Unique offsite ideas your team aren't sick of

With hybrid and remote teams becoming the new norm, there has never been a better time to organise a team offsite.

A team offsite can help build stronger relationships, improve communication, boost morale, promote creativity and enhance teamwork skills among team members. It also provides an opportunity for team members to step outside of their usual work environment, connect on a personal level, and work together in a new and stimulating setting.

Here at Basejam we're tired of cringe-worthy escape rooms and offsites that don't aim to empower every team member. While a VR experience may be fun for the first ten minutes, we're not convinced it will bring your team together in the long run.

We've got some better ideas - seven in fact. Read below for some offsite ideas that empower, inspire and connect your team.

What is a team offsite?

A team offsite is a type of get-together with your team that occurs outside the office. Its primary goal is to gather your team to discuss work-related issues by combining them with team-building activities.

Team offsites can be as small-scale as a walk in the countryside to a full-blown company retreat. It's entirely up to you and what works best for your team - and it's always best to think about what you want most out of the offsite at the start of the planning stage.

Basejam is a curated, searchable database of company retreat venues for startups and teams - but we also aim to be an authoritative voice on how to get the most out of your company offsite, no matter what the scale.

How team offsites can benefit your team

Boost employee engagement

Offsites are proven to increase engagement and meaningful connection in teams, especially when they're done right. When filled with the same repetitive activities, coworkers will most likely be bored and lose sight of the purpose of the offsite altogether. But in our experience, running unique activities that focus on connection will help bring your team together.

Build camaraderie

The beauty of team offsite ideas is that they provide a relaxed and fun atmosphere for your teams to network and get to know each other, outside of the four walls of your office or home.

During these meetings, colleagues can share positive personal experiences, learn about each other’s values and interests, and find new ways to work together as a team.

Increase employee retention

Running a successful offsite is showing your team you're invested in their well-being and development. Offsite meetings combined with team-building activities are a great way to strengthen relationships with your workers and get to know them beyond their Slack profile. As a result, you can enhance job satisfaction and performance, leading to improved employee retention.

Unique team offsite ideas

A list of handpicked, tried and tested activities which take a little more thought than a quick Google search. We know how beneficial team offsites can be, but we're certain they've got to be done right.

1. Foraging 🍄

A team foraging trip is a wholesome and low-cost way to get your team out into nature and work towards a common, non-work-related goal. You can use this app to identify your Funghi findings.

What's more, holding your offsite in the countryside has huge benefits - the ability to have broad discussions, come up with new ideas, and form authentic bonds with your team away from the city.

Research by Andrew Huberman from Stanford University says if you focus on long distances or wide angles, your thoughts and conversations will become broader. Have you ever wondered why we have much better and deeper conversations while out on a hike with a group of friends?

2. Intuitive painting 🎨

Intuitive painting is painting how you want to, unguided by rules, designs or formulas.

It's all about thinking creatively and being able to explore new ideas without fear of judgment or self-criticism.

When we are so used to judging ourselves and our abilities, the opportunity to get creative juices flowing without consequence can be hugely beneficial to employees' mindset - in and out of the office.

3. Wild swimming 🏊🏽‍♂️🏊🏻‍♀️

Wild swimming checks all of the boxes for building connection: it's in nature, out of your comfort zone (but not unachievable), and has an array of scientific benefits for health.

In our experience, getting slightly out of your comfort zone around team members is a shortcut to creating meaningful connections. Doing this in nature breaks the typical mental loops we find ourselves in day-to-day when working at home or in the same office environment.

Some of our venues have wild swimming ponds and others offer local activity providers who will facilitate a wild swimming activity for your team.

4. Guided breathwork 🧘

Time spent practising conscience breathwork can do huge amounts for our mental clarity, as well as supporting healthy sleep and boosting immunity.

At its core, guided breathwork calms the immune system and allows your teammates to check in with themselves.

An opportunity to learn the basics of breathwork can have long-lasting effects on your team's ability to manage stress and anxiety.

5. SUP boarding 🏄

Stand-up paddle boarding gives you all the adrenaline benefits of going surfing but is accessible and enjoyable for all.

It can be learnt quickly within a team setting and gets your team out into nature and away from the city slog. It's likely that many of your team haven't tried SUP boarding before, offering a sense of shared experience of getting out of your comfort zone together.

6. Scavenger hunt 🕵🏼

For an engaging team-building activity that encourages co-workers to network, a scavenger hunt is a great offsite option.

Participants venture outside to gather a series of peculiar or amusing objects chosen by the organiser; the winner is the team or individual that returns with all the items first. And remember, purchasing them isn't an option, so time to get creative.

7. Cooking class 👩🏾‍🍳

Cooking is known to be incredibly therapeutic, where cooking within a team can strengthen relationships among employees and show them how to collaborate to achieve incredible (and tasty) results.

Interested?

When it comes to choosing a retreat venue for your team's offsite, Basejam offers a curated, searchable database of company retreat venues for startups and teams to fit a broad scope of needs.

To view all our venues, sign up for a free account and browse our handpicked venues from around the world.