Outdoor Team Building Ideas are basically the antidote to staring at spreadsheets until your eyes go square. When the office starts feeling like a looped scene from “Groundhog Day,” nothing snaps people out of autopilot like fresh air, sunshine, and maybe a slightly ridiculous team challenge. Plus, it’s a lot harder to check your email when you’re balancing a water balloon on a spoon.
Research from Globoforce found that 89% of employees say workplace relationships are a huge part of their overall happiness. Even just one solid friendship at work can make people feel more connected to their company. Taking team building outside cranks that connection up a notch — suddenly the quiet person from accounting is your three-legged race partner, and you’re both laughing like you’ve known each other for years.
From competitive games to creative challenges that will have everyone thinking, “Who came up with this?,” outdoor activities build trust, improve communication, and create moments your team will be talking about for weeks. In this list, you’ll find 60 ways to swap fluorescent lighting for sunlight and turn your group into a team that actually enjoys spending time together.
What is meant by outdoor team building activities?
There’s just something magical about dragging work outside — and no, I don’t mean carrying your laptop to the patio. I’m talking about swapping your swivel chair for a picnic blanket, your keyboard for a kayak paddle, and your “reply all” email stress for the thrill of a three-legged race you didn’t know you needed. The sun hits differently when you’re not staring at it through an office window.
Throw in some friendly chaos — like a sack race where someone faceplants in slow motion or a scavenger hunt that leads to a very confused hot dog vendor — and you’ve got memories in the making. Outdoor Team Building Ideas aren’t just about “boosting synergy” or whatever HR calls it; they’re about those weird, wonderful moments that turn coworkers into people you’d actually grab a drink with after work.
Why is outdoor team building valuable?
Outdoor team building is basically the grown-up version of getting let out for recess — except now there’s coffee involved and no one’s forcing you to play dodgeball (unless you want to). A field day turns into a surprisingly intense competition, a picnic somehow becomes a deep discussion about which potato salad is superior, and a scavenger hunt? Well, that’s just an excuse for adults to run around pretending they’re in a spy movie.
And honestly, the best part is ditching the office entirely. One minute you’re stressing over emails, the next you’re lying in the grass watching Greg from accounting try to catch a frisbee like it’s the Olympic finals. The air smells better, people smile more, and suddenly you’re bonding over sunscreen choices and who forgot the bug spray. You come back to work sun-kissed, maybe a little sore, but way more connected.
60 Best Outdoor Team Building Activities to Try
When your team thrives on action, these activities deliver. From scavenger hunts that take you across the park to pulse-pounding paintball showdowns, these ideas will get everyone engaged, smiling, and collaborating in fresh new ways.
1- The Olympiad Challenge
The Olympiad Challenge is like a scavenger hunt on espresso. With City Chase, your team dives headfirst into 12 rounds of madness — snapping photos, shooting videos, cracking trivia, and firing off text message answers — all while racing past landmarks you’ve probably ignored a hundred times. It’s sightseeing, but with bragging rights at stake.
And here’s the kicker — it works anywhere. Whether it’s your own city streets or a totally new place you’re visiting together, this is one of those Outdoor Team Building Ideas that cranks up the energy and guarantees weird, wonderful moments. By the end, you’re sweaty, laughing, and suddenly way too invested in who nailed the perfect victory pose in front of a statue.
2- Outdoor Rope Course
Rope courses are basically trust falls on steroids — except instead of just catching your coworker, you’re all trying to squeeze onto a square the size of a pizza box or balance on a seesaw like some kind of human circus act. These setups throw in tightropes, ziplines, treehouses, and wobbly high bridges just to make sure your heart rate stays interesting.
The magic isn’t just in the adrenaline rush — it’s in the “we’re in this together” moment when your team figures out how to move, balance, and not topple into a safety net. It’s one of those challenges that sneaks in cooperation and trust-building while everyone’s too busy laughing, screaming, and pretending they’re not scared of heights.
3- Hiking
Hiking is the ultimate “get out of the office and breathe something other than recycled air” move. Grab your coworkers, pick a trail, and turn a regular workday into an adventure with actual trees, dirt, and maybe a few squirrels judging your pace. You could even start a hiking club — one of our Outback folks did, and now it’s basically the social event of the month.
The beauty is, you can tailor the vibe. Choose an easy stroll so everyone can chat and snack along the way, or go for a tougher climb to spark that sweet “we survived” team bond. Tools like AllTrails make finding the perfect route simple, whether you’re aiming for scenic views or a path that ends conveniently close to a taco place.
4- High Line Scavenger Hunt
High Line Scavenger Hunt is a lively mix of urban exploring and team bonding, perfect for anyone who thinks “exercise” should come with a side of skyscraper views. Your group will follow clues along Manhattan’s iconic High Line, a park built on old railroad tracks, uncovering hidden gems and snapping photos that will definitely end up in the company Slack. It’s a playful way to blend competition with creativity while soaking up the city’s energy.
Unlike some Outdoor Team Building Ideas that feel like forced fun, this one strikes a natural balance. You’ll be chatting, laughing, and maybe even learning random New York trivia without realizing you’re doing actual teamwork. By the end, you’ll have stretched your legs, your minds, and maybe your definition of “winning.”
5- Field Day
Field Day is basically summer camp for adults—minus the awkward cafeteria food and plus a healthy dose of workplace bragging rights. Hosted outdoors with full setup and cleanup, this high-energy event packs 90 minutes of physical challenges designed to get people moving, laughing, and maybe questioning why they skipped gym class back in the day. It’s competitive, yes, but the fun kind where even losing feels like winning.
Expect professional hosts to keep things running smoothly, from explaining the rules to crowning the champions. Every station is designed to spark engagement, encourage teamwork, and create those candid photo moments you’ll want framed in the breakroom. And with all the gear, planning, and cleanup handled for you, all that’s left is to show up and have a blast.
If you’re hunting for Outdoor Team Building Ideas that work for big groups without turning into logistical nightmares, this one’s gold. You’ll end the day with sore muscles, inside jokes, and the kind of shared memories that make Monday mornings a little more bearable.
6- Photo Challenge
Photo challenges are basically scavenger hunts with a camera, except instead of hunting for actual treasures, you’re collecting bragging rights one snapshot at a time. Split into teams, hand out a list of silly or oddly specific clues, and set the clock ticking—60 minutes is plenty. You’ll be surprised how competitive people get over finding “a squirrel that looks mildly annoyed” or “a mailbox with personality.”
When the timer runs out, the magic really happens. Everyone dumps their photos into a shared album or throws them into a slideshow, and the group gets to laugh, argue, and occasionally gasp at the creative liberties taken. It’s low-cost, high-laugh, and the kind of outdoor activity people actually remember.
7- City Chase
The Olympiad Challenge is basically your ticket to turning an ordinary afternoon into a full-blown, slightly chaotic, and hilariously competitive Olympic-style showdown. First, you split into “nations,” design a flag that may or may not look like a kindergarten art project, and take an Olympic Oath promising fairness, sportsmanship, and only mild amounts of team bragging. Suddenly, your park is the grand arena, and the games are on.
With your trusty team bag of supplies, you’ll tackle events inspired by ancient athletics—except these might involve hopping in circles, solving brain teasers mid-sprint, or trying not to drop a beanbag while running backward. Every challenge brings points, laughs, and the occasional “how is this physically possible?” moment.
By the end, the scoreboard decides the Olympiad Challenge Champions, but honestly, the real winners are the ones who don’t pull a hamstring while attempting the “totally safe” three-legged sprint.
8- Beach Volleyball
Nothing bonds a group quite like pretending to be professional athletes on a sandy court for an afternoon. Find a beach or a park with a volleyball setup, split into teams, and prepare for a mix of dramatic dives, questionable serves, and a lot of good-natured trash talk. Bonus points for playing barefoot so you can dramatically “dust off” your feet after a big save.
For pure comedy, swap the normal volleyball for an oversized one. It turns every volley into a slow-motion blooper reel where the only real strategy is “don’t let it hit the ground.” This is one of those Outdoor Team Building Ideas that’s so simple you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner—and you’ll still be laughing about it long after the sand’s gone.
9- The Amazing Chase
Picture this: you and your coworkers suddenly find yourselves living out your own mini version of The Amazing Race, except instead of jetting to Paris, you’re… well, probably just across town. Still, the thrill is real. Teams follow clues, dash down streets like you’re being chased (you’re not… unless Janet from Accounting is extra competitive), and tackle a mix of puzzles and challenges that swing between “wow, we nailed that” and “why did that take us 20 minutes?”
You’ll get weirdly invested in finding the next checkpoint, argue (in a fun way) over what the clue really means, and bond over the shared experience of mild confusion. At some point, someone will suggest “running” but it turns into a collective speed-walk because, let’s be honest, no one came in gym clothes.
Best of all, you can do it anywhere—your own city, a park, or that random town where your corporate retreat ended up because it was the “budget-friendly” option. Either way, it’s part scavenger hunt, part adventure, part “how did we even end up here?”—and you’ll be talking about it long after the final clue.
10- Corporate Castaways
If you’ve ever wondered what “Survivor” would look like without the tropical island, the million-dollar prize, or the risk of sunburn that lasts three weeks, Corporate Castaways is your answer. Your group gets split into “tribes” and sent off to tackle a mix of physical and mental challenges that are equal parts fun, ridiculous, and slightly competitive.
One minute you’re hunting for hidden sacks of letter tiles to solve a mystery phrase, the next you’re locking eyes with a coworker across the table as you both attempt to swallow something… let’s just call it “memorable.” It’s best played in wide-open parks or fields, where you can laugh, run, and dramatically declare alliances—without frightening nearby pedestrians.
11- The Human Knot
The Human Knot is one of those Outdoor Team Building Ideas that sounds easy—until you actually try it. Everyone stands in a circle, reaches across to grab the hands of two different people, and instantly, you’re in a bizarre human pretzel. From there, the mission is simple: untangle without letting go.
It’s part puzzle, part comedy show, and part accidental yoga session. You’ll twist, duck, and step over each other until—hopefully—you form one perfect circle with no hands stuck in the middle. Victory feels oddly satisfying, like solving a Rubik’s cube made entirely of coworkers.
12- Board Game Simulation
Giant cooperative board games are basically what happens when your childhood nostalgia gets supersized and sprinkled with a bit of workplace chaos. Instead of dainty little tokens, you and your teammates become the game pieces—shuffling, hopping, or wobbling across a giant homemade board made out of bedsheets, foam blocks, or whatever your office manager could get on sale. You might think it’s just about winning, but nope—it’s about trying to keep your balance while Steve from accounting accidentally elbows you off the “board” during a life-or-death Twister standoff.
Picture this: your team, in broad daylight, in the middle of a parking lot, playing an epic round of Hungry Hungry Hippos… except instead of plastic hippos, it’s full-grown adults in rolling chairs chasing after rubber balls like their quarterly bonus depends on it. Games like Chess, Candyland, or Shoots and Ladders suddenly feel way more intense when the board is the size of a small apartment and everyone’s “strategy” involves a lot of shouting and questionable footwork. It’s ridiculous, it’s awkward, and it’s hands-down one of the most unforgettable Outdoor Team Building Ideas you’ll ever try.
13- Relay Race
Relay races are basically an excuse for adults to sprint around like over-caffeinated kids while pretending it’s “team building.” You split into squads, hand out batons, and set up a few handoff spots along the course. Then it’s a mad dash — sometimes straight, sometimes through obstacle chaos, sometimes involving very questionable athletic moves. The moment that baton hits the final runner’s hand, it’s all about glory, laughter, and maybe a little bit of sand or grass in your shoes.
14- Blind Retriever
This game is basically a trust fall, but instead of falling, you’re stumbling around blindfolded trying to grab an object before the other team does. One player is blindfolded, the rest become their personal GPS — except this GPS shouts “left!” “right!” and occasionally “no, your other right!” With only five minutes on the clock, the chaos is fast, loud, and surprisingly competitive.
Switch roles so everyone gets a turn at being the disoriented treasure hunter. It’s a hilarious way to test communication, patience, and how much you really trust your coworkers’ sense of direction.
15- Impromptu Orchestra
Impromptu Orchestra turns everyday objects into a full-blown concert — or at least something resembling music if you squint (and plug your ears). Teams get ten minutes to scavenge for “instruments” like trash can lid cymbals, bucket drums, or shopping cart xylophones, then another ten to rehearse their chaotic masterpiece. After that, it’s showtime, with each group performing their song in a glorious mix of creativity, laughter, and questionable rhythm.
16- Sports Day
Sports Day is basically your chance to turn the whole team into competitive, slightly ridiculous versions of themselves for a day. One minute you’re in a potato sack trying not to faceplant, the next you’re in a tug-of-war that feels like the fate of the office depends on it. There’s soccer, relay races, and probably at least one person pretending they trained for this their whole life. By the end, everyone’s sweaty, laughing, and suddenly best friends with the person who helped them not trip over a jump rope.
17- Archery Tag
This exciting game blends the thrill of dodgeball with the skill of archery. Using safe, foam-tipped arrows, players try to hit opponents, take down targets at the enemy base, or even snatch an arrow from the air to score big.
18- Squirt Gun Fight
Think of it as the ultimate grown-up recess — but with water guns and way less dignity. You split into teams, pick your “weapons,” and suddenly your mild-mannered coworkers are sprinting across the park like it’s the championship round of a very soggy Olympics. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and proof that some Outdoor Team Building Ideas work simply because they bring out everyone’s inner kid.
19- Paintball
Paintball is one of those Outdoor Team Building Ideas that turns coworkers into instant action heroes — or at least people wildly running and hiding behind barrels. You split into teams, gear up, and then try to hit opponents with bright bursts of paint. Whether you play elimination-style or keep score by counting hits, the thrill is in the chase… and the splatter.
For the full experience, head to a proper paintball field. These places come loaded with obstacles, hideouts, and enough props to make you feel like you’re in a low-budget war movie. Sure, you’ll be covered in paint by the end, but you’ll also have a bunch of new inside jokes and maybe a tiny bruise or two to remember it by.
20- Found Art
Found art is basically turning “Hey, look what I found!” into a full-blown creative showdown. You and your team wander around collecting random bits and pieces—fallen leaves, bottle caps, a mysteriously abandoned shoe—and then transform them into poems, sculptures, or whatever bizarre masterpiece your collective imagination can cook up. The real magic happens when everyone presents their creations, because half the fun is explaining how that rusty spoon is actually “a commentary on modern society.”
21- Ziplining
If your team’s idea of fun leans more toward heart-pounding adventure than casual small talk, ziplining is basically a group trust fall… but faster and with a way better view. You’ll get strapped into a harness, hooked to a cable, and sent flying over forests, rivers, or maybe even a cow pasture—depends on where you book it. There’s laughter, adrenaline, and probably at least one person yelling, “I regret nothing!” halfway down the line.
22- Running Club
Sometimes the best Outdoor Team Building Ideas don’t involve a 47-step plan, a project manager, and a color-coded spreadsheet. Nope—sometimes all you need is sneakers, a stretch, and a vague idea of where you’re headed. Gather the crew, agree on a “not too fast, I just had lunch” pace, and head out around the block, through a park, or along the beach. Bonus points if someone inevitably gets distracted by a dog and forgets they’re mid-run.
If you really want to spice things up (and have the budget), hand out FitBits so people can “accidentally” turn into overachievers. Suddenly, Janet from accounting is jogging laps around the parking lot during her lunch break just to beat Kevin by two steps. It’s exercise, it’s competition, and it’s gossip time all rolled into one sweaty, slightly chaotic, but definitely memorable bonding session.
23- Capture the Flag
Capture the Flag is a classic outdoor strategy game where each team hides a flag and defends it while trying to steal the other team’s. The goal? Snag the opponent’s flag before they get yours. Traditionally played with two teams, but multi-team versions are just as fun.
24- Minute To Win It: Outdoor Edition
Minute to Win It games are fast-paced one-minute challenges perfect for outdoor fun. They’re especially great when the tasks get a little messy or need extra space.
Examples include:
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Moving beads from bowl to bowl with chopsticks
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Stacking cups into a tower
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Knocking over cups with air from a balloon
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Shaking ping pong balls out of a tissue box strapped to your waist
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Transferring ping pong balls using only a straw
Before playing, set up game stations with all the materials ready. For more inspiration, check out our lists of Minute to Win It games for work and online versions too.
25- Flag Football
Think of flag football as football without the hard hits. Each player wears a belt with flags, and removing one from your opponent is the same as a tackle. Teams are usually made up of five players, though more or fewer works too. Otherwise, the gameplay feels just like the traditional sport.
26- Big Jenga
Giant Jenga outdoors is basically an excuse for grown adults to play with oversized wooden blocks and call it “team building.” You start all calm and collected, thinking it’s just a silly game, and five minutes later, everyone’s holding their breath like they’re defusing a bomb. One wrong move and bam—your engineering masterpiece collapses in glorious slow motion.
The crash is half the fun, though. People cheer, groan, and instantly start blaming each other with zero evidence. Honestly, as far as Outdoor Team Building Ideas go, this one is pure, simple chaos—and that’s exactly why it works so well.
27- California Kickball
Imagine baseball and soccer rolled into one — that’s California Kickball. The bases and diamond setup mirror baseball, as do the basic rules. But instead of pitching, the ball is rolled, and instead of swinging a bat, you kick it into play. Teams switch between offense and defense each inning.
28- Water Balloon Toss
Gather your water balloons, form two teams in lines, and toss the balloons across. Every time a balloon is caught without breaking, both thrower and catcher step back. Continue until only one champion pair remains.
29- Wild Goose Chase
Giant Jenga might look innocent at first glance, but give it five minutes and you’ll have a full-blown suspense thriller on your hands. You and your coworkers start off relaxed, casually pulling blocks like it’s no big deal—then suddenly, someone’s sweating over a single wobbly piece like they’re performing surgery. One tiny slip, and the whole thing comes crashing down in spectacular fashion.
The best part? The laughter and ridiculous accusations that follow. “You breathed too hard!” “Your coffee cup shook the table!” It’s all part of the charm. Plus, it’s an Outdoor Team Building Ideas favorite because it’s easy to set up, surprisingly competitive, and requires zero athletic ability—just a steady hand and a questionable sense of confidence.
And when that tower finally falls, it’s not just wooden blocks hitting the grass—it’s the sound of grown adults temporarily losing all dignity and loving every second of it.
30- Ultimate Frisbee
Divide into two teams and enjoy tossing a frisbee in this upbeat outdoor game. Ultimate is more than just a sport — it’s built around the “Spirit of the Game,” a code of sportsmanship where every player is responsible for keeping play fair. Brush up on the official rules before starting.
31- Kayaking/Canoeing
Kayaking and canoeing are basically team-building disguised as a mini vacation, except instead of a conference room you’ve got a giant puddle you can’t see across. One minute you’re gracefully gliding like some nature documentary hero, the next you’re doing synchronized spinning because Dave in the back “forgot which way to paddle.” It’s teamwork, comedy, and cardio all in one awkwardly wobbly package.
Of course, the goal is to make it from point A to point B without tipping over, but let’s be honest—half the fun is the mild chaos along the way. You’ll discover who’s a natural leader, who panics at the sight of ducks, and who thinks “full speed ahead” is a good strategy in every situation. Rent from a local lake or river, grab a guide if you don’t trust your group’s sense of direction, and prepare for the kind of bonding you just can’t get from sitting in an office.
32- Truth or Dare
Truth or Dare is that game you probably played at sleepovers, but trust me — it hits different outside. There’s just something about fresh air and the possibility of strangers watching you do something ridiculous that makes it better. Suddenly, dares can involve the real world: giving flowers to five random people, belting out a power ballad to a group of picnicking strangers, or attempting your “signature” dance move in the middle of the park. Just keep it fun — no harmful, mean-spirited, or “oops, I’m in trouble now” dares. The point is to laugh, not to end up explaining yourself to security.
33- Cornhole
Cornhole is that easygoing, slightly addictive picnic game that somehow gets way more competitive than anyone expects. It’s perfect for outdoor team building because it’s simple to learn, fun to watch, and doesn’t require anyone to break a sweat (unless the sun is really out). The aim? Toss a bean bag — or hacky sack-style bag — into the hole on a raised wooden board. That’s it. All you need is the board, a few bags, and some teammates willing to cheer way too loudly for a good shot.
Split into teams, keep track of the points, and watch as friendly rivalry turns into full-on cornhole bragging rights.
Pro tip: For bonus team bonding, have each group decorate their own cornhole board before the game begins. Suddenly, you’ve got art, creativity, and competition rolled into one — and maybe a board so unique it deserves its own Instagram account.
34- Volleyball
Volleyball is a classic choice for outdoor team building. All you need is a net and a volleyball or even a beach ball. Set it up anywhere — a beach, open field, or even a parking lot — and keep the ball from touching the ground or going out of bounds. Success depends on solid teamwork.
35- Bubble Soccer
Bubble soccer is what happens when traditional soccer meets a giant inflatable hamster ball — and it’s every bit as ridiculous (and hilarious) as it sounds. Players wear oversized bubble suits that cover their upper bodies, then chase and kick a soccer ball toward the goal. The best part? You can bounce, bump, and crash into each other with minimal risk, turning every collision into a slow-motion comedy moment.
To set it up, rent the bubble suits from an inflatable soccer company, grab a large open field, split into teams, and get ready for chaos. Just remember: scoring goals is fun, but sometimes rolling your teammate halfway across the field is even better.
36- Double Dare
Double Dare is part game show, part absolute chaos — and it’s a blast for team building. In this wacky competition, players face a mix of trivia, messy mini-games, and obstacle-course-style challenges that test their speed, creativity, and willingness to get a little gross. To play, gather your supplies, set up your challenge stations ahead of time, split the group into teams, and keep score as players race to complete each task.
Need inspiration? Here are a few gloriously silly ideas:
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Dig through containers filled with shaving cream to uncover a hidden flag.
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Dive into a ball pit to find one special marked ball.
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Pop balloons to reveal slips of paper with secret passwords.
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Devour whipped cream pies to uncover pictures at the bottom of the tin.
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Launch water balloons into a teammate’s giant clown pants (yes, this is a real thing).
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Slide across a tarp covered in bubble foam to smash a gong at the end.
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Balance across a pool noodle tightrope without tumbling into a vat of spaghetti sauce.
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Use only your bare hands to fill and seal a zip-top bag full of wet noodles.
The beauty of Double Dare is that it can be as clean or as messy as you want — but honestly, the messier, the better.
37- Bike Rides
Bike rides are basically the mullet of outdoor activities — exercise in the front, party in the back. You’re moving, sure, but mostly it’s an excuse to chat mid-ride about totally random stuff, like who still remembers their Myspace password or why squirrels seem so smug. No spandex racing gear required; if you can pedal and not crash into a bush, you’re qualified.
Pick a scenic route and it turns into a mini adventure — stopping for “epic” group photos, pretending you’re in a travel commercial, or just catching your breath in a way that doesn’t make it obvious you’re catching your breath. Throw in silly icebreaker games at rest stops, and by the end you’ll either have inside jokes for life or at least one teammate who insists they’re “basically a cyclist now.” And yes, you must finish at a pub or ice cream shop, because team bonding tastes best with fries or sprinkles.
38- Freeze Tag
Go classic with a game of freeze tag — get tagged and you’re stuck in place until a teammate swoops in to set you free.
39- Rafting
Whitewater rafting with your team is basically a crash course in trust, communication, and trying not to scream louder than your boss when you hit the rapids. You’ll need a professional tour company to keep things safe — and to gently remind you that paddling backward isn’t actually helpful. It’s one of those Outdoor Team Building Ideas where you’ll leave soaked, laughing, and maybe just a little proud you didn’t fall in.
40- The Mine Field
Picture this: you’re standing in a wide-open field, the sun’s out, and for some reason there are random cones, balls, and maybe even a rogue traffic sign scattered around. One poor soul from each team gets blindfolded, while the others shout directions like “LEFT! NO, YOUR OTHER LEFT!” trying to steer them safely across. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and somehow turns into the loudest trust exercise you’ve ever seen.
41- Outdoor Yoga and Mindfulness
Sometimes all you need is a park, a bit of quiet, and a phone with a mindfulness app. Open up Headspace, Calm, or Down Dog and—bam!—suddenly you’re miles away from office stress, wondering when you got so flexible. Do it as a group and someone will inevitably burst into laughter mid-pose, which counts as free therapy in my book.
Top Apps for Guided Sessions
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Headspace – For when you want to “clear your mind but not sit around forever.”
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Calm – Sleep, peace, and that “my eyes are closed but one ear is still on my phone” vibe.
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Down Dog – Perfect if you want to customize your yoga. Shorten the session, switch the poses… basically, you’re your own yoga chef.
Hire a Pro for a Tailored Experience
If you’re feeling fancy, bring in a yoga instructor. They’ll relax you, fix your breathing (because, yes, most of us are doing it wrong), and guide you through flows that make you feel like you actually know what you’re doing. Sure, someone might sneak a peek at their phone when the instructor says “close your eyes,” but hey—you’re outside, breathing fresh air, and that’s what counts.
42- Picnic Party Games
Perfect as a mid-burger break at your next company BBQ, this smartphone-based activity gets teams racing to complete as many silly photo and video challenges as they can before the clock runs out. The result? A mix of creativity, chaos, and plenty of laughter.
Here are a few challenge ideas to get you started:
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Catapult Cuisine: Use a spoon, fork, or other utensil to launch a bite-sized snack into a teammate’s mouth from 10 feet away. Bonus points for style.
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Tree Hugger: Capture a photo of someone hugging a tree trunk koala-style — legs and arms completely off the ground.
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Spoon Relay: Run a relay race while balancing a small rock (or other object) on a spoon without letting it fall.
The best part? Every completed challenge is a chance for your team to score points, rack up hilarious photos, and maybe walk away with bragging rights until the next BBQ.
43- Buddy Strolls
Buddy Strolls are basically sanctioned work escapes disguised as “team building.” You grab a buddy or two, wander around somewhere nice, and talk about literally anything except spreadsheets. Bonus points if you solve the mystery of why ducks always look like they’re late for something.
44- Mini-Golf
Grab a putter, form your dream team, and prepare for the most intense slow-motion competition you’ve ever had. Mini-golf isn’t about speed—it’s about style, precision, and pretending that windmill isn’t mocking you. Every hole is a chance for redemption… or for your teammate to “accidentally” hit the ball off the course. Either way, it’s a low-stress, high-laugh kind of day that ends with bragging rights and maybe an ice cream.
45- Pebble Mosaic
Grab your team, march to the nearest beach like a squad of treasure hunters, and start scooping up anything interesting—smooth stones, sparkly sea glass, random shells that look like they’ve seen things. Then plop down in the sand and turn that pile of “beach loot” into your very own masterpiece, whether it’s a majestic dolphin, a weird abstract blob, or the company logo. Bonus points if you turn it into a beach clean-up too, because nothing says team spirit like turning an empty bottle into part of your art and pretending it was always meant to be there.
46- Waterpark and Water Slides
Channel your inner child and rally your crew for a day at the nearest waterpark, where professionalism takes a backseat to squealing down water slides and pretending you’re in a slow-motion movie scene. On a sunny day, it’s the perfect combo of cooling off, showing off your questionable dive form, and turning those “strictly work” colleagues into partners-in-splash for some Outdoor Team Building Ideas magic.
47- Tailgating
Before the main event (or even without one), you can turn a parking lot into your own little festival. Get the cars parked in a loose circle—bonus points if you pretend it’s a defensive formation—pull out a few lawn chairs, and let someone who claims to be a “grill master” take charge of the barbecue. With music pumping from car radios or a portable speaker, you’ll forget you’re basically sitting on asphalt.
48- Walking Tour
Walking tours are kind of like those times you promise yourself you’ll “just take a quick walk” and then three hours later you’ve somehow learned the city’s entire 200-year history and eaten your body weight in street snacks. A good guide will point out all the quirky little details you’ve somehow missed your whole life—like that one statue you thought was just “a guy with a sword” but actually has an epic backstory involving pigeons and bad politics.
Themes are half the fun. Go for ghost tours if you want your coworkers to cling to each other like Velcro, food tours if you believe snacks are the glue of any friendship, or street art tours if your team enjoys pretending to be deep while staring at giant murals. And yes, it’s still one of the best Outdoor Team Building Ideas because it sneaks in bonding, fresh air, and a solid number of “remember when?” moments—without anyone realizing they were technically exercising.
49- Animal Therapy
Bring in a local animal shelter for the ultimate “aww” break — the kind where work stress melts faster than ice cream in July. Imagine employees stepping outside to be greeted by tail wags, tiny meows, and maybe a bunny or two hopping around like they’re auditioning for a Pixar movie. A few minutes of petting and playtime, and suddenly everyone’s smiling, relaxed, and wondering if they really need that third coffee.
50- Badminton
Badminton is one of those games that somehow feels both chill and competitive at the same time — perfect for an afternoon outdoors. Grab a few racquets, a couple of shuttlecocks, and either set up a net or just volley back and forth in the open. Whether you’re playing on grass, sand, or somewhere in between, it’s all about laughing, running around, and pretending that drop shot was totally intentional.
51- Outdoor Museums
Outdoor museums are like the cooler, more relaxed cousins of regular museums — you get all the interesting history and art, but without that “hushed indoor voice” pressure. Picture strolling through a sculpture garden or an old historical village while the sun’s on your face and maybe there’s an ice cream truck nearby. It’s learning, but with snacks, fresh air, and way better lighting for your group selfies.
52- Go-Kart Racing
Go-kart racing is like giving your team a license to speed — legally, of course. You head to an outdoor track, strap on helmets that make everyone look a bit ridiculous, and suddenly mild-mannered coworkers are leaning into corners like pros. Some will go full throttle, others will cautiously cruise, but either way, you’ll all end up laughing, a little windblown, and maybe plotting a rematch before the day is over.
53- Community Garden
The first step to launching a garden is deciding what to grow — maybe flowers, maybe vegetables, maybe a plant that everyone pretends to recognize but secretly Googles later. Teammates then take turns planting, weeding, and watering, sometimes forgetting which end of the watering can is which.
When it’s harvest time, you can whip up a big team meal or drop the goods off at a food bank. It’s one of those outdoor team building activities that leaves you with happy memories, slightly soggy socks, and a surprising attachment to a tomato plant named “Gerald.”
54- Outdoor Movies
Outdoor movies are like the ultimate chill-out session for your team — grab a budget-friendly projector, aim it at a white wall, a screen, or even a bedsheet, and you’re good to go. Everyone can sprawl out on blankets, camp chairs, or even watch from their cars. Bonus points if you throw in free popcorn, ice cream, and candy, and maybe pause halfway through for a silly themed trivia round.
55- Tree Planting
With over 80,000 acres of forest disappearing every day (which is basically like losing a small country’s worth of trees before you’ve even had your morning coffee), your team can roll up their sleeves and do something about it. Plan a corporate tree planting day, call up a group like OneTreePlanted, and swap those shiny office shoes for mud-splattered boots that make you look like you know what you’re doing. You’ll be out there digging, planting, and occasionally arguing over which way is “up” for a sapling.
Just be sure to check in with a reforestation group or your city office first so you don’t accidentally plant an oak in the middle of the mayor’s parking spot. By the end, you’ll have dirt under your nails, leaves in your hair, and a newfound ability to say, “Oh, this? Just me saving the planet between coffee breaks.”
56- Give Food, Give Hope
Put together care packages filled with simple but comforting items like sandwiches, juice boxes, and fresh fruit, then head out into your community to share them with people in need. Our Outback team recently assembled 200 lunch kits, and honestly, handing them out was as rewarding as it was humbling — plus, we may have learned that wrapping sandwiches neatly is a true art form.
Pick a safe and welcoming public spot in your community, and spend the day offering those packages with a smile. It’s an easy way to make a big impact, one lunch at a time.
57- Beach Cleanup
Head down to a local beach and spend the day scooping up all the random garbage and mysterious debris hanging out on the shoreline — think of it as a treasure hunt, except the “treasure” is stuff nobody actually wanted. Bring gloves, trash bags, and your most stylish “I care about the planet” hat, and make sure to haul any recyclable finds to the nearest depot so they can be reborn as something useful instead of becoming seagull décor. Bonus points if your team finds the weirdest item of the day.
And hey, you don’t have to stick to beaches — this works just as well at lakes, rivers, and even that park where the geese act like they own the place. That’s what makes it one of the easiest outdoor team building activities to set up. You clean, you chat, you maybe compete over who has the biggest trash bag haul, and you leave knowing you’ve made the world a little less… well, sticky.
58- Egg Drop
Egg Drop is basically an engineering challenge disguised as pure chaos. Split everyone into small teams, hand them a raw egg, and dump a pile of random materials in front of them — newspaper, tape, pencils, pipe cleaners, bubble wrap, rubber bands, yarn… whatever you’ve got lying around. The mission: build some kind of ridiculous-yet-functional contraption to keep that egg from becoming an omelet when dropped from up high. Give them 20–30 minutes to plan, argue, and pretend they totally know what they’re doing.
When time’s up, everyone heads to the “drop zone” for the big reveal. Eggs get launched from 20–30 feet, and the survivors move on to a tie-breaker round with an even higher drop. In the end, there will be one champion egg, a lot of broken shells, and at least one team insisting, “Ours totally would’ve worked if Gary hadn’t wrapped it like a burrito.”
59- Catapult Launchers
Catapult Launchers is your chance to unleash everyone’s inner medieval engineer — minus the heavy armor. Split into teams, toss them a pile of random supplies like popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and milk bottle caps, and give them 30 minutes to create a device capable of launching… well, pretty much anything you can get your hands on. Oranges? Sure. Water balloons? Absolutely. Eggs? Risky, but hilarious.
When the build time is up, head to a park or any big open space, line everyone up, and let the chaos begin. Some shots will soar majestically, others will plop two feet away, and at least one will go wildly in the wrong direction. Bonus points for style, dramatic countdowns, and any team that names their catapult something unnecessarily epic like “The Flying Potato.”
60- Outdoor Survival Skills Camp
Outdoor Survival Skills Camp is basically playing “wilderness hero” without the actual risk of being eaten by a bear. You and your coworkers learn the essentials, like:
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Fire-building: Because nothing says “I’m resourceful” like making flames appear out of sticks and stubbornness.
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Shelter construction: Crafting a home out of branches and leaves that might keep out the rain… or at least most of it.
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Navigation: Using a compass and map like a pro, instead of just pretending you know which way north is.
You can run it as a laid-back workshop or spice it up with competitions — fastest fire, sturdiest shelter, least arguments over the map. Best done in forested areas or outdoor education centers, where you can “survive” without accidentally wandering into a Starbucks.
Last Words
Employees will jump at any excuse for outdoor team building activities if it means swapping fluorescent lights for actual sunshine. A dose of fresh air and a change of scenery can work magic — suddenly, people who were dragging their feet in the morning are laughing, chatting, and mysteriously full of energy. It’s like a free upgrade to everyone’s mood and battery life.
And the best part? You’ve got endless options. From quick, goofy games that take ten minutes to all-out challenges that last the whole afternoon, there’s no limit to how much fun you can have outside. Honestly, the hardest part is getting people to go back inside afterward.
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