20 Best Outdoor Team-Building Activities for 2022

We’re always on the hunt for new and interactive ways to promote team building during the workweek. Team building is key to a thriving company culture. It helps your employees build a stronger connection and improves the workplace experience for everyone. However, after sitting at your desk all day every day, it can be hard to ask your team to sit at a computer for a team-building exercise.

Enter: Outdoor team-building activities.

Here are 20 of the best outdoor team-building activities to break up the workweek.

Step challenge

A step challenge is an interactive way to encourage your team members to get up and away from their desks for a few minutes throughout the day. You can set up a step challenge through an app on your phone or with the FitBit app, then break everyone up into teams. Your team members will need to inspire each other to get more steps, go on walks together, and work together if they want to take home the win.

Geocaching

Geocaching is an outdoor adventure that will keep everyone on their toes and out in your community using an app on your phone. The best part: They are everywhere! You can partner everyone up into groups and let them spend the day together finding the caches.

Plants and Gardening Workshop

These virtual experiences provide your team members with tips and tricks for growing and caring for plants. Depending on the event selected, everyone will receive everything they need to plant and care for a plant or garden. You’ll need access to Zoom, but you can encourage your team members to get out in nature at the same time.

Team hike

There is nothing better than spending a day on a hike. It’s easy to find a few painless hikes in your community. Even the most experienced hikers will appreciate a beginner-level trail so they can spend their time interacting with their coworkers rather than watching where they step.

Celebrate Earth Day

Celebrating Earth Day as a team will help everyone grow a new appreciation for the planet and your team members at the same time. You can get everyone together to plant a tree, stroll through the park, or have a picnic outdoors — the options are seemingly limitless.

Escape The Box | Austin

You and your team will have an opportunity to explore the hidden side of Austin with deeply engaging, tactile content! There is a twist with every puzzle, clue, and opportunity. Get ready to move your legs and enjoy some fun in the sun with this must-try experience. Even if you aren’t located in the Austin, Texas, area for this in-person experience, other escape games exist virtually.

Scavenger hunts

Scavenger hunts are a great way to prompt engagement in the workplace, and they can be as creative as you choose. If you’re in the New York area, we recommend one of our many in-person scavenger hunts, like the Great Midtown Scavenger Hunt or Central Park Experience. They will put your New Yorker knowledge to the test and give you a reason to perhaps visit somewhere in the city you might not have otherwise gone.

Have lunch outside

Everyone needs an excuse to step away from their desks and enjoy a longer lunch in the sunshine with their coworkers. A little encouragement can go a long way toward casual conversations and engagement among team members without too much talk of work-related tasks.

Corporate Yoga

There truly is nothing like yoga after a long day of work. Better yet, get the whole team involved so everyone can unwind and connect on a deeper level. Our Corporate Yoga outdoor team building activity can support up to 100 participants and has easy-to-follow flows anyone can benefit from trying.

Volunteer at a local shelter

There are many ways you and your team can give back to your community. Finding a local shelter in need will inspire your team members to help others. We recommend planning a volunteer event during the workweek to increase participation. Solicit ideas from your team beforehand to learn what causes are near and dear to their hearts.

Picnic party

Picnics are a great way to slow down and enjoy the great weather, atmosphere, and company. You can choose to do a potluck style where everyone brings something or event start by hosting a virtual cooking class. Make sure you bring games and icebreakers so there's never a dull moment!

Herb & Veggie Gardening Workshop

Learning how to garden your own vegetables and herbs is a skill that will stay with you for years to come. Our workshop shows your team members how to plant their own herbs and veggies starting with a kit delivered to their front door with everything they need to succeed. Once the seeds are planted, your team can track each other’s process and always have something to talk about together.

Walking meetings

Sure, some meetings can arguably be summarized in an email, but better yet, encourage your team to take those meetings on the go. It’s a great way to get legs moving and ideas flowing. Your team will look forward to these casual meetings and enjoy the opportunities they have to connect with each other outside of the office, even if it is for a work-related matter.

30 Minute Yo Chi

Yo Chi is a relaxing way to combine the benefits of both yoga and tai chi. Our 30-minute session is guided by a host who will show your team the poses and breathwork they need to know to relax. No prior experience with either is necessary!

Sports day

Got a competitive group of individuals? What better way to assemble their team-building skills than with a sports day! You’ll want to start by dividing everyone up into teams, then choose two or three sports that everyone will play. Whoever wins gets bragging rights in the office until the next competition.

Modern Tie Dye

Our virtual tie-dye experience is the perfect summer outdoor team-building activity. Your host will be with you to guide you through the basics of tie-dye and show you techniques you can use to achieve different designs and patterns. In the end, you’ll all be left with retro keepsakes you can show off during your next team meeting.

World Clean-Up Day

Every year on September 17, individuals from around the world get together to do their part in their community, and your team can join in on the fun, too! Head to the beach, clean up at a local park, or look for other volunteer opportunities in your community.

Kayaking

If your office is located near a body of water, everyone will appreciate a day kayaking with team members. Partner with a local outfitter to schedule a tour to get everyone away from their desks and experience their surroundings from a new perspective.

Beach day

Everyone not-so-secretly dreams of skipping work to head to the beach for the day. But what if you don’t have a beach near you? No problem! You can bring the beach to the team. All you need is some sunglasses, floaties, snacks, and lounge chairs to have some beach day fun.

Take a walking tour

A walking tour is a great way to learn more about your community and explore new parts of town you haven’t seen before. You can choose to create your own experience, or if you’re located in New York, try our LGBTQ History Walking Tour. It’s an opportunity to learn more about your community while getting out and about with your coworkers.

Whether you have an in-person or a remote workforce, all your team-building activities don’t need to take place behind a desk. Everyone will jump at the chance to spend a day away from their screens while bonding during an outdoor team-building activity that is geared toward everyone’s interests.

Ready to get some fresh air and build a connection with your coworkers? Check out our list of Elevent events today.

Originally published at May 19 2022, 12:33:00 PM. Updated on May 4 2024.