Hybrid offices and remote work setups can sometimes make it challenging to build a strong team dynamic. How do you build rapport and convey a sense of company culture to WFH and new employees when you’re no longer in the same office every day? It can be tough, but it’s perhaps more important than ever. With the right team building activities, you can definitely boost morale.

The Importance of Boosting Morale

Imagine a team as a well-tuned orchestra. Each member plays a different instrument, and together they create a symphony. Now, if some members are working from the office while others are logging in from the comfort of their homes, it’s like having musicians in different rooms. Even more, some of the musicians have never even been in the same room with each other. To create harmony, you need to ensure everyone is on the same page of sheet music.

In a hybrid workplace, the physical and technological distance can lead to a sense of isolation. Team building activities act as the social glue, bringing everyone together and making them feel like a team, even when miles apart. So here are some great ideas for fun corporate team building activities that work whether your group is hybrid or all in one place.

Idea 1: Experience Virtual Trivia Games

Tackle trivia together, no matter where your colleagues are, on one of our many virtual trivia games. Each game consists of five rounds of fun challenges, ranging from name-that-tune audio rounds, fictional dating profiles, trivia with visual cues, and more.

You won’t need a bunch of trivia geniuses to play, either. No matter the theme, each game is designed so that anyone can compete and win. So whoever plays will love Cheers! It’s the Virtual Happy Hour Trivia Game, for example, and your whole group will be wowed by the Fascinating Facts Trivia Game.

Idea 2: Try DIY Trivia

Whether you devote an entire event to it or sprinkle it into meetings, groups everywhere can play trivia. You can put together trivia about famous movies or surprising events in history. Or to put a personal spin on it, ask colleagues ahead of time for silly or embarrassing stories, and make a game out of those. Then compete in groups or individually, and award the winner with a prize.

Idea 3: Arrange a Virtual Coffee Klatch

Simply chatting over a cup of coffee can be a great opportunity for colleagues to catch up and build rapport, even if they have never met in person. Schedule a morning meetup among in-office and remote workers, or carve out time before a regularly scheduled meeting, and devote the time entirely to casual conversation. No shop talk allowed!

Idea 4: Solve a Puzzling Murder Game

From the mind of best-selling author A.J. Jacobs comes Puzzled to Death: A Virtual Game of Murder Mystery Puzzles, a twisty, challenging murder mystery. Someone has murdered the owner of a beloved local board game store, and the killer has created mini-games and puzzles with clues to their identity. Naturally, your team must crack the case and uncover the killer! Visit the blog to find out more about this surprising game.

Idea 5: Organize a Day of Gaming

Consider arranging a board game tournament, or simply a gaming day. Bond with co-workers over a game of Monopoly, Scrabble, or bird-watching. Or if some colleagues are game to try it, get creative and spend an afternoon learning the ropes of Dungeons & Dragons. Want something a bit more high tech? Hook up a Nintendo Switch to the conference room TV and play some multiplayer games like Mario Kart, or play online with colleagues in another location. Whatever you choose, a gaming day is a low-key, low-cost chance to bring colleagues together.

Idea 6: Play a Game at the Same Time in Multiple Locations

Many of our games, including the Grab ‘n’ Go Scavenger Hunt, can be enjoyed no matter where your colleagues are. Players spread across different cities, states, even countries can play the same game at the same time, Zooming or Facetiming with the Host and other players. Then everyone “gathers” at the end to celebrate the winning team.

Idea 7: Snack Together

Incorporate food into your event, whether you all get together around a table IRL, or your team gathers virtually with some food of their own. The simplest option is to let colleagues expense their meal for the party (within reason, obviously).

If you want to get a little more into it, you can coordinate snacks or meals based on a theme. You can also arrange to send your team a box of snacks, either based on a theme or simply full of fun treats, ahead of time. Just check into food allergies before sending anything.

Idea 8: Don’t Forget the Beverages

There are plenty of fun ways to zhuzh up the libations for those who choose to. If you’re going virtual, have everyone make their own favorite drink at home, which gives them each a chance to talk about their creation. Or encourage your team’s creativity by sending each team member a mixology kit. You can even hire a mixologist for an in-person or virtual event. In the latter case, virtual mixologists will talk participants through making different cocktails and explain their history and cultural significance.

Find More Fun

Contact us to learn more and start planning your corporate team building scavenger hunt or virtual game today.

The post How to Boost Morale: 8 Ideas for Fun Hybrid Corporate Team Building Activities appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.

Boston team building activities for art lovers

1. THE MFA MADNESS ART MUSEUM

Museum of Fine Arts? More like the Museum of Fun Arts when you go on this eye-popping, jaw-dropping tour across the centuries. With your team, you’ll discover startling aspects of objects and art from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Japan, China, India, Paris, and all periods of American history. Your challenge: answer tricky questions about what you find. To triumph, you just need sharp eyes, comfy shoes, and great teamwork.

Location: Boston Museum of Fine Arts

What people are saying: “Our group of 22 did the Scavenger Hunt at the MFA as a holiday gathering and everyone had a blast! It is very well organized, and has enough for each person on each team to contribute in some way and really lends to a great team building event sparking a great sense of competition as well as teamwork. Highly recommend!”

2. THE WHODUNIT AT THE MFA

There’s a killer on the loose at the Museum of Fine Arts, and it’s up to your team to stop him! How? By playing the scavenger hunt he created, which will ultimately reveal his identity, the murder weapon, and the location of the victim’s body. He sent the hunt to the police and dared them to try and solve it, but they’re stumped. Now they need your help.

You’ll be supplied with a list of potential suspects, weapons, and places. By following the clues and answering tricky questions, you’ll narrow down the list and provide the authorities with the evidence they need to catch and convict the killer.

Location: Boston Museum of Fine Arts

3. PUZZLED AT THE ART MUSEUM

Have a team of brainiacs looking to bond and put their wit to good use? Go on a whirlwind tour of the Institute of Contemporary Art and solve a series of art-related puzzles created by a diabolical villain. The puzzles will test your teamwork. You might need to tease out hidden words. Or translate the rebus HIJKLMNO into a familiar term. Or solve a riddle. Or find what this means: Arrow shooter —> not fast. The variety of puzzles is designed to call upon the talents of everyone on your team—while delighting you with eye-popping art.

Location: The Institute of Contemporary Art

Boston team building activities for history lovers

4. THE SECRETS OF OLD BOSTON SCAVENGER HUNT

On this entertaining team-building adventures, your group will visit and discover the secrets of numerous historic locations where America was born—Faneuil Hall, the site of the Boston Massacre, Old City Hall, the Old South Meeting House (where a particularly large tea party had its beginnings), and the Old State House, to name a few of the highlights. Starring: Ben Franklin, Larry Bird, Mother Goose, Gulliver’s teakettle, and an Irishman’s “bowl of tears.”

Location: The Freedom Trail

What people are saying: “The hunt was a ton of fun! Well organized, good distance, tough but not impossible, great for team building because it requires different perspectives and ways of thinking. Overall, the team thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend to other companies for team building!” —Melissa Magerer, Head of US Marketing, iAdvize

5. THE REVOLUTIONARY BOSTON SCAVENGER HUNT

The spirit of 1776 is alive and well on this scavenger hunt that shows you where the Founding Fathers battled the British—and one another. You’ll go inside the Old State House Museum in search of such items as actual tea from the Boston Tea Party, an original Liberty Flag, John Hancock’s coat and vest, and Paul Revere’s print depicting the Boston Massacre, to name just a few of the amazing pieces in the collection. Outside the museum, you’ll uncover the secrets of the Old North Church (where the lantern code was “One if by land…”), Faneuil Hall, the Granary Burying Ground (where Revere and other famed patriots rest), the site of the Boston Massacre, and much more.

Location: The Freedom Trail

Murder mystery team building in Boston

6. THE MURDER IN OLD BOSTON

Find yourself in the middle of a murder mystery on this unusual, fun scavenger hunt set in historic Boston. A Watson Adventures staffer has been murdered, and it’s up to you to catch his killer. Here’s your first clue: when he died, he drew a star on the ground with his own blood. What does that mean? And what will you learn about the victim’s dangerous secret life? Solve the clues he left behind in order to solve the mystery—and prevent an international disaster.

Location: The Freedom Trail

7. THE MURDER AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM

Museum of Science staffers are turning up dead—and they were all involved in the recent discovery of a long-lost invention by Benjamin Franklin. This “infernal machine” has a murky past: Freemasons supposedly used it as part of a secret ritual. Were the deaths caused by the invention, or are they part of the fabled curse of the Freemasons? Or is a serial killer on the loose?

Your team of sleuths will work together to uncover the museum’s secrets. Ultimately, you must crack a code to solve the mystery and stop the killer before they strike again! Along the way, you’ll laugh and marvel at the unusual, unbelievable, and fascinating clues and exhibits on this amazing museum adventure.

Location: The Museum of Science, Boston

What people are saying: “I wanted to commend you guys on an awesome event yesterday. As an HR Leader, it’s always scary to decide what my group will respond to—they loved it!  In fact, someone just told me that it was the best event this company has ever had.  YAY. Thanks again for making it so easy and enjoyable.  And please let Elizabeth [the hunt host] know that she did a terrific job.”—a senior HR manager at a biotech company

8. The Back Bay Murder Mystery

The setup: a Watson Adventures staffer has met an untimely end, and we need you and your team to help police find his killer. Before he died, he used his own blood to draw a star on the pavement outside the Public Library. The challenge: figure out what that curious clue means and uncover the secrets of the victim’s double life. As you piece together the puzzle, you’ll prevent a potentially disastrous incident with far-reaching consequences across the globe.

Along the way, you’ll also explore Copley Square and its vicinity, including the private side of the Public Garden, a wealth of uncommon sights on Commonwealth Avenue, and cryptic mysteries in the Public Library. 

Location: Back Bay / Copley Square

Boston team building activities for foodies

9. Munch Around the North End

Dig into Boston’s oldest, tastiest neighborhood, collecting treats and answers along the way. Starring: a smorgasbord of edible and historical delights, including the site of the Great Molasses Flood of 1919, minty hot cocoa, graves of men who really “Mathered,” lobster-tail pastries, octopus tentacles, the center of the infamous Sacco and Vanzetti trial, a welterweight champion, cream puffs, and much more.

Location: North End, Boston

10. Munch Around Cambridge

See the best of Cambridge and Harvard while indulging in tasty snacks along the way. You can taste victory! On your culinary adventure, you’ll find surprising facts about John Harvard, a spot where George Washington made Revolutionary history, a bullet hole shaped like an L, the Harvard Lampoon headquarters, a blacksmith and a bookstore made famous by poetry, and more. And that doesn’t even touch upon the many delicious eateries you’ll also discover.

One element of teamwork on this hunt: deciding which Munch stops you’ll hit and which treats you’ll share. We’ll make some scrumptious suggestions, of course. You’ll also be challenged to document your culinary conquests by taking creative Team Photos.

Location: Cambridge

See all of our Boston team-building scavenger hunts

The post Top 10 Boston Team Building Activities for 2024 appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.

“You don’t know what you don’t know” should make any leader nervous. As Kelly L. Campbell points out in her new book, Heal to Lead: Revolutionizing Leadership Through Trauma Healing, psychological trauma from your past can affect your effectiveness in any leadership role, whether it’s in the office, in your community, or at home.

Campbell is a Trauma-Informed Leadership Coach and is the founder of Consciousness Leaders, the world’s most diverse and equitable speakers agency. In her book she draws on her own journey as an entrepreneur to illustrate how healing emotional wounds leads to personal growth and organizational success.

She sat down with Watson Adventures founder Bret Watson to share more about her work and her new book.

Who is this book for?

This book is for emerging and established team-building leaders who have some sense that they may have work to do because they’re encountering some kind of friction. They’re onto themselves. Maybe they’re starting to connect some dots, “Hmm, I might be the problem here.” And if there’s any ounce of curiosity, this is a great book to start with.

I say emerging and established leaders because there are a lot of older leaders who have been operating a certain way for a long time, and maybe there was some measure of success, but that’s getting harder and harder. They’re finding more friction because the world is changing.

And then the emerging leaders, the younger leaders who are maybe managing for the first time or in brand new leadership roles, maybe they’ve become an entrepreneur at a young age like I did. Maybe they’ve been in therapy and are more open to this idea of exploration of the self and self development. [They’re asking] “How do I make sure that I’m leading from a place where if I can lead myself, I can better lead other people?”

I’m not talking about only those at the top of organizations. Even if you have no one reporting to you, you might be a leader in your family, in your social group, in your spiritual group, in your community. Their leadership exists on multiple planes.

And these are all people who have enough self awareness to say I want to be a better leader.

[They are people who realize] “I think my past trauma is at play here. I’ve been to therapy, I’ve unpacked a bunch of stuff, but that is not helping me to correlate that trauma with my leadership style. I want better tools and resources and practices to become a more effective leader.”

You cite a study that found that 94% of C suite executives believe they are very or somewhat conscious, while only half of working adults observe highly conscious behavior in their leaders. How can leaders close that perception gap?

When I was doing a lot of work as a consultant, it was always fascinating to me that the leaders saw themselves in this particular light. Sometimes there was this blaming of “I tried to do this for my employees, but they don’t appreciate it,” or “They don’t know what kind of stress I’m under.”

Then you talk to the employees who say, “This leader is not trustworthy because they’re unreliable, they’re overextended, they’re overwhelmed.” And the leaders are thinking that they’re masking that so masterfully. But they’re not at all, which impacts the culture, which impacts the trust, which impacts the bottom line eventually.

You use the phrase “championing vulnerability in our leaders.” Why should a leader do that?

You wouldn’t trust someone who said, “I have all the answers.” The more vulnerable or human that you are, the easier it is for the people you’re leading to feel safe to bring up threats or risks or concerns that they might see.

If they don’t feel like they can share those things, they’re holding on to them because you haven’t created a safe enough environment.

It’s not just being vulnerable in terms of talking. It’s a way of being where you are more approachable, you are more human, and you’re creating spaces where people feel that they can bring their full selves.

So, how does the team-building leader model or demonstrate vulnerability?

That leader does not need to be a therapist, does not need to be making sure that they fix all of the issues that are being brought to them. That’s not what it’s about. It’s about having some compassion for what people are actually going through and then getting them the support that they need, and then setting those really healthy boundaries to say “Here’s where I can help you, and we’re running a business and I need everyone to help me lead.”

The more that you get buy-in, and the more that people really understand and see and experience your care for them, they will be more loyal. There will be less attrition.

The ripple effect of that does impact the bottom line. We know profitability is a lagging indicator. In this case it’s a lagging indicator of that compassionate leadership style.

Embodying some of these things really helps in all different relationships and teams within your life. It’s directly influencing your level of collaboration—your creativity, your ability to think differently, because there is that trust.

We seem to be in a time where people are questioning what they want from leaders.

The timing of this book is serendipitous, especially in this particular election year. There’s a lot in this book about low-conscious leaders and unconscious leaders.

My hope is that there are people who do start to wake up, to see how their trauma is impacting all sorts of realms in their life. And that might even mean how they’re voting.

Are you prepared for questions you might get about current leaders?

I can go back to some of the research that came from Dr. Paul Brown and Sol Davidson. Their research is being published in my book for the very first time. [From Heal to Lead: “Emerging neuroscience research shows how continuous trauma throughout childhood can lead to a shutdown of the genetic capacity to produce only adrenaline and cortisol, the implication is that some leaders could be locked into operating unconsciously from a place of threat perception.”] With some leaders like Putin and even Elon Musk, their childhood trauma, and how they were sort of saturated in adrenaline and cortisol, impacts how much empathy and compassion is even possible for them.

I would love to have hormonal testing for leaders. If your adrenaline and cortisol levels are through the roof on a consistent basis, you don’t actually have the capacity or the capability to lead people in a fair and just way. Obviously that’s not going to get any traction, but it’s a fascinating idea.

You don’t shy away from controversial issues. At one point you write, “Please read this chapter three times before you decide to get offended.“

That’s also a trauma-informed approach, right? I don’t want to put something in the book without saying, “Heads up, there’s going to be some content that might be activating for you.” If that’s the case, go slow with it.

I think it’s okay to lean into a little bit of discomfort. Because if we don’t lean into that discomfort, we don’t actually know what our capacity is for inviting different viewpoints and different perspectives.

I’m not invested in changing anyone’s mind. What I am invested in is people dialing up their curiosity.

More About Kelly L. Campbell

For more information, visit Campbell’s website or join her Substack, The New TLC.

The post Is Your Past Keeping You from Being a Better Team-Building Leader? appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.

Planning a company event is wonderful, commendable work. You’ve been given a budget and a mandate to do something fun for your colleagues or summer associates. Whatever the audience, they, just like you, have been in the thick of the enterprise at hand, and now you have the privilege of providing a breather from all that.

Strangely your colleagues, the honored guests, may very well initially feel detached from a company-hosted event! Even when you’ve booked a Watson Adventures scavenger hunt, your colleagues might not jump for joy at first. Though we’ve served more than half a million hunters, in more than 70 cities, it can be a challenge to get your I’ve-got-so-much-to-do coworkers to translate news of a company scavenger hunt into an I-can’t-wait-to-do-that frame of mind. Fortunately, we can help with that, too. Here are eight ways to encourage employees to participate in company events and get them excited:

1. Provide a compelling invitation

Thoughtfulness and a touch of creativity put into the invitation provides a signal that the company is invested in the event. No matter how big or small, make it known that the event is at the heart of the organization and not a sidelined afterthought. If there is an RSVP, you could tie the response to a challenge, such as a trivia question for which you only get the answer after responding. Avoid a plain announcement of just place, date, and time.

If you have a specific theme, make sure the invitation promotes that theme. In the case of a Watson Adventures murder mystery game, you might take aspects of your company (computers, data, clothing, court cases, medical devices, etc.) and tie them humorously (or not) to a detecting motif (Sherlock Homes, CIA agents, etc.). The life of the party begins with the invitation.

2. Share why it is special

This sounds obvious, but it is often an overlooked opportunity to inspire. People may get merely a vague impression of what may be fun about the event, but leaving that interpretation to the wind is not enough. You will create a much more powerful impression when you create a concrete vision of that fun experience. To do this, simply capture and share the elements that turned you on to this event. Was it a particular quote displayed on the event website? Was it an image of someone enjoying the event? Was it a specific description of the experience? Was it a personal memory from a past similar event? Communicate the specific elements that got you excited and the unique details that peaked your own interest.

This website itself is an excellent resource for orienting folks to a Watson Adventures hunt. It is dedicated to introducing newcomers to Watson Adventures’ unique style and variety of scavenger hunts. If any part of the website helped prompt you to choose to take on a hunt, such as a hunt description or our introductory video, share that inspiration by directing folks to those pages.

 3. Make it about the participants

One reason for an employee’s reluctance in going to a company event is that it can be perceived as just another thing the company is asking you to do. It’s another calendar item getting in the way of other calendar items. In all communications, be sure to drive home the message that this is not about obligation but about the good stuff—the non-work, the fun, the appreciation. It’s that rare time when it’s not about the organization, it’s about honoring and catering to those who make it thrive.

4. Connect it to the mission or goal

This may seem like a contradiction to the previous tip, but let’s go a little further. Every organization has a mission or goal, and everyone in the organization is employed to support that mission or goal. Naturally, people are already invested in that common vision. Whether fully inspired by the day-to-day work at hand or not, people really do want to be seen as a part of the resulting or future success. When the event is positioned as an outpouring from that goal and the work that went into it, people naturally want to be (and deserve to be) included in that recognition.

5. Get the senior executives involved

This means more than having leadership show up and observe. It means having them take an active role in the activities. That commitment from senior leaders provides another signal that the organization places value on the event and demonstrates the important element of being in it together. Participation should include the primary activities and can also include making remarks (nothing too lengthy or corporate-speak, please!), giving out awards, or naming winners of contests. The key actions are securing an early commitment to that executive participation and then sharing early on the ways in which leadership will be participating.

6. Give out prizes

It’s always a perk to know you might win something. This doesn’t have to be extravagant, and it may or may not be tied directly to the event. Prizes can be in the form of gift cards, event tickets, or company merchandise. Or consider granting an extra three-day weekend, an afternoon off, or take-out lunch for a team or department. (This works well for remote teams, too.)

A prize could also include something humorous or creative. Have a bagel-and-coffee breakfast delivered by the president of the company. Display a photo of the winning team in a prominent space. Or, like we’ve done for many in-person Watson Adventures games, hand out custom-made medals. Often, the more unusual and personal the prize is, the more it will inspire.

7. Conduct a teaser campaign

Don’t just get the word out on your event. Strategically build interest and conversation around the event by conducting a teaser campaign. Beginning some weeks before the event and in regular intervals, drop enticing details about the event without revealing the whole thing. You can also use this process to promote the messaging and strategies above, which only work when shared prior to the event. Use various media channels if multiple modes of communication are used in your organization. 

8. Make it easy

Perhaps above all, make attending the event as easy and convenient as possible. If it’s an off-site event, provide an easy means of getting there, including organizing transportation or ridesharing if necessary. In addition, provide an online posting with clear details on all the specifics—what, where, when, and even why. Anticipate any additional questions and post them centrally, such as “What should I wear?” or “What should I bring?” or “When will it conclude?” or “Will there be drinks?”

For large groups, those could all be placed on a dedicated page online. The page should provide the specifics, and it should also be used as another place to shout out the most compelling and fun aspects of the event.

Find More Fun

Before you show folks that your event is special, fun, something they deserve, and something they don’t want to miss, you need to make sure that’s true! Contact us to learn more and start planning your can’t-miss team-building scavenger hunt or virtual game today.

The post How to Get Employees Excited for Company Events: 8 Ways to Spark Interest appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.

Summer internships are a great way for students to gain valuable work experience and explore potential career paths. But it’s not all about work! To make the most of their time, you should provide interns and associates opportunities to unwind, bond with colleagues, and have fun. Here are 11 fun activities for summer interns to enjoy.

Benefits of Organizing Team Building Activities for Interns

Organizing team building activities for interns can offer huge benefits for both the interns and the organization. You’ll help interns feel more engaged, motivated, and connected to their colleagues, ultimately improving their overall experience and performance. Team building activities can also provide valuable learning opportunities, allowing interns to work on their communication, problem solving, and leadership, and to get to know your company culture. Team building activities for interns can accomplish any and all of the following:

• Boost morale and create a positive work environment.
• Foster a sense of camaraderie and collaboration among interns.
• Provide valuable learning opportunities for interns to develop new skills.
• Improve intern engagement, motivation, and performance.
• Lead to increased retention rates and a more cohesive team.

1. Cultural Attractions

Organize a group visit to a museum or aquarium. You’ll skip the weekend crowds, tour an interesting location, and spend time with colleagues in a very different setting than you usually would. If you need ideas for fun and unusual ways to see your favorite museum, aquarium, or zoo, here are 7 museum team building activities for interns—and anyone else—to try.

2. Outdoor Adventure

Take advantage of the summer weather by organizing an outdoor adventure. This could be as simple as a hike or something more complicated, such as a camping or rafting trip. If you’re located near a beach or lake, plan a day trip. Enjoy swimming, sunbathing, beach volleyball, and perhaps a beachside barbecue. Those are all great ways to relax and have fun outside the office.

3. Team Building Scavenger Hunts

Few activities combine a good time with quick thinking, creative problem solving, and fast-paced communication the way team building scavenger hunts do. We should know—we’ve run them for more than 20 years here at Watson Adventures. One of the great benefits is that everyone on your team can contribute equally, because you don’t need any particular athletic skills, artistic talents, or prior knowledge. You all just put your heads together and have a fun day.

Our most popular types of team building scavenger hunts and games include:

• Murder Mystery Games: Solve different sorts of murders in many different settings, such as botanical gardens, neighborhoods in cities around the country, or just about anywhere else!
• Food Tours: Snack your way to victory while answering tricky questions on our food-centric Munch Hunts in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and more.
• Trivia Games: Enjoy a wide array of trivia games just about anywhere—in the office, a rented ballroom or restaurant space, at home, or Zooming in from multiple places at once. And with audio and visual components, scavenger hunt rounds, and creative photo challenges, as well as many different themes, these aren’t run-of-the-mill pub-trivia games anyone could throw together.

4. Volunteer Work

Encourage interns to give back to the community by organizing a day of volunteering. This could involve working at a local food bank, participating in a beach or park clean-up, or helping out at a community center or animal shelter. It’s a rewarding way to spend a day and make a positive impact.

5. Sports Day

Take advantage of the sunny weather and head to the nearest beach or park for a day of friendly competition. Organize various team-based games like sand-castle building, beach volleyball or pickleball tournaments, soccer, frisbee, and relay races. You can also arrange an Office Olympics in your office or another space, though with less volleyball. It’s all about collaboration, teamwork, and a healthy sense of competition in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

6. Food Focus

Arrange for a cooking class where interns can learn to make a local or international dish. It’s a fun and educational activity that can also help interns develop new culinary skills.

Alternatively, set up a potluck where interns and associates can show off their skills and tastes. After all, summer team building activities can really work up an appetite! A food-focused outing in the park or a backyard barbecue offers a great chance for summer interns and colleagues, especially those who have gone hybrid or fully WFH, to catch up and unwind without the pressure of more structured events.

7. Creative Workshop

Organize a creative workshop where interns can learn a new skill, such as painting, pottery, or photography. Or set up a paint-and-sip event, where it’s less about learning a new skill than about spending time together and having a good laugh over your range of skill levels and creative thinking afterward.

8. Movie Night

Host a movie night where interns can relax and enjoy a film together. You could even set up an outdoor movie screening for a unique experience. Set up a projector and screen in a park or the office courtyard, and screen a popular movie or a classic film. Provide blankets, popcorn, and drinks for a cozy and enjoyable evening.

9. City Tour

Show off your neighborhood to help interns and associates explore their new surroundings. We offer plenty of ways to see your corner of town anew, or to explore a favorite historic neighborhood. You can visit the giant troll on the Freewheeling Fremont Scavenger Hunt. Dig into history and find surprises on the Secrets of Savannah Scavenger Hunt. Or simply celebrate the spirit of such cities as Boston, Chicago, and New Orleans.

From New York City to Los Angeles, you have hundreds of neighborhood scavenger hunts to choose from. And whichever you pick, participants will get to know your city and their colleagues in a fun way they couldn’t replicate themselves.

10. Networking Event

Hosting a networking event for summer interns can be a valuable opportunity for them to connect with professionals in their field, build relationships, and gain insights into the industry. These events often include networking sessions, workshops, and panel discussions. You could also set up a speed networking session, allowing interns and associates to meet a variety of professionals in short, focused conversations. To wrap up, a casual mixer with icebreaker games and refreshments could provide a relaxed setting for deeper networking.

11. Farewell Party

Finally, organize a farewell party to celebrate the end of the internship. This is a chance for interns and summer associates to reflect on their experiences and bid adieu to their colleagues.

Find More Fun

Contact us to learn more and start planning your summer team building scavenger hunt or virtual game today.

~

Image credits: picnic photo by Lee Myungseong on Unsplash; all others by Watson Adventures

The post 11 Great Activities for Summer Interns, Summer Associates & More appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.

Over 20 years of team building scavenger hunts don’t just happen—they require a skilled, experienced team to conceive, plan, and execute. That’s where we come in.

From in-person scavenger hunts to virtual games, our hundreds of team building options have delighted thousands of clients over the years. And that success stems from the people who work at Watson Adventures. Today, meet one of the people behind the scenes who keep team building events running like clockwork over and over again: sales consultant Laura Lovejoy.

What’s the best part of your job?

Talking with people from all over the country and world, and from different industries. And knowing that I am providing a service that connects people in a positive way, and exposes them to interesting places and things that they may not otherwise have experienced.

What is the most unusual request you’ve gotten from a client?

Certainly one of the most memorable was when a client asked if I could “fix” the results of a Wizard School Scavenger Hunt at an art museum so his girlfriend’s team was guaranteed to win—and he could propose. The client’s scheme included having our host present her with a Harry Potter themed box as the prize, within which the client had planted a ring. His girlfriend (a huge Harry Potter fan) was totally floored, and said “yes” as the client got down on his knee and popped the question in the middle of the museum.

Also, one time I had an agricultural association from California award the members of the winning team with live spiders. Apparently these were a special kind of spider for which this group had an appreciation! I still think about that every time someone asks me about supplementing prizes.

What reaction do you usually get when you tell people what you do for a living?

I’ve had people ask me if we are hiring. Most people think it sounds so fun!

What particular event was the most ambitious and challenged you the most?

A large financial services group of about 600 people that we split between the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. It was essential to this client that the entire group all launch together from a Hilton in Midtown Manhattan, where they were meeting the company’s CEO, but then get to the correct museum in a timely, organized matter. The logistics were particularly complex, and it took a lot of staff on our end, but it all worked out perfectly!

What did you do before you joined Watson Adventures?

I worked in human resources and public relations, within both the tourism and design industries, before taking time away to raise my two children.

What interest from your past suggests you were destined to do this unusual profession?

I have a love of history, architecture, cities, museums and old movies! My work with Watson Adventures has offered a perfect confluence of these interests.

What is your favorite thing to hear from a client after a game?

First and foremost, I love to hear the word “fun” in any client feedback. But I also relish when people mention how interesting or clever the challenges are, and when they show appreciation for the host.

Speaking of hearing from clients…

Here are just a few of the may kind words clients have shared recently about Laura.

“Laura was a wonderful event consultant, who was an excellent communicator and was an absolute pleasure to collaborate with. She was exceptionally knowledgeable and answered every question I had when planning our team’s Grab ‘n’ Go option from our hotel conference in San Francisco, which for any event planner is a gold standard.”

“Laura is wonderful and patient. She has been our sales contact for the last 5 years. She always follows up and is a great resource. She keeps us up-to-date on new hunts being offered.”

“Laura was very communicative and offered great suggestions when the original plan didn’t work out. She is positive, and her goal was always to make sure we all had the best time.”

“I’ve worked with Laura twice now, and she is absolutely fabulous! Again, so good at wrangling a slightly disorganized person (me) in a kind way that got us everything we needed!”

Find More Fun

Learn more about our many in-person scavenger hunts and virtual games for team building events. And contact us to start planning yours!

The post Meet the Team Building Experts Behind Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts: Q&A with Laura Lovejoy appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.

You can’t beat a museum as a venue for an engaging and educational experience. But as we’ve learned offering unique museum scavenger hunts and team-building museum activities for over 20 years, you can do so much more than “just” admire world-class art or prehistoric creatures.

From unraveling a tricky whodunit to renting out an entire museum just for your group, here are 7 surprising and unusual things you can do in a museum.

1. Solve a Murder Mystery

Perhaps a curator at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has been murdered. Maybe a fiendish killer has created a devilish whodunit at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. Or could there be a murderer in your midst? Whatever flavor of murder you choose, your group will have a blast following clues through the museum’s collections to find art and artifacts, answer questions about what they find, and piece together the story behind the suspicious deaths.

And now, beyond the many murder mystery games we offer at specific museums, your group can solve a murder at just about any art museum or history museum you choose!

2. Laugh Your Butts Off

You might not associate museums with laughter. But when our museum scavenger hunts offer a combination of witty, humorous questions and sometimes silly Photo Challenges, that will change. Whether you’re finding fossilized dinosaur poop, chuckling at puns, wincing at dad jokes, or acting like woolly mammoths, even your crankiest colleagues will find something to smile about.

3. Get a Room

Or a restaurant! A change of environment is always a breath of fresh air and provides a more comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. It also allows your group to focus if you’re using museum activities for company team building. Many museums, particularly natural history and science museums, offer private rooms, lecture halls, and restaurants to rent for private events—we’ve run hundreds of such events in them!

Such diverse museums as the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey, Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute, the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, and Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (or MoPOP) are just a few of the sorts of venues to consider.

4. Or Rent the Whole Darn Place

Larger groups often rent out whole sections of museums, or the entire museum, for a day or evening with multiple events. Clients have arranged for our museum activities to take place before a catered dinner, as a fun change of pace after meetings and presentations, or as just one of several ongoing events throughout a museum.

Groups can rent all manner of museums, large and small: the Petersen Automotive Museum in L.A.; the Morris Museum in New Jersey; the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee; the World of Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta; the Exploratorium in San Francisco; the National Museum of American History in D.C.; and more.

5. Mingle with Naked People

You can do what in a museum? Yes, groups with a cheeky sense of humor may get a kick out of a Naked Scavenger Hunt. No, it’s not the hunters in the buff, but the art: flirty, scandalous, and sometimes silly nude paintings and sculptures you track down and answer questions about. Particularly popular in February, these hunts are available anytime, and they are not so salacious that you’d have to worry about upsetting your mom or the folks in HR.

Arrange a Naked Scavenger Hunt in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

6. Be Works of Art Yourselves

If you’ve ever considered yourself a bit of a masterpiece, it’s time to prove yourself right. Many of our museum scavenger hunts include Photo Challenges that prompt players to pose, strut, and show off in creative, collaborative ways.

Your group might have to act terrified of a T. rex, imitate Adonis, or interact with a sculpture in an unusual way. Completing these challenges might make you look loony in the moment, but they bring friends and colleagues together and produce lasting memories your whole group or team can look back on and appreciate.

7. Stretch the Definition of “Museum”

Of course, many other cultural attractions offer spaces for meetings, restaurants to rent out, and the opportunity to book the whole place. Meet at Longwood Gardens, near Philadelphia, and then discover the gardens’ secrets. Brainstorm at Chicago’s Navy Pier, and then complete a photo-filled scavenger hunt there. Treat your employees to a day at the zoo or aquarium, all while solving a murder mystery.

The possibilities for spending a surprising day at museums and museum-adjacent locations are endless when you know what to do.

Find More Fun

Contact us to learn more and start planning your corporate team building scavenger hunt or virtual game today.

The post What to Do in a Museum:<br>7 Activities to Try appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.

Whether you’re planning a team building event for a hundred people or a small get-together with friends, you’ll need ideas for fun activities for adults. Beyond simply a catered meal or frayed-around-the-edges escape room, it’s time to see your favorite museum, attraction, or historic neighborhood anew.

We stage a couple thousand in-person scavenger hunts and team building activities a year, and we’ve been doing it since 1999. So you can trust us to help you out with these five fun ways to put a different spin on exploring museums and neighborhoods.

Do It Through Food

“Dine and dash” is usually a bad thing: eating a meal and then ditching the restaurant without paying the check. But a food tour scavenger hunt puts a much better spin on the phrase. If you want to arrange a snack crawl, choose a foodie-friendly neighborhood or landmark, such as Seattle’s Pike Place Market, and plan out a series of quick-service eateries to visit. Or you can join one of our Munch Hunts.

Full of surprising secrets and delectable snacks, Munch Hunts are available in New York’s Greenwich Village, Lower East Side, and Chinatown, as well as in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and beyond. They’ll tempt you with some of the tastiest treats in town while you build up your appetite searching for answers to tricky questions about other neighborhood highlights.

Solve a Murder Mystery

A Watson Adventures staffer has turned up dead. A slain museum curator has left clues in his own blood. A mad genius is set on killing you and your group. They’re all the start of different murder mystery games in museums and neighborhoods around the country. Hidden details in art or local landmarks will lead you deeper into each mystery, unraveling tales of betrayal, revenge, supernatural curses, and more.

You can even solve a murder mystery almost anywhere, anytime, on the Murder Mystery Mayhem Scavenger Hunt.

Try Trivia on the Go

If you want an experience similar to our many Trivia Slam games, but in a specific place, build your own trivia quiz. Say your group wants to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Like many museums these days, the Met offers an interactive map. Using that, you can plan ahead to see certain works of art, do a little research, and write up a list of trivia questions about them. Present the question to your group when you reach the gallery, or give each smaller group the trivia list to complete on their own as they go.

This sort of game works great in any location you can research a bit in advance. Of course, you’ll have to remind everyone that, this being a fun activity for adults, a no-Googling honor system is in place.

Volunteer for a Good Cause

Give back to the community and strengthen your team’s bonds through a shared purpose. Identify a local charity or non-profit organization and volunteer as a team for a day, or perhaps a weekend. It could be a beach or park clean-up, a community garden project, helping staff a local road race, or assisting at a local shelter. Knowing you’ve helped beautify a park or made your neighborhood a better place will definitely help you see it in a new light. (If this doesn’t sound as “fun,” treat yourselves to a meal or happy hour as an extra reward.)

Strike a Pose

Collaborating with teammates to create memorable photos based on themed prompts is a huge part of our Grab ‘n’ Go scavenger hunts, as well as other games. They can be enjoyed in just about any neighborhood you like, and they leave you with a photo gallery full of keepsakes.

Playing the game in Chicago? You might act like you’re literally being blown away by the Windy City. Headed to the zoo? Brush up on your animal impressions. Bringing your colleagues to a waterfront locale? Get ready to act like you’re at the beach.

Find More Fun

Contact us to learn more and start planning your team building scavenger hunt or virtual game today.

The post 5 Ways to See Museums & Neighborhoods Differently: Fun Activities for Adults appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.

The magic behind Watson Adventures scavenger hunts and virtual team building games simply wouldn’t come together without a crucial component: your hunt hosts! Whenever friends or colleagues get together to solve a murder mystery or explore a museum, hunt hosts are there to get the excitement started, keep the game moving, run special Bonus Challenges, and more. Hunt hosts always bring the fun!

Of course, they’re always up to something creative beyond scavenger hunts. These are just a few of our talented hunt hosts and their exciting projects.

Kim Greenberg, New York City

Host Kim Greenberg has written the book Business & Marketing Strategy for the Proactive Performer.

“I wrote the book I always wished I had had on the biz of the biz,” Kim says, “to help guide my performing career, as well as from my experience now having helped so many other performers on their trajectory as The Broadway Expert, a performing arts business coach.

“The book contains tons of actionable tips, templates, tools, and inspiration for your performing career, from a step-by-step process on how to get represented, to cover letters, to casting, branding, and so much more. Plus it features stories from my 25+ year career working as an actor. Whether you’re just beginning a career as a performer or are a seasoned pro, I hope you will pick up a copy.”

Craig Stover, Philadelphia

ArtShow with host Craig Stover is an artist interview program on YouTube that seeks out the very best visual artists and craftspeople in the region to talk about their techniques, inspirations, and secrets within their work. In these brief yet in-depth conversations, Craig gets to know these artists intimately and find out what drives them to a creative life. Each month, subscribers get to learn about a variety of fantastic new artists at the height of their game.

Carter Thompson, New York City

“For the past three years,” Carter Thompson says, “I have been doing holiday and event installations on the Observatory of the Empire State Building, along with other areas of the building. I do floral displays in the summer and fall and Christmas and Hanukkah holiday decor in the winter. It has a lot of unique challenges with the logistics of doing a display up on the 86th floor outdoors, so everything has to go up through five different elevators and be secured and weighted down to withstand high winds!

“For the past 8 years I have worked as prop stylist on photoshoots for home furnishings. This year I worked as a stylist for a project where HomeGoods completely redecorated a vacation rental house between each guest. And I worked on a project in Austin designing a pop-up restaurant around an eight-course meal by celebrity chef Mashama Bailey. It was a lot of fun to figure out what kind of vase goes with an oyster course, or what kind of outdoor furniture goes with churros.

“I also do my own TikTok series about history, which is a passion project. It has lead to some fun opportunities to partner with brands like Delta and L’Oreal to dive into history’s mysteries or the unexpected stories of everyday objects.”

Holly Link, Nashville

Holly Schroeder Link is a published author and accomplished actress, singer, teacher, and painter. Being wildly creative is what she lives for! In addition to working for Watson Adventures, she teaches improvisation and voice in Nashville and does the occasional commercial. Presently, she has a funny commercial for Clopay Garage Doors running in various parts of the country. 

Last year, she published a comedic memoir called, Big Noise from LaPorte, a Diary of the Disillusioned. The book is all about surviving loss, trauma, and show business. It reached #1 on the Amazon Hot New Releases List the week it debuted.

“I’ve also been oil painting for the past year,” Holly says. “Here is one of my favorite pieces. When I paint, I get out of my head and get lost in color and light.”

Mike Manship, New York City

Mike Manship is a writer, performer, and proud member of the New York Neo-Futurists, a radically dynamic ensemble of multidisciplinary artists who write and perform original work rooted in the truth of their own lived experiences. He is also the co-creator of T: An MBTA Musical, which has been running intermittently in the Boston area since 2011 and now enjoys regular performances at the Rockwell in Somerville, MA.

Mike loves trivia, puzzles, and games of all types and is likely to be a little too enthusiastic about how you perform on your Watson Adventures Bonus Challenge.

Shannon Skilling, Boston

Shannon Skilling, a Boston Hunt host and hunt researcher since 2005, works as Education Coordinator at the U.S.S. Constitution Museum—aka “Old Ironsides”! She coordinates group reservations, works with the Education and Museum Learning team on family programming, and designs maker events for museum visitors. Her latest summer maker projects features sea glass art and Shrinky Dinks wearables. She has also created maker videos for the museum’s website, such as make-your-own secret messages and a sailors valentine.

“I love creating projects that are multi-generational,” Shannon says, “and seeing people be creative and play together. Hosting Watson Adventures scavenger hunts gives me some more playtime.”

On her Boston research missions for Watson Adventures, Shannon has a great eye for finding interesting locations and objects that are fun to discover on a hunt.

Find More Fun

Contact us to learn more and start planning your expertly hosted team building scavenger hunt or virtual game today.

The post Get to Know Your Hosts: The Talented Personalities Running Your Team Building Games appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.

Hybrid workplaces are everywhere, and countless offices include fully or partially work-from-home (WFH) employees. So how do you put together fulfilling, engaging hybrid team building events?

Planning fun virtual team building activities or in-person events that work for hybrid groups can be a challenge. But it can be done, as long you remember to be flexible. To help you get started, here are nine hybrid team building ideas and fun virtual team building activities to fit just about any group. We’ve also included some recent real-life examples of our work helping clients incorporate their WFH colleagues.

Solve a Murder Mystery

When a Watson Adventures staffer is killed, it’s up to you and your colleagues to uncover his secrets and solve the murder. The Virtual Murder by Team Building Game is perfect for hybrid groups because teams can work together no matter where they are. Remote workers and in-person players can match wits over Zoom to solve the puzzles and unravel the mystery.

Play a Game at the Same Time in Multiple Locations

Many of our games, including the Grab ‘n’ Go Scavenger Hunt, can be enjoyed no matter where your colleagues are. That hybrid approach has benefited many of our clients, even in the past few months. Recently, a global marketing company brought together staff in a variety of cities across the country. They wanted two options: one would be a virtual game for those who wanted to stay close to home and/or are the sole staffer in their area. The other group would compete in-person on a Grab ‘n’ Go hunt, with teams calling in via Zoom to get their instructions. Each location was its own team competing against other cities’ teams.

In another instance, a multi-national tech company wanted to celebrate National Intern Day. The majority of their interns are all over the country, so they wanted a virtual game. But since one-quarter of their interns are in one office, we ran an in-person version of the game for them.

Name That Tune

Did you know you can play music through Zoom? When you Screen Share, click the Advanced Tab up top. Click the Music or Computer Sound Only button, and Zoom will share the audio playing on your computer. Prepare a playlist in advance, or pull one up on your preferred music service, and let players guess each song by playing a short snippet for them.

Virtual Coffee Klatch

Simply chatting over a cup of coffee can be a great opportunity for colleagues to catch up and build rapport, even if they have never met in person. Schedule a morning meetup among in-office and remote workers, or carve out time before a regularly scheduled meeting, and devote the time entirely to casual conversation. No shop talk allowed!

Pictionary

This classic game is easy to translate into Zoom, thanks to Whiteboard and Screen Share. One person on each team can draw something while the rest of the team guesses what it is. (Bonus: The difficulty of “drawing” on the Whiteboard using a mouse often adds an unintended level of hilarity to games like this.)

Happy Hour

Hybrid groups can enjoy a happy hour anytime, whether as a dedicated event or simply to liven up a meeting. Team members gathering in person can enjoy a mixology kit together. And if sending everyone their own kits isn’t feasible, team members at home can make their own favorite drink, which gives them each a chance to talk about their creation.

Virtual Trivia Games

Tackle trivia together, no matter where your colleagues are, on one of our many virtual trivia games. Each game consists of five rounds of fun challenges, ranging from name-that-tune audio rounds, fictional dating profiles, trivia with visual cues, and more. You won’t need a bunch of trivia geniuses to play, either. No matter the theme, each game is designed so that anyone can compete and win. So even non-sports fans will love Go for the Gold! The Olympics Trivia Game, for example, and your whole group will be wowed by the Fascinating Facts Trivia Game.

Recently, a law firm wanted to include their smaller offices in a game. We ran a Trivia Slam from their conference room in Chicago while the other offices teamed up and video-conferenced in to participate.

DIY Trivia

Whether you devote an entire event to it or sprinkle it into meetings, groups everywhere can play trivia. You can put together trivia about famous movies or surprising events in history. Or to put a personal spin on it, ask colleagues ahead of time for silly or embarrassing stories, and make a game out of those. Then compete in groups or individually, and award the winner with a prize.

Magic Show

If you want a morale-boosting activity everyone can relax and enjoy, book a virtual magic show. Close-up magicians and mentalists have carved out their own niche in the world of Zoom entertainment. Acts like Phil “The Magic Man” combine card tricks, mind tricks, and audience participation into surprising, mesmerizing shows.

Paint and Sip

Studios offering paint-and-sip activities exploded in popularity pre-pandemic, and virtual offerings have kept that going ever since. Companies like Paint and Sip Live put on virtual painting parties that can work for hybrid groups, engaging coworkers’ minds, hands, and senses of creativity. And of course, the wine part is entirely optional.

Find More Fun

Check out our hybrid team building games and fun virtual team building activities. Contact us to learn more and to start arranging your own team building event.

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Image credits: Lead photo by Sigmund on Unsplash; coffee photo by Mad Fish Digital on Unsplash

The post 10 Hybrid Team Building Ideas & Ways to Include WFH Employees appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.

This summer has been wilder than most, making it harder than ever to plan summer team building activities. Fickle June weather has given way to extreme July heat, to say nothing of wildfire smoke blanketing half the country. We’re seeing the effects first hand, as we work with some groups planning outdoor scavenger hunts to relocate to indoor venues.

So don’t let the crazy summer weather keep you from celebrating the season and your team. Keep things cool with these weather-proof indoor summer team building activities.

Go Somewhere Cool

And by cool, we mean both fascinating and well air-conditioned. Organize a group of co-workers to visit a museum or aquarium. You’ll skip the weekend crowds, tour an interesting location, and spend time with colleagues in a very different setting than you usually would. Of course, there’s always the option to solve a murder mystery at any aquarium, or to explore museum scavenger hunts around the country.

Office Olympics and Pot Luck

Office Olympics and pot lucks featured in our round-up of 7 fun, mostly outdoor summer team building ideas, but they’re stellar options for staying inside. For your Olympic games, organize a slate of different events, such as rubber-band archery, paper-plate discus, and table tennis. Reward winners with a medal ceremony, and even cap things off with an Olympics trivia game.

And once everyone has worked up an appetite, it’s time for the pot luck. If you’re trying into the Olympics theme, everyone can bring a dish from a different culture or country. Or just have everyone make what they love. Colleagues and competitors will get to relive the highlights (and lowlights) of the games as they eat.

The Games Must Go On

For a less physical option, consider arranging a board game tournament, or simply a gaming day. Bond with co-workers over a game of Monopoly, Scrabble, or bird-watching. Or if some colleagues are game to try it, get creative and spend an afternoon learning the ropes of Dungeons & Dragons. Want something a bit more high tech? Hook up a Nintendo Switch to the conference room TV and play some multiplayer games like Mario Kart. Whatever you choose, a gaming day is a low-key, low-cost chance to bring colleagues together.

Escape the Office

Without even leaving the office! Get your team together to try out one of the many boxed “escape room” games that are out there and see how well you do. Or divide into groups and compete to be the fastest. For a less structured event, but teams in rooms with a few brain teaser puzzles and the like, and see who can solve them and “escape” first. Or for an even more memorable experience, tackle the Murder by Team Building Game or Puzzled to Death: A Game of Murder Mystery Puzzles.

Team Building Games

Our many team building scavenger hunts and virtual games focus on collaboration, communication, and creativity. Enjoy all sorts of trivia games either in-person or virtually, solve a murder mystery at the office or a rented space, or get inventive on free-form Grab ‘n’ Go scavenger hunts.

Find More Indoor Fun

Contact us to learn more and start planning your summer team building scavenger hunt or virtual game today.

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Image credits: Scrabble photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

The post Don’t Sweat the Weather: 6 Great Indoor Summer Team Building Activities appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.

Summer is the perfect time to invigorate your team’s spirit and foster a positive environment, and these fun summer team building activities can help. Between graduations, summer camps, and vacations, it can be especially tough to corral your colleagues for bonding time. But whether you gather the whole group or just a department or small group, you can make these work for your summertime team event.

Office Olympics

Take advantage of the sunny weather and head to the nearest beach or park for a day of friendly competition. Organize various team-based games like sand-castle building, beach volleyball or pickleball tournaments, and relay races. Of course, you can also arrange the Olympics in your office or another blessedly air-conditioned space, just with less volleyball. It’s all about collaboration, teamwork, and a healthy sense of competition in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

Plan a Pot Luck

This one’s easy to combine with a number of other options on this list. After all, summer team building activities can really work up an appetite! Whether you opt for pot luck or a catered affair, a food-focused outing in the park or a backyard barbecue offers a great chance for co-workers, especially those who have gone hybrid or fully WFH, to catch up and unwind without the pressure of more organized events.

Adventure Time

Unleash your team’s adventurous spirit by planning some sort of outdoor excursion. You might bond on a hiking trail, enjoy the green spaces of a nature preserve, discover the wonders of birding, or brave a ropes course. If you don’t have such options nearby, you can always go indoor rock climbing or axe throwing. Give your colleagues a chance to step outside their comfort zones.

Rooftop Happy Hour

For another unwind-and-socialize activity, organize an outdoor happy hour. You might find a restaurant or museum with a rooftop space, perhaps a beer garden, or even a local winery. As colleagues relax, the boss can give a short speech highlighting recent accomplishments, everyone can do some icebreakers, or you can divide into teams for a quick trivia game about your company. That way you’re doing more than just hanging out, if you want a little more team-building bang for your proverbial buck.

Volunteer for a Good Cause

Give back to the community and strengthen your team’s bonds through a shared purpose. Identify a local charity or non-profit organization and volunteer as a team for a day, or perhaps a weekend. It could be a beach or park clean-up, a community garden project, helping staff a local road race, or assisting at a local shelter. By working together for a meaningful cause, your team will develop empathy, unity, and a sense of fulfillment. (And if this doesn’t sound as “fun,” pair it with another, light-hearted activity as an extra reward for making your community a better place.)

Hit the Water

If you have access and you’re a relatively small group, plan a day of water-based activities. Your team can try kayaking or paddleboarding, rent a pontoon boat and hang out, or embark on a city boat tour. And while it might sound intimidating, you can also find whitewater rafting excursions for a wide range of ages and athletic abilities.

Team Building Games

And then of course there are games. Our many, many team building scavenger hunts and virtual games encourage team collaboration, improve colleagues’ communication skills, and fire up everyone’s creative engines in unique ways. Solve a murder mystery just about anywhere, including at zoos and aquariums. Enjoy all sorts of trivia games either in-person or virtually. Or get inventive on one of our more free-form Grab ‘n’ Go scavenger hunts, available outdoors or in your office.

Find More Fun

Contact us to learn more and start planning your summer team building scavenger hunt or virtual game today.

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Image credits: Lead image via Unsplash; group of four photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash; Volunteering photo by Anna Shvets

The post Summer Teamwork: 7 Fun Summer Team Building Activities appeared first on Team Building Activities | Watson Adventures Scavenger Hunts.