Are you in search of some outdoor team building activities for your employees?
As you already know, these are exercises or games that you can try outside of your workplace. They help your groups to have fun and relax a bit.
Who doesn’t want to get rid of work stress for a while?
In this article, let’s see 10 amazing team building activities that you can conduct outdoors.
10 Outdoor Team Building Activities for Your Employees
Before You Start
If you want to know how you can conduct great team building sessions, you can read this article for inspiration: How to Facilitate Team Building Activities in Your Workplace?
Alright, let’s go!
(Note: This article contains some affiliate links to Amazon. That means I earn a small commission when you make a purchase using these links at no extra cost to you.)
#1. Archery Challenge
For: Collaboration and Goal setting
Archery challenge can be fun, and at the same time, it tests your accuracy and concentration too. Here your groups should hit the target using a bow and arrow.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any number of participants per group
Materials: Archery Set, and an empty plastic bottle
Instructions
- Initially, divide the participants into teams. Get an Archery Set that includes a bow and some arrows.
- Now, fix the target by placing an empty plastic bottle in an outdoor space and invite the teams for an Archery challenge.
- Then, each team member should try to hit their arrow on the target. Team members can communicate with each other and motivate the person who is going to hit the target.
- Finally, the team that performed well should be declared the winner.
If you don’t have an Archery set, here is the link to get it from Amazon:
Handmade Wood Toy Crossbow Set – for Outdoor Play
#2. Destination Unknown
For: Cooperation and Problem solving
This is a type of scavenger hunt in which participants will be finding places rather than objects.
I’m explaining two versions of this activity, so you can choose the best one according to your convenience.
Version 1 (If you can arrange a vehicle for each team to travel)
Time: You decide
Participants: 3 – 8 members per team
Materials: A cell phone and vehicle
Instructions
- Initially, divide the participants into teams. Next, provide the first clue to a particular location.
- Once the teams correctly identify the location, they can go there. For this, arrange them a vehicle, preferably a car.
- After reaching there, they must take a photo with the whole team and share it with you through an instant messenger like Whatsapp. Now, you can send them the next clue to another location. Then, let them correctly guess it and go there.
- Continue the activity until they reach the final destination where there is a party or surprise. For example, it can be a popular restaurant where they can have their favorite food and you will pay the bills.
Version 2 (If you want to conduct it solely in your office premise)
Time: You decide
Participants: 3 – 8 members per team
Materials: A cell phone
Instructions
- First off, divide the participants into teams. Next, provide the first clue to a particular area in your office premise. For example, garden.
- After correctly identifying the area, they can go there and take a photo with the whole team.
- Now, they can come back to you and show you the photo. Then, you can provide them with the next clue to another area. Again, let them correctly identify the area, go there, take a photo, and show you.
(Note: If the outdoor space is too large for the teams to come back to you every time, use an instant messenger for communication.)
- This can be continued until they reach the final destination where they can have a surprise. For example, some useful gifts, food & drinks, etc.
#3. Flash Mob
For: Creative thinking and collaboration
A flash mob is a group of individuals who suddenly assemble in a public place, perform something like dancing, singing, etc. for a while, and simply disperse. This is one of the great team building activities that you can try outdoors.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: None (But use a music player if needed)
Instructions
- First off, divide the participants into teams. Now, let each team choose a date and time and make arrangements for a flash mob. They can do it as a surprise.
- After that, you can decide which team performed well. Possibly, you can also give a gift to the winners.
#4. Klask 4: Magnetic Party Game
For: Collaboration, Strategic planning, and Quick decision making
Klask was the number-one ranked party game of 2015 in Norway and Sweden. The beauty of this game is that you can play it anywhere – indoors or outdoors, and with your staff or family.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Participants: Exactly 2 members per team
Materials: 1 Klask board per two teams (Amazon link provided)
Instructions
- First off, divide the participants into teams. Now, provide a Klask board to every two teams. That means, 4 players can use a single board.
- Teams must sit across from each other to compete. Initially, each team is given 10 points. The objective of this game is to make both opponent players run out of points.
- The players should hit an orange ball at the opponent team’s goal area using a striker controlled by steering magnets. A player loses one point when they make a mistake or one of their opponents scores a goal.
- Since a single game takes only 10 minutes on average, you can possibly conduct a tournament and see who is the champion.
If you don’t have a Klask board, here is the link to get it from Amazon:
KLASK 4: The 4 Player Magnetic Party Game of Skill
#5. Murder Mystery Party
For: Adaptability, Collaboration, Problem solving, and Intuitive decision making
Here you and your groups will take part in a crime scene and try to solve the case. Mostly, you can play these games with both your employees and family.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: Murder Mystery Game Kit (Amazon link provided)
Instructions
- First off, divide the participants into teams. Provide a Murder Mystery Game Kit to each team.
- Now, ask them to solve the case within the time limit set by you. Depending on the game, your team members can act as characters in the story.
- Finally, see if they were able to solve the case, and reward the teams that did well.
If you don’t have a murder mystery kit, here are a few good ones that you can get from Amazon.
Reusable Murder Mystery on the Train Game Kit
FPI Mystery: Death of an Artist
#6. Running Free
For: Cooperation and Trust building
In this activity, a sighted person should help their blindfolded partner to walk and gradually run.
Time: 10-20 minutes
Participants: Exactly 2 members per group
Materials: Blindfolds
Instructions
- Initially, divide the participants into pairs. One member of each team should be blindfolded.
- Now, ask each pair to hold their hands. Then, the sighted person should guide his blindfolded partner to walk and gradually run fast.
- Once this is done, switch the blindfold and repeat the activity.
#7. Spider Web
For: Adaptability and Problem solving
This is another conventional exercise that is both fun and challenging. Here the goal is to pass through a spider web without actually touching it.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Participants: At least 2 members per group
Materials: Duct tape or Nylon cord
Instructions
- Initially, create a spider web between two trees using duct tape or nylon cord.
- Now, divide the participants into groups. Next, instruct the group members to stand on one side of the spider’s web.
- Then, they must travel to the other side of the web without touching it. They are not allowed to travel over, under, or around it. If somebody touches the web, ask them to go back and restart again.
- Finally, see which group performed well.
#8. The Blind Wine Waiter
For: Communication, Cooperation, and Problem Solving
In this game, the blindfolded group members try to serve their leader a glass of wine using just one hand. However, the leader can’t move or use their hands although they can see.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Participants: 6 members per team
Materials: Blindfolds, Bottles of wine, Corkscrews, and Wineglasses
Instructions
- At first, split the participants into teams of 6 members each. Now, one person on each team can act as a leader, and the rest of the members should be blindfolded.
- For each team, place a bottle of wine, a corkscrew, and a wineglass at different places in the playing area. Make sure that everything is safely positioned so that they won’t fall or break easily.
- The leader must not move or use their hands during the whole activity, so they can simply sit near their team. Also, the blindfolded members should only use their right hand throughout the activity. However, no member should complete more than one task.
- Now, the blindfolded members should find a bottle of wine, a wineglass, and a corkscrew. Then, they need to help their leader drink a glass of wine.
#9. Toxic Waste
For: Strategic planning and Problem solving
The goal of this exercise is to neutralize toxic waste within a time limit. For this, groups should transfer it from the radiation zone to the safe zone.
Time: You decide
Participants: 6-12 members per team
Materials: Ropes; Large and small buckets
Instructions
- Initially, set up a radiation zone by forming a circle of around 8 feet in diameter using the rope. Next, place a small bucket with balls (representing toxic waste) in the middle of the radiation zone.
- Now, place two ropes outside the radiation zone that can be used for transferring the toxic waste. Then, place a large bucket (neutralization zone) around 30 feet away from the radiation zone.
- The task for each team is to transfer the toxic waste from the radiation zone to the safe zone. So, give them some time for discussion and planning.
- Each team should complete this process within a certain time limit. Moreover, nobody can enter the radiation zone.
#10. Trust Walk
For: Communication and Trust building
Trust Walk is one of the oldest activities out there. Here a sighted person will guide their blindfolded teammates to overcome the obstacles.
Time: 15-20 minutes
Participants: Any
Materials: Blindfolds and various soft objects
Instructions
- First off, scatter various soft objects throughout the playing area. They can be considered obstacles, however, make sure that there is nothing dangerous.
- Now, split the participants into groups. One person in each group will act as a guide.
- Then, ask all the team members except the guide to wear the blindfold. Next, the guide should direct their blindfolded teammates to pass through the playing area. However, they must do it without touching the obstacles.
- Finally, identify the groups that performed well.
Final Words
Outdoor team building activities can help your employees cooperate well while having some fun and refreshment. Hopefully, the above exercises will be useful for you and your groups.