With summer fast approaching, meeting planners have many exciting options to change things up. Many team-building activities have been done over and over, so why not try something different? Attendees everywhere will appreciate the chance to try new activities, escape the meeting room and get a glimpse of the great outdoors. Here are four summer team-building activities that capture the essence of the season.
1. Night hikes
Night hikes present an interesting twist on standard hiking activities. With the shift from day to night, participants are challenged to step out of their comfort zone and experience their environment in an entirely new way. Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pennsylvania, takes night hikes for groups to a whole new level by adding blindfolds. Because participants are blindfolded, they must complete the hike with a rope in one hand and the other hand firmly on the shoulder of the teammate in front of them. The activity aims to help colleagues develop a vision for the workplace and experience greater sensory awareness.
2. Wine blending
Invite employees to cool down at the end of a corporate retreat with a relaxing glass of wine—and a competitive wine-blending challenge that harnesses their creativity and cooperation skills. The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge in Charlotte, North Carolina, offers a wide variety of food-based activities for groups, including cooking classes and competitions.
One of their most interesting options is the wine-blending challenge, which can accommodate up to 60 participants. Groups are divided into teams of up to 10 members. Each team receives six different varietals of wine and other materials for bottling and labeling. After learning about wine-blending methods, each team creates its own custom wine blend. The winning wine is selected based on taste, quality and creative labeling.
3. Rock climbing
Rock climbing is one of the most adventurous options for team building. Participants work together, support each other and solve problems to scale a wall. Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Texas organizes rock-climbing activities for groups at McKinney Roughs Nature Park, which has a 40-foot climbing tower. Planners can opt for an activity that combines an obstacle course with rock climbing. The two courses present participants with a variety of mental and physical challenges.
4. GPS scavenger hunts
Scavenger hunts are a common activity for corporate retreats everywhere. They’re effective, fun and highly adaptable. Attendees get to work on their leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills while bonding and having a good time. Using technology such as mobile apps and GPS is a great way to enhance scavenger hunt activities. Destinations by Outside, a destination management company on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, offers a high-tech GPS scavenger hunt for groups. Teams of 15 or fewer are equipped with a GPS unit, camera, map and clues. With these tools and their creative-thinking skills, the teams work together to find hidden caches and complete additional challenges.
