.
Increased Innovation and Creativity
Google’s Project Aristotle, a study released in 2015, found that psychological safety is crucial for teams to feel comfortable in taking creative risks. Team outings can help nurture this sense of safety by forging stronger and more trust-driven bonds between colleagues.
Reduced Employee Stress and Burnout
According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, more than one-third of workers report chronic work stress, and this stress can lead to job burnout. By planning team outing ideas, you can provide your staff with opportunities to unwind and socialize in a low-pressure, non-work environment—one that takes them away from the psychological pressure that comes with being in the office.
Enhanced Creativity and Problem-Solving Skills
Research published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology shows that fun and laughter can make people more creative and able to think broadly, enhancing problem-solving skills. Team outings are generally centered around fun activities, making them valuable tools in supporting essential professional skills.
How to Plan Your Next Company Outing in 8 Steps
There’s no doubt about it: planning an event of any kind can feel a bit overwhelming. But hosting an amazing team outing doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s just a matter of following a few key steps.
Step 1: Figure Out Your Goals
Start by defining the areas you want to improve or focus on during your team-building events. Once you have a clear vision of your goals, it’ll be easier to choose activities and challenges that fit the occasion perfectly.
Step 2: Set a Budget
Once you’ve prioritized your goals, it’s time to get realistic about the budget. Make sure you set a reasonable amount that won’t blow your finances and keep the event costs under control.
Step 3: Get a Planning Team together
Planning a team-building event can be quite a handful for one person. Delegate tasks and responsibilities to a team of organizers to lighten the load and ensure everything runs smoothly.
Step 4: Invite the Right People
Sometimes it’s a no-brainer who to invite, but other times it can be a bit tricky. To make it easier, ask yourself (or your planning team) these questions:
- Is attendance mandatory?
- How many people can the budget and venue accommodate?
- Should remote employees be included?
- Can anyone join the event?
Answering these questions will help you invite the perfect crowd.
Step 5: Choose the Right Activities
Once you’ve nailed down your team-building goals, it’s time to pick activities that align with those objectives. Don’t worry—we’ll get into a lot more of this in the coming sections!
Step 6: Find the Perfect Timing
Consider the availability and personal schedules of your invitees when choosing a date and time for the event. Also, keep an eye on the weather and season, especially if you plan to do something outdoors.
Step 7: Select a Suitable Location
The event venue can make or break the experience, so choose wisely. Avoid places that can’t accommodate your group or aren’t suitable for the planned activities.
Step 8: Spread the Word Internally
Get your colleagues excited about the event! Create and share an “Event Day Agenda” that highlights all the fun activities employees can look forward to. Generating buzz and anticipation will make the event even more enjoyable.
19 Outdoor Team Outing Ideas for Workgroups
If your staff are fans of enjoying the great outdoors, there are a ton of incredible team outing ideas that involve heading outside, getting some fresh air, and having some fun together.
Here are some outdoor team outing ideas to consider.
1. Adventure Sports
You can consider doing adventurous activities like rafting, zip-lining, rock climbing, or paintball. These high-energy activities foster teamwork and trust and build confidence as teams overcome challenges together.
2. Team Hiking or Camping Trips
Outdoor trips can bring teams closer to nature and to each other, promoting bonding and problem-solving in an unfamiliar environment.
3. Charity Runs or Walks
Teams can participate in local charity events, promoting teamwork while also contributing to a good cause. It boosts morale and brings a sense of achievement.
4. Beach Day
Organize a team day at a local beach or lake, complete with water sports, beach volleyball, or a relaxing BBQ. This relaxed environment can help build relationships and reduce stress.
5. Team Olympics
A mini-Olympics event can be fun and engaging. It encourages healthy competition and camaraderie as teams compete in various sports or games
6. Scavenger Hunt
A well-organized scavenger hunt encourages creative problem-solving, communication, and teamwork. It can be done in a park, around the city, or even within your corporate campus.
We’ve got a few scavenger hunt ideas you might like.
Wild Goose Chase
In this scavenger hunt activity, your team can get out of the office and explore your city in a whole new way. Together, your team will need to think outside the box, bond as a group, and venture outside into the community in order to complete a series of fun and unique photo and video challenges.
You’ll need to tackle a list of challenges, including:
- Snap a photo of your team standing next to a large public clock that reads EXACTLY 22 minutes past the hour
- Search for a business that is open 24 hours 7 days a week and snap a photo of a team member with the sign showing the business’ hours
- Snap a photo of a teammate next to a vehicle that has an “antique” or “collectible” license plate
- Head to a nearby playground and take a photo of your entire team balanced on a seesaw. Here’s the catch: everyone’s feet must be off the ground while balanced!
- Find a hopscotch course or use a piece of chalk to create your own on a sidewalk. Record a 5-second video of a teammate hopping and completing it
- Stage a martial arts battle with another team in a nearby park. Record a 5-second video of both teams facing each other (with plenty of space between you) and doing the famous crane kick
The team with the most points when time runs out will be named the winners!
This activity is available in the following formats:
- Hosted: Completely turnkey, you’ll have a live host who coordinates all logistics and runs the event from start to finish.
- Remote-Hosted: When you don’t need an in-person host at the event, you can have a virtual host who will kick off your event, make sure everything is running smoothly, be available for troubleshooting and questions, and then wrap things up for you.
- Self-Hosted: Rather than having a host, our team will give you detailed instructions on everything you need to successfully set up and run the event as well as access to Outback’s proprietary app.
So, you can do your team building activity in the format that works best for you.
Scavenger Hike
Nothing helps your team to relax and recharge like getting out into nature. So, consider heading out for a day hike or nature walk with your group and doing a scavenger hunt while you’re at it.
Before you go, create a list of things your team will have to take photos of. This could include:
- Birds
- Animal tracks
- A tree growing out of a tree trunk
- A stream of river
- A waterfall
- Berries
- Wildflowers
- A cave
- Trail markers
- A beautiful view
- Fruit on trees
- Rock formations
- Spiderwebs
- Trash or litter you can clean up
- Fallen branches or trees
This will vary depending on where you live, but you can tailor your hiking scavenger hunt list to align with your geographical location.
City Chase
Much like Wild Goose Chase, this scavenger hunt team building activity will have you embark on the ultimate urban adventure with your colleagues.
This entire activity is centered around city-themed challenges that will get you out and enjoying your neck of the woods from a whole new perspective. It’s also a great option for teams who are out of town for conferences, annual retreats, or multi-day meetings.
7. Fishing Trip
An organized fishing trip can provide a calming yet fun environment that encourages casual conversation and bonding.
8. Nature Photography Walk
Guided nature walks where teams are encouraged to capture photographs not only gets everyone outdoors but also promote creativity and observation skills.
9. Outdoor Movie Night
Setting up an outdoor movie night can be a fun and relaxed way for teams to bond. Combine it with a picnic or BBQ for a complete event.
10. Golfing or Mini Golf
Whether your team is made up of skilled golfers or novices, a day out on the greens or a fun mini-golf tournament can encourage friendly competition and interaction.
11. Kayaking or Canoeing
If you’re near a body of water, organizing a kayaking or canoeing outing can be a great way to build teamwork, as it often requires synchronized paddling and communication.
12. Farm Visit or Gardening Workshop
Visiting a local farm or garden where your team can learn about sustainable farming or gardening practices can be both educational and relaxing. It also encourages teamwork and a shared sense of achievement when the fruits of their labor bloom.
13. Outdoor Yoga or Fitness Class
An outdoor fitness or yoga class can provide a healthy, refreshing break from the office environment. This not only promotes physical well-being but also provides an opportunity for the team to engage in an activity that requires coordination and mutual support.
Pro tip: If you’re planning a fitness-oriented team outing, avoid making it mandatory in case some of your team members aren’t comfortable taking part, and always ensure that whatever you’re doing can be inclusive of everyone.
14. Host a Picnic
Picnics provide a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere while promoting team bonding. It’s a perfect opportunity to unwind, engage in casual conversations, and strengthen relationships outside of the usual work setting. Everyone can contribute to the picnic by bringing their favorite snacks, games, and blankets, creating a collaborative and inclusive experience.
You can also add an extra element of fun to your picnic with a structured team building game like Picnic Party Games.
This activity has teams complete as many goofy photo and video challenges as possible before time runs out.
Some examples of challenges you can do in this activity include:
- 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.
15. Outdoor Concert or Theater Performance
Attending an outdoor concert or a local theater performance can provide an enjoyable shared experience that encourages team bonding.
16. Bike Tour
Organize a group bike ride around the city or through local parks. This activity promotes fitness while allowing team members to explore their surroundings together.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out this comprehensive list of cycling routes across the United States. With over 52,000 miles of routes available, you’ll find one that works for your team outing.
17. Sailing or Boat Tour
If you’re near a body of water, a group sailing trip or a guided boat tour can offer a unique outdoor experience. This adventure can also teach your team the value of coordination and cooperation.
Alternatively, if you don’t live near a body of water—or if you just want to do something a bit more hands-on—you can check out a team building activity like Cardboard Boat Building Challenge.
In this team outing activity, you’ll split into groups and create a cardboard boat made out of just the materials provided—cardboard and tape. Team members will have to work together to engineer a functional boat that will float and sail across water without sinking.
Once teams have finished making their boats, they will create a presentation to explain why their boat is the best, before putting their boats to the test. The final challenge will have teams racing their boats to test their durability! The benefit of a big body of water is that it offers ample space for
18. Food Truck Festival or Outdoor Market
Attend a local food truck festival or outdoor market. This kind of outing encourages casual social interaction while team members enjoy a variety of food and drink options.
19. Team Sports Day
Organize a day of traditional team sports like football, baseball, or soccer. Not only does this encourage physical fitness, but team sports also promote teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking.
29 Indoor Team Outing Ideas for Workgroups
If the weather is ideal for an outdoor team outing or your group would rather stay inside, you can’t go wrong with one of these indoor team outing ideas.
1. Escape Rooms
Escape rooms are exciting activities 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.
2. Cooking Classes
Whether it’s sushi rolling or pizza making, cooking together helps team members collaborate, delegate tasks, and bond over a shared experience.
3. Workshops or Seminars
Attending a workshop or seminar together in areas like leadership, innovation, or wellness can increase knowledge, foster shared experiences, and improve teamwork.
4. Bowling Night
Bowling encourages friendly competition, and communication and can be a fun way for teams to bond.
5. Pottery or Art Classes
Engaging in a creative activity together can boost morale, encourage creativity and provide a refreshing break from work.
6. Indoor Rock Climbing
This activity fosters trust, encourages support, and helps individuals to step out of their comfort zones.
7. Board Game Tournament
A board game or card game tournament can be a fun way to foster strategic thinking, collaboration, and light-hearted competition.
8. Wellness Retreat
Organize a yoga or meditation class or a full-day wellness retreat. These activities can help reduce stress, improve focus, and promote overall wellness within the team.
9. Indoor Trampoline Park
An indoor trampoline park offers a fun, energetic outing that can be enjoyed regardless of skill level.
10. Karaoke Night
This classic activity can boost team morale and encourage members to step out of their comfort zones.
11. Indoor Gardening Workshop
An indoor gardening or terrarium-making workshop can be relaxing and foster creativity, while also being educational.
12. Improv Workshop
Improv workshops can improve communication skills, encourage quick thinking, and are usually filled with laughter and fun.
13. Group Dance Classes
Whether it’s salsa, hip-hop, or ballroom, dance classes can break down barriers and encourage teamwork in a fun, informal setting.
14. Potluck Dinner
A team potluck dinner encourages sharing and can help team members learn more about each other’s cultures and preferences.
15. Museum or Art Gallery Visit
A cultural outing can be an enjoyable and enriching experience, stimulating conversation and shared experiences.
16. Indoor Skydiving or Wind Tunnel Experience
This thrilling activity can offer an adrenaline rush and is a unique team outing idea that promotes courage and camaraderie.
17. Wine or Beer Tasting
Organize a tasting session at a local winery or brewery. This can be a fun and relaxed way for the team to socialize.
18. Craft Workshop
Activities such as pottery painting, jewelry making, or even woodworking can be therapeutic and offer a unique bonding experience.
19. Indoor Go-Kart Racing
This activity can foster a sense of competition and teamwork, as well as offer an adrenaline rush.
20. Aquarium or Planetarium Visit
An outing to an aquarium or planetarium can be both educational and relaxing, providing a calm environment for casual conversation and team bonding.
21. Magic Show or Comedy Night
Attending a magic show or comedy night can provide a shared enjoyable experience and stimulate conversation.
22. Indoor Archery or Axe Throwing
These unique activities can be a fun way to foster friendly competition and teamwork.
23. DIY Pizza-Making Party
Rent a venue or use a large kitchen space in your office for a pizza-making party. Teams can compete for who makes the best pizza.
24. Book Club
Start a company book club where everyone reads the same book and then comes together to discuss it. This encourages communication and a shared experience.
25. Virtual Reality Experience
Rent a virtual reality venue where your team can play games or explore different environments. This high-tech team outing is sure to be memorable.
26. Solve a Mystery
If your team loves working together and solving challenges, you can’t go wrong with focusing your team outing idea around solving a mystery.
Check out these mystery activities you can try for your next team outing.
Hollywood Murder Mystery
The case is fresh, but here’s what we know so far: we’ve got an up-and-coming actress who’s been found dead in her hotel room following last night’s awards show.
We have several suspects, but we haven’t been able to put the crime on any of them for sure yet. Now, it’s up to you and your team of detectives to crack the case. Together, you’ll review case files and evidence including police reports, coroners’ reports, photo evidence, tabloids, interrogations, and phone calls as you determine the motive, method, and murderer and bring justice for the victim.
You’ll need to put your problem-solving skills to the test as you share theories, collaborate, and think outside the box with your fellow investigators.
Clue Murder Mystery
You’ve probably never heard of a man named Neil Davidson. But your group will need to come together to solve the mystery of his murder by analyzing clues, resolving challenges, and figuring out who had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit a deadly crime.
This activity will challenge you and your group to approach problems analytically, read between the lines, and use critical thinking in order to identify a suspect and deliver justice.
27. Ceramic Painting
A ceramic painting class can provide a fun, relaxing environment that promotes creativity and allows for easy conversation.
28. Candle-Making Workshop
A candle making workshop can be a unique and enjoyable experience. Plus, team members get to take home something they made.
29. Indoor Plant Workshop
An indoor plant workshop can teach your team about different types of indoor plants, how to care for them, and the benefits they bring to an office environment. This can be a fun and educational activity that also promotes mindfulness and well-being.
12 Virtual Team Outing Ideas
Think your workgroup can’t do team outings just because you work remotely? Think again. Here are some virtual team outing ideas your team will love.
1. Virtual Gaming Tournaments
Organize tournaments around popular online games. This can be an enjoyable and engaging way for remote teams to interact.
Here are a few you can consider.
Digital Card Games
Keep it simple! Classic card games can be a ton of ton without requiring much work to set up. And yes, they can be played online. Check out the website Playing Cards which offers all of your childhood favorites. Simply create a “room,” and choose from games, such as:
- Checkers
- Crazy Eights
- Go Fish
- Match Up
Add an extra social element by connecting through video while you play the game, so you can see everyone’s reactions and hear the smack talk!
Wikirace
Wikipedia isn’t just for finding information. Well, technically it is, but you can also use it for racing.
Hear us out: it’s called Wikiracing.
First, decide whether to play individually or in teams. Then, select a random Wikipedia page. This will be your beginning page.
Next, choose a destination page.
The goal of this game is to get from the beginning page to the destination page using only links within the Wikipedia page.
Generally, the destination page is something very unrelated to the beginning page. For example, going from apple to orange would not be challenging, as you would simply start at the apple page, click a link to fruit and then proceed to orange. A race from Roman Colosseum to orthopedic surgeon would be a much more difficult game.
The first person or team to reach the destination page wins!
App-Based Word Games
Get the competitive spirit going by challenging your coworkers to a friendly round of your favorite word game.
There are plenty to choose from, including:
- Scrabble GO: You can now play the classic board game virtually with this new and updated version of online Scrabble.
- Words with Friends: Challenge your coworkers to dueling wordplay as you take turns building words crossword-puzzle style.
- Scattergories: Play your colleagues in the app-based version of Scattergories! You’ll need to come up with creative answers that start with a randomly selected letter to earn points.
Set up a video or telephone call to make the most of your competition.
Codenames
Codenames is a game that involves splitting into two teams and having each team guess which words in a set are related to a hint-word given by a teammate (known as the spymaster). So, start by dividing up into teams—the red team and the blue team.
Then, head to the online version of Codenames and follow the start-up instructions.
When you’re playing this game virtually, have one player who is not a spymaster share their screen. As players attempt to guess which cards their spymaster hints at, send teams off into breakout rooms so that they can discuss their strategy. Whichever team successfully guesses all cards with their color first wins the game.
For even more ideas like this, check out our comprehensive list of 15+ online office games for remote and hybrid teams.
2. Virtual Happy Hours
A time for casual conversation and relaxation, virtual happy hours can help teams maintain social connections and foster camaraderie.
Check out these virtual happy hour team outing ideas.
Water or Not Water
Have you seen the HBO show Run? It’s what made this game really popular. If you haven’t seen it, don’t worry. This game is incredibly simple.
Essentially, all you need to do is have each team member pour a few shot glasses—some filled with a transparent alcoholic spirit and one filled with water.
During each round, one person chooses a glass and takes a shot. That player then says either that the liquid they drank was “water” or “not water.” Everyone else then takes turns guessing whether they’re telling the truth or not based on their facial expression.
Virtual Happy Hour Trivia
This is no ordinary happy hour trivia game. In this activity, you and your team will take a trip to Hamish McDuff’s virtual pub. This hilarious Scottish pub owner is the legendary host of a trivia game with more than 20 category options to choose from, including sports, food and drink, and even celebrity real estate. This virtual pub trivia game is guaranteed to produce plenty of laughs and lift team “spirits.” It might even include a few special surprises.
Want even more happy hour-themed team outing ideas? Take a read through our list of 35+ virtual happy hour games for workgroups.
3. Online Classes and Workshops
Arrange for teams to attend an online class or workshop together. This could be anything from a professional development seminar to a fun DIY craft session.
4. Remote Team Movie Night
Use a streaming platform that allows for group watching and chat, so team members can enjoy a movie or series episode together. You can do this with a service like Teleparty which allows your group to watch shows and movies on Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime.
5. Online Trivia Night
An online quiz or trivia night can foster friendly competition and team bonding. You can choose a mix of professional and fun trivia topics.
Looking for inspiration for trivia topics? We created a list of 285+ trivia questions and answers you can refer to.
Or, if you’re looking for something more structured, here are a few trivia team outing ideas you can try.
Virtual Jeoparty Wars
May the right answer be with you!
With Virtual Jeoparty Wars, you won’t have to choose between the light side and the dark side, but you will need to channel the force as you compete with your colleagues in a Star Wars-themed trivia challenge.
In this virtual activity, your group will split into teams and battle through four rounds of trivia. Next, the cosmic combat will shift to a round of Double Jeoparty where you’ll earn two times the points for every correct answer. The galactic showdown will culminate with a round of Final Jeoparty where you and your colleagues can wager points on one final question.
Your team’s score will be displayed in real-time on a live leaderboard and, when the activity is finished, the team with the most points will seize their interstellar reign as the Jeoparty Wars Champions!
To keep engagement high, Jeoparty Wars is infused with a social mixer warm-up round as well as a unique social mixer challenge between each round.
Virtual Hollywood Murder Mystery
The case is fresh, but here’s what we know so far: we’ve got an up-and-coming actress who’s been found dead in her hotel room following last night’s awards show. We have several suspects, but we haven’t been able to put the crime on any of them for sure yet.
Now, it’s up to you and your remote team of virtual detectives to crack the case. Together, you’ll review case files and evidence including police reports, coroners’ reports, photo evidence, tabloids, interrogations, and phone calls as you determine the motive, method, and murderer and bring justice for the victim.
You’ll need to put your problem-solving skills to the test as you share theories, collaborate, and think outside the box with your fellow investigators.
Virtual Happy Hour Trivia
Get together with your team and take a trip to “Hamish McDuff’s” virtual pub. This hilarious Scottish pub owner is the legendary host of a trivia game that is perfect for your team’s virtual happy hour fun!
Hamish will host two rounds of virtual pub trivia, featuring four themed categories of your choice. With 20 category options to choose from, you’ll be sure to find the perfect themes for your remote team – from Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader to Sports, Food & Drink, or even Celebrity Real Estate.
With pub soundscapes, visual surprises, and warm-hearted humor, Hamish McDuff makes your guests feel like they just had a memorable happy hour with friends in a real pub, like the good ol’ days.
This virtual pub trivia game is guaranteed to produce plenty of laughs and lift team “spirits.” It might even include a few special surprises.
Water Cooler Trivia
If you’re trying to find fun and unique ways to keep your team engaged on an ongoing basis, Water Cooler Trivia is a great way to do it. Water Cooler Trivia integrates into your email, Slack, or Microsoft Teams channels and automatically sends trivia quizzes directly to your team members on a weekly basis. You can choose the trivia schedule and categories, and Water Cooler Trivia will write the questions, automate their distribution, and grade the results for you.
DIY Trivia
If you’re looking to simply host your own virtual trivia game, you might want to check out our list of 270 trivia questions and answers for workgroups, which includes:
Question: What was the first feature-length animated movie ever released?
Answer: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Question: In which winter sport are the terms “stale fish” and “mule kick” used?
Answer: Snowboarding
Question: How did lone assassin George Elser attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1939?
Answer: A time bomb
Question: Which planet is closest in size to Earth?
Answer: Venus
You’ll find 267 other questions falling into categories including:
- 66 Entertainment Trivia Questions and Answers
- 23 Sports Trivia Questions and Answers
- 33 Geography Trivia Questions and Answers
- 22 Politics Trivia Questions and Answers and Answers
- 21 History Trivia Questions and Answers
- 25 Food Trivia Questions and Answers
- 20 Science, Space, and Technology Trivia Questions and Answers
- 20 Nature Trivia Questions and Answers
- 20 Holiday Trivia Questions and Answers
- 20 Health Trivia Questions and Answers
And with these questions, your virtual trivia party will be a hit with your colleagues.
Virtual Trivia Time Machine
Step into the Outback Time Machine and take a trip through time, from pre-pandemic 21st century through the decades all the way to the 60’s.
This exciting, fast-paced virtual trivia game, packed with nostalgia and good vibes, is guaranteed to produce big laughs, friendly competition, and maybe even some chair-dancing.
Your virtual game show host will warm up guests with a couple of “table hopper rounds” (breakout room mixers) and split you out into teams. Within minutes, your home office will be transformed into a game show stage with your very own game show buzzers!
Games on Houseparty
Houseparty is a face-to-face social networking app that gained a ton of popularity last year. And, although this group video chat platform may seem like just another FaceTime or Skype, Houseparty comes with some unique social features – namely virtual trivia games!
With Houseparty’s virtual trivia options, you can choose from 18 different decks that cover a range of topics that test your coworkers’ trivia knowledge!
Virtual European Adventure
If you’ve got a team full of colleagues who love traveling and learning about new places, this is the perfect budget-friendly team building activity for your group.
Virtual European Adventure is all about connecting with your colleagues, testing your wits together, socializing, and collaborating through high-energy rounds of European-themed trivia.
In this activity, your group will break out into teams. Then, you’ll take part in a warm-up social mixer followed by three rounds of trivia, a Jeopardy-style lightning round using cellphone buzzers, and a European travel conversation to finish it all off. For each trivia challenge answered correctly, your team will earn points. The team with the most points at the end of the activity will be crowned the Virtual European Adventure Champions!
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Remember that amazing trivia game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Well, here’s some exciting news: it’s now available as a free virtual trivia game that allows up to 15 people to play at once.
Here’s how it works: your colleagues will work their way through a series of 15 questions that escalate in difficulty.
If you’re in a small group, you can all take turns playing while the others watch. Or you can play it as a team game, where each team decides on the answers together.
Virtual Beach Staycation
After more than a year of lockdowns, we’re all in desperate need of a vacation. Luckily, Captain Furling has room for you and your colleagues on his virtually chartered yacht. Come aboard and channel your “inner Cancun” for a tropical online team building adventure.
Captain Furling’s chartered yacht welcomes online guests aboard his luxury vessel and quickly takes them out of their homes to a gorgeous beach in Cancun.
With ocean soundscapes and delightful vacation destination footage, your travel companions will compete with their knowledge of travel destinations, vacation-themed movies, summer pop hits, and even a cabana-wear contest. Your yacht captain gives guests a playfully immersive experience for a virtual team vacation from your workday that your colleagues truly deserve.
Virtual Trivia Championship
Does your team have what it takes to win the Virtual Trivia Championship? In this virtual trivia team building activity, your colleagues will break into teams and turn the competition level up to ten as you challenge your wits, test your knowledge, and work your way through a list of trivia questions ranging from cities to movies, songs, objects, and even a round of Jeopardy-style challenges.
6. Virtual Cooking Class
Hire a professional chef to guide your team in cooking a meal in their own kitchens. This can be a great way to learn new skills and share a common experience, even if it’s done virtually.
7. Online Health and Wellness Sessions
These could include guided meditation, yoga, or fitness classes. Promoting health and wellness in your team can improve focus, reduce stress, and boost overall morale.
8. Virtual Reality Meetup
If team members have access to VR equipment, a virtual reality meetup could provide a novel and engaging team experience. There are various team-building games and experiences designed specifically for this technology.
9. Virtual Book Club
Similar to an in-person book club, a virtual book club encourages team members to read the same book and then meet online to discuss it. This activity can foster deeper connections and intellectual conversation.
10. Online Fitness Challenge
Organize a fitness challenge where team members track their workouts or steps. This encourages healthy competition and can be adapted to various fitness levels.
11. Virtual Magic Show or Comedy Night
Hire a magician or comedian to put on a virtual show for your team. This can provide a shared enjoyable experience and stimulate conversation.
12. Online DIY Craft Session
Choose a simple craft that all team members can do using common household items and create together while on a video call. This activity promotes creativity and provides a relaxing environment for team members to chat and bond.
6 Company Outing Ideas for Hybrid Teams
Hybrid teams, composed of both remote and in-office employees, require special considerations when planning company outings to ensure inclusivity and team bonding. Here are some team outing ideas that work perfectly for organizations that operate on a hybrid model.
1. Simultaneous Local Events
If you have clusters of employees in multiple locations, you could organize simultaneous local outings. These could be the same activity or theme (such as a picnic, bowling, or a trip to a local attraction) so that everyone is sharing a similar experience at the same time.
2. Virtual Workshops or Classes
These can be attended by both in-person and remote team members. Examples include cooking classes, painting workshops, yoga classes, or a guest speaker event. In-person team members can gather in a common area to join, while remote members log in from home.
3. Shared Movie or Series Watch
Choose a movie or series relevant to your industry or team interests. Those in the office can watch together in a common space, and remote members can join via a streaming platform that allows for synchronized viewing and chatting—like Teleparty from the previous section.
4. Hybrid Picnic
Organize a picnic day where in-office employees gather in a local park, and remote employees are encouraged to do the same. Everyone can join a video call to eat together and participate in virtual games or activities.
5. Home Cooking Challenge
Organize a cooking challenge where everyone makes the same recipe at home or in the office kitchen, then share the experience and results in a group video call.
6. Charity or Volunteering Event
Choose a charity or cause that your company can contribute to together. This could be a remote run or walk, where everyone tracks their distances, a group volunteering session at a local shelter, or a coordinated effort to create care packages.
Remember that the goal of these outings is to make all team members feel included and valued, no matter where they are. It might take a bit more creativity and coordination, but the results in team morale and cohesion will be well worth it.
When you want to empower a healthy work culture, boost employee engagement, and sharpen essential professional skills, team outings are an outstanding way to do so. And with a little bit of planning and the right team outing ideas, you can host event that your team will never forget.
Does your organization host any team outings for your staff? If so, what type of team outings do you prefer and why? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Incorporate team building into your next team outing.
If you’ve got questions about how team building can enhance your next team outing, reach out to an Employee Engagement Consultant.