5 Summer Team Outings You Can Try

Summer is finally here, and it's the perfect time to get your employees out for some bonding and fun. Want to break up the day-to-day monotony but not sure what to do or where to go? Here are our top five suggestions for summer outings that will show your staff just how much they’re appreciated.

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts can create an atmosphere of excitement and comradery, build communication skills, and increase morale. You can have employees hunt for themed or random items in multiple ways, whether it’s finding actual objects, taking photos of physical locations (i.e. street signs or landmarks), or finding answers to specific questions. You'll also want to consider if you want to go the DIY route or hire a consultant. Many employers opt to hire a professional to ensure all details are covered, and the game takes place in a safe environment. Whatever you decide, with a scavenger hunt, there is plenty of opportunity to bring on some team bonding and have a blast doing it.

Picnic/Cook-Off

What says summer better than a picnic? Plan a day filled with fun, relaxation, and maybe a little friendly competition. It's traditional—and maybe a little hokey—but you can make it special.

• Orchestrate a cook-off around a specific ingredient, cuisine, or preparation.
• Arrange classic field day activities, such as a three-legged race, volleyball, softball, relay races, and an egg toss.
• Mix it up with an all-out Nerf or squirt gun battle, a kite-building contest, or an ice cream sundae station.

Go Out On The Town

Organizing a day (or night) out on the town gives you the opportunity to really do something unique for your employees. Take an informal survey to see what people at the office most enjoy but don’t often get the opportunity to do—a dinner cruise, ballgame, performance, vineyard, or special museum exhibit? Or, if you're looking to really get your team out, charter a bus and explore another city. If you’re dealing with an energetic crowd, consider activities like mini-golf or laser tag—or something even more adventurous, such as zip lining, a trampoline park, or a Segway tour. If the outdoor environment isn't right for your team—the weather’s poor or unreliable, etc., plan a lunch at a local restaurant, then head to an escape room. These have become increasingly popular in recent years, and it’s a perfect activity for groups looking to practice and encourage teamwork, trust, and problem solving—great habits to promote!

Take A Class

Taking a class together is a terrific way to bond and learn something new. You can have the instructor come to you are take your crew to a facility where you take a workshop. Need some ideas? What about:

• Cooking
• Improv
• Yoga
• Photography
• Learning a process, such as cheese making

If you want to focus on socializing, plan something that’s trendy and recreational like a sip and paint outing.

Volunteer

We’re all interested in helping those in need, but it can be difficult to research good opportunities to get involved and find the time to leave the office—if you’re not already nurturing a spirit of service, it’s something you should consider—giving back is good for you, your business, and your neighborhood. Look into something hands-on like assembling hygiene or meal kits, spending the day at a soup kitchen, or building a house with Habitat for Humanity.

Team outings are a great opportunity for your staff to get to know each other better in a different, more relaxed setting. They also tend to increase employee engagement, which is critical to the success of your organization. According to one Gallup poll, 87 percent of employees worldwide are not engaged at work—you don’t want your employees to join these statistics. Make the outing about the people who work with you—one that shows them you’re invested and appreciate all they do—and whatever you do will be a success.