Outdoor team building activities are a great way to bring your group together. Whether it’s at work, school or anywhere else, building strong relationships between teammates is key to success. These activities boost communication and collaboration, helping people connect on both a personal and professional level. You can keep things simple or get more creative, with so many options to choose from for every kind of group.
 No matter your budget or resources, the possibilities for fun and meaningful experiences are endless.
Jump to Section
- The Best Outdoor Team Building Activities
- Outdoor Team Building Activities for Work
- Quick and Easy Outdoor Team Building Activities
- Outdoor Team Building Games for Students and Kids
- Fun Outdoor Team Building Games With No Equipment
- Outdoor Team Building Activities FAQs
The Best Outdoor Team Building Activities
1. Cell Phone Photography Masterclass
If you're with a marketing team, learning how to take great photos to represent your brand can be invaluable. But even outside of marketing, a cell phone photography class offers a fun way for your group to pick up a new skill. It’s a perfect opportunity to try something new while enhancing your abilities, leaving everyone feeling accomplished. This is one of the top Atlanta team building activities and similar options are available in cities near you for a great alternative.
2. Natural Scarf Dyeing Class
A natural scarf-dyeing class is a creative way to bring out your inner artist. As one of the most fun team building activities in the Bay Area, it offers a great chance to bond and learn new skills together. If you’re not in the Bay Area, similar experiences can be found in cities nearby, offering the same opportunity for fun and creativity.
3. Candle Making
Gather your team for a candle-making class in a scenic outdoor space. Enjoy the creativity of crafting your own candles while soaking up some fresh air. It's a fun, hands-on activity that doubles as a bonding experience, plus you'll take home a beautifully scented keepsake.
4. Cooking Classes
If you want to sharpen your culinary skills, a group cooking class is a great way to bond. A sushi making class, one of the most engaging, globally-inspired Denver team building activities, is just one option. Professional chefs offer cooking classes worldwide and many are even available virtually. No matter where you are, you'll find plenty of options to suit your team’s tastes.
5. Mixology Classes
Take your team-building to the next level with an outdoor mixology class. Whether you’re learning to craft the perfect cocktail under the open sky or enjoying a hands-on lesson at a vineyard, this engaging experience is a fun way to relax and bond with your team.
6. Basket Weaving
Basket weaving is a timeless craft that helps connect people with nature and encourages patience. It’s a great hands-on activity for building teamwork and sparking creativity while working together outdoors.
7. Renaissance Festival
The Renaissance festival offers a fun-filled day where you and your team can step into a Renaissance-style fantasy world and escape the stressors of daily life. It’s an immersive experience that’s even more enjoyable when shared with others, making it a unique outdoor team building activity that brings everyone closer together.
8. Potluck
A potluck encourages collaboration as everyone brings a dish to share, creating an opportunity to try new recipes, enjoy a variety of foods and socialize. It’s one of the best outdoor team building activities for strengthening community and building stronger team bonds.
9. Kayaking
Kayaking is a fun and physically engaging activity that’s perfect for groups. Pair it with other outdoor team building activities like hiking or a picnic lunch to make the most of your time outdoors. Not only will you get some exercise, but you'll also enjoy floating on the water with your teammates by your side.
10. Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is one of the more challenging outdoor team building activities, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Cheer each other on as you work your way up to the top and reach your goals together. It’s an activity that focuses on collaboration and mutual support.
Outdoor Team Building Activities for Work
11. Outdoor Holiday Party
Get festive and celebrate Christmas or any other seasonal holiday with your team. These celebrations help coworkers connect on a personal level, improving relationships, communication and collaboration. When employees feel welcomed and appreciated, it creates a more positive work environment, leading to better outcomes.
12. Beach or Park Cleanup
Connect with your team and give back to the community with a beach or park cleanup. Not only will you improve the environment for future visitors, but you'll also be helping local wildlife thrive. According to National Marine Sanctuaries, trash can harm animals by blocking airways, causing choking or even leading to entanglement and infection. By properly disposing of waste and recycling, you’ll make a lasting impact. It's a perfect example of outdoor team building activities that encourage collaboration while doing good for the environment.
13. Egg Drop
The egg drop is a fun, nostalgic activity that’s perfect for the workplace. Teams work together to design contraptions that will protect an egg from breaking during a fall. It’s a great way to encourage collaboration and creativity, while adding a playful twist to outdoor team building activities for adults.
14. Marathons or 5ks
A marathon or 5k is a fun and energizing outdoor team building activity that encourages team spirit. Everyone cheers each other on, with the focus on finishing rather than winning. This promotes a more open and supportive team environment where each team member can feel accomplished and proud of themselves.
15. Sports Day
Host a sports day to get everyone active and having fun. Sports promote collaboration, making them perfect for building team support, trust and communication. You can include team building games such as soccer, relay races, handball and more for one of the more fun and engaging outdoor team building activities for work.
16. Escape Rooms
Escape rooms are a great way to promote problem-solving and group collaboration. While most escape rooms are indoors, you can find lots of fun outdoor escape room options in most major cities. They’re engaging and imaginative, encouraging real-world communication skills that translate to the workplace. Each team member takes on different tasks to escape in time, making this one of the most immersive and enjoyable outdoor team building activities for adults.
17. Paintball
Paintball is one of the most fun outdoor team building activities but you'll have to be prepared to get a little messy. Played in teams, paintball promotes strategic planning and collaboration. It’s an exciting way to bond with your teammates while having a blast.
18. Theme Park
A day at a theme park offers a fun escape from the workplace, with plenty of outdoor team building activities to enjoy. It provides employees with a chance to unwind, clear their minds and return to work refreshed. Plus, it strengthens relationships outside the office, making the team more close knit and communicative.
19. Golf
Golf is a popular sport that offers employees a chance to enjoy fresh air and friendly competition. It helps strengthen personal bonds, which can translate into better teamwork in the office. As one of the best outdoor team building activities, golf provides a relaxed yet engaging environment for employees.
20. Obstacle Courses
An obstacle course is a great way to push your team outside their comfort zone. As part of your outdoor team building activities, teammates will cheer each other on through each challenge. It creates a valuable opportunity for encouragement, strengthening team bonds and building better connections between teammates.
Quick and Easy Outdoor Team Building Activities
21. One Minute Challenge
Choose simple tasks that can be completed in a minute, then have teams compete to finish them the fastest. Tasks like cup stacking or finding an object work well. It’s a fun way to spark some quick friendly competition and is one of the most exhilarating outdoor team building activities you will find.
22. Hide and Seek
Hide and seek is an exciting game you can play just about anywhere. Players can take turns being the seeker, or you can have multiple seekers for some collaborative fun. It’s an immersive game that brings out your inner child, making it a great option among outdoor team building activities for all ages.
23. Freeze Tag
Freeze tag isn’t just for the playground — it’s an active and exciting game perfect for team building. Players must work together to unfreeze their teammates to prevent the person who is ‘it’ from winning. This interactive game is a simple yet effective option for outdoor team building activities.
24. Trust Falls
Trust falls are a quick and effective way to build trust between teammates. One person stands behind another, who falls back, trusting that they will be caught. This classic activity is a great option for outdoor team building activities, helping to strengthen connections in a fun and easy way.
25. Blind Retriever
Blindfold one teammate and have them follow directions to find an object they can’t see. It’s a great way to build trust and encourage collaborative thinking. Teammates can take turns being the retriever for best results. This makes for one of the quickest and most engaging outdoor team building activities.
26. Photo Challenge
Challenge teams to take playful photos with prompts like recreating childhood memories or posing like celebrities. These challenges are quick and fun and create a super simple collaborative activity that will build stronger connections between teammates.
27. Meditation or Yoga
Take some time to decompress with your teammates by practicing meditation or yoga. These outdoor team building activities promote relaxation, mindfulness and a clearer headspace when faced with challenging team activities.
28. Two Truths and a Lie
Two Truths and a Lie is a classic icebreaker where players share two truths and one lie and teammates guess the false one. It's a fun way to help teammates connect more personally and strengthen their bonds, making it a top choice for outdoor team building activities.
29. Group Picnic
A group picnic is a laid-back way to spend quality time with your team. Pack a basket of everyone's favorite snacks, spread out a blanket and enjoy some good food and fresh air. It’s a simple yet effective outdoor team building activity that encourages relaxation, conversation and connection.
30. Gift Exchange
Host a gift exchange with your coworkers for a smile and fun way to show everyone that they’re valued and cared for in the team. Set a small budget to keep it light and affordable for everyone. It’s a simple yet meaningful way to strengthen personal connections and build camaraderie within the team. Plus, it can easily be paired with other outdoor team building activities during a company outing.
Outdoor Team Building Games for Students and Kids
31. Relay Races
Relay races are a great way to encourage teamwork in outdoor team building activities. They get everyone working together toward a common goal, with each team member putting in equal effort. It’s a fun way to strategize, plan as a group and let the kids get active and burn off some energy.
If you want to take it up a notch on a hot day, consider modifying the relay with water balloon games for an extra splash of fun.
32. Hula Hoop Passing
Pair up two teams of kids and have one person start with a hula hoop on their arm. The teams need to pass the hoop from one end to the other, keeping it on their bodies and holding hands the whole time. The goal is to finish before the other team. It’s a great way to encourage teamwork and friendly competition, making it one of the best outdoor team building activities.
33. Capture the Flag
Split the kids into two teams, each tasked with capturing the other team's flag while protecting their own. It’s one of those classic outdoor team building activities that everyone will enjoy. Kids can take on different roles — some guarding their flag, others searching for the opponent's flag. This activity helps them learn how to manage different tasks and work together to reach a common goal.
34. Zip Zap Zop
Zip Zap Zop is a fun improv game where kids stand in a circle, passing ‘energy’ by clapping in each other’s direction and saying "zip," "zap," or "zop." The goal is to keep the rhythm steady and avoid hesitation. In some versions, making eye contact adds an extra layer of challenge. This is one of the best outdoor team building activities for theater groups or for any kids aiming to become more in sync as a team.
35. Birthday Lineup
In the Birthday Lineup game, kids must communicate and organize themselves in a line from the earliest to the latest birthday, all without help from teachers or adults. It’s a simple yet effective icebreaker that encourages communication and helps kids get to know each other, making it one of the best outdoor team building activities for kids.
36. Telephone
In the game of Telephone, kids pass a message along through whispers, trying to keep it consistent from start to finish. As the message gets hilariously twisted, it encourages laughter and teamwork. This chaotic, fun activity is perfect for building communication skills while helping kids bond through a shared, silly experience.
37. Tug of War
Tug of War is a classic team building activity where two teams pull a rope, trying to get it to their side. It’s a great way for students to get active, release energy and work together, making it a perfect addition to outdoor team building activities.
38. Human Knot
In the Human Knot game, players form a circle and each hold hands with two other people across from them. The goal is to untangle everyone without disconnecting hands. It’s a fun and challenging game that encourages communication and teamwork, making it one of the best outdoor team building activities for kids.
39. Storytime
Have kids work together to tell a story. The catch? They can only say one word at a time. Each team member adds a word to help build the story. The plot is sure to take some silly turns and children will love it. It’s a great example of outdoor team building activities that encourage teamwork and creativity in a relaxed, enjoyable setting.
40. Scavenger Hunts
Have kids team up to find objects based on clues, with the rule that only one item can be found per teammate. This encourages collaboration, as teammates help each other rather than focusing solely on their own search. It's a fun and engaging option for younger students and a great fit for outdoor team building activities for high school students as well.
Fun Outdoor Team Building Games With No Equipment
41. Charades
Charades is a game where one player acts out a word without speaking, while the others try to guess it. It’s a fun way to improve communication and understanding through nonverbal cues. As one of the easiest outdoor team building activities, it requires no equipment and offers plenty of laughs while building stronger connections among teammates.
42. The Alphabet Game
In the Alphabet Game, players take turns naming something from a chosen category, like animals, colors or foods, in alphabetical order. This simple yet fun team game boosts communication and sparks creative thinking. If you're looking for outdoor team building activities that are also educational, this one should definitely make the list.
43. Role Reversal
Have team members swap roles for a day or an hour during an outdoor activity, like setting up a picnic or organizing a game. It helps everyone appreciate each other's contributions and promotes a deeper understanding of the team dynamic. It's one of those outdoor team building activities that really makes people think.
44. This or That
This or That is one of the simplest outdoor team building activities that require no equipment and can be played anywhere. Ask fun questions like "coffee or tea" or "reading or watching TV," and have team members choose their preferences while explaining why. It's a great icebreaker that sparks conversation and encourages openness to different perspectives.
45. Word Match
Choose a word in your head, then shout it out. Each team member does the same, aiming to eventually match a common word. As the game progresses, you'll notice overlapping themes that lead to a shared word. This game gets more challenging the larger the group size, but it is a creative and fun activity that promotes better communication.
46. The Numbers Game
In the Numbers game, start at one with a goal number in mind. Each player calls out numbers one by one, but if two players say the same number simultaneously, you restart. This game is great for encouraging nonverbal communication skills and is a simple yet fun way to strengthen team dynamics during outdoor team building activities.
47. Hiking
Hikes offer a chance to enjoy nature while strengthening team bonds. Group hikes are especially rewarding as everyone supports one another, matches each other’s pace and promotes patience. This helps to build better understanding and respect in the workplace, making it one of the most effective outdoor team building activities for work, school or any group.
48. Cardboard Boat Racing
Cardboard boat racing is a creative and fun team building activity that requires no purchased equipment — just cardboard, which you probably already have on hand. Teams work together to build boats and race them, testing their collaboration and problem-solving skills. It’s a great way to boost teamwork and creativity, making it an ideal outdoor team building activity for high school students.
49. Poison Dart Frog
In Poison Dart Frog, one player is selected as the ‘frog’ for the round. The frog attempts to "kill" other players by sticking out their tongue, while the rest try to catch them in the act. If the frog is caught, the players win; if the frog successfully eliminates everyone without being caught, they win. This fun, fast-paced game is one of the silliest outdoor team building activities, perfect for school, summer camps and other group settings.
50. Dogs Day Out
Go to any of your local pet shelters and take a couple of dogs out for the day. The shelter will provide leashes and all other needed equipment, so you don’t need to bring anything. Take the dogs out on a much-needed break and enjoy some puppy snuggles. By the end of the day, your team will feel accomplished and uplifted, making it one of the most rewarding outdoor team building activities.
51. Elevator Pitch
Have one player at a time pitch a business idea. Make it as out there and funny as possible. Other players will give their feedback and notes and the process continues. This helps with public speaking and constructive critique skills in a way that is laid back and fun.
52. Twenty Questions
Choose a category such as animals, colors or foods. Choose a specific word in that category. Then in twenty yes or no questions or less, the rest of the group has to work together to guess what the word is. This is a fun game that helps with communication skills and creative thinking.
53. Awareness Circle
In the game Awareness Circle, each group member takes turns sharing something they enjoy, like their favorite color, motivational quote, TV show or food. Anyone who relates to the statement steps into the middle of the circle, helping everyone discover shared interests and traits. This simple yet effective activity can help identify common interests between group members and is one of the easiest outdoor team building activities.
54. Concentration
In Concentration, a category is chosen and group members take turns saying something from that category without repeats or hesitation. If anyone stumbles, they’re out. This fast-paced game helps improve quick thinking and attentiveness, making it a fun and interactive outdoor team building activity.
Outdoor Team Building Activities FAQs
What Are Outdoor Team Building Activities?
Outdoor team building activities help strengthen team bonds and improve teamwork skills in a fun and engaging way. Whether you prefer quick and easy games or more elaborate challenges, there are countless options — everything from trust falls to obstacle courses to explore.
What Are Five Team Building Activities?
Whether you're in the classroom, the workplace or with a group of friends, there are many great team building activities to try. Some of the best include Two Truths and a Lie, Charades, Scavenger Hunts, Sports Days and the Human Knot.
These are just a few ideas — get creative and explore even more outdoor team building activities that will work best for your group.
What Are Some Outdoor Activities for Groups?
Groups can go on hikes, participate in beach cleanups or play outdoor sports for a fun bonding experience. These outdoor team building activities not only help connect your group but also provide a chance to get some exercise and enjoy fresh air.
What Are Good Team Building Activities for the Workplace?
Good team building activities for the workplace include things such as theme parks, escape rooms and golf. All of these activities are outdoors and will give employees the break from the office they need to thrive. They’ll also help them to connect more with their coworkers on a personal level, leading to better work relationships and better communication, collaboration and more.
Outdoor team building activities are key to helping groups succeed. Whether you’re at work, school or hanging with friends, these activities boost communication and teamwork. From quick and easy options to more involved challenges, there’s something for everyone. Find what clicks with your group and get started. Which outdoor team building activities will you try first?
For even more fun outdoor activity ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop.
