Offsite "teambuilding" ideas

[Pantoot]

I have four teams (in AZ) that I want to reward. Three of the four are pretty small, around 10 people, one is about 20.

Budget for each team is in the 3k range. I would do the events separately so I would prefer to have different activities for each team.

Any ideas?

 

[spidey07]

Golf scramble with nice prizes. Really nice dinner. Gambling/horse racing where you participate in games on who can win the most money, you supply the money. Bowling tournament.

Hookers and blow party?

 

[Drako]

Snipe hunting.

 

[JS80]

I vote H&B. You can get a lot of that for $3k. I think.

 

[Kadarin]

Bowling tournament
Go-kart racing

 

[Numenorean]

Go do some skeet shooting or something.

 

[OutHouse]

 

[spidey07]

And make sure there alcohol involved. I HATE team building stuff when there isn't alcohol. I put with with all of you during work, if we're supposed to have fun together there has GOT to be alcohol.

 

[SandEagle]

reward them each with a $75 gift card instead of boring them to death with your "teambuilding" exercises

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I have four teams (in AZ) that I want to reward. Three of the four are pretty small, around 10 people, one is about 20.

Budget for each team is in the 3k range. I would do the events separately so I would prefer to have different activities for each team.

Any ideas?

Speaking as someone who has taken part in activities like this, if you want to reward them, give them the money instead.

 

[OutHouse]

reward them each with a $75 gift card instead of boring them to death with your "teambuilding" exercises

+1

i hate team building days with a passion.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

reward them each with a $75 gift card instead of boring them to death with your "teambuilding" exercises

This!

 

[Drako]

Here's a serious reply.

If you're near Tempe, you can try the Dave and Buster's.

http://www.daveandbusters.com/specialevents/corporate-events.aspx

 

[Theb]

LSD and paintball

 

[sdifox]

Paintball and make sure all of management is on one team while the peons are on the opposing team.

Give the management defective weapons.

 

[spidey07]

Here's a serious reply.

If you're near Tempe, you can try the Dave and Buster's.

http://www.daveandbusters.com/specialevents/corporate-events.aspx

Yes, yes, that meets all my requirements as well.

Good food
Games
ALCOHOL!

Most places like that you can call well ahead and they'll have a place just to yourselfs and your own staff. We've done it a few times at what was then Jillians and it was loads of fun.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Here's a serious reply.

If you're near Tempe, you can try the Dave and Buster's.

http://www.daveandbusters.com/specialevents/corporate-events.aspx

My reply was serious. Most people hate teambuilding exercises. It takes them away from work that they need to get done and often involves boring and mundane exercises. If you really want to reward people, give them a bonus or a day off. A teambuilding exercise is not a reward in any way, shape, or form.

 

[PottedMeat]

reward them each with a $75 gift card instead of boring them to death with your "teambuilding" exercises

This.

$3000 per team?

10 people -> $300 yay!
20 people -> $150 still happy


however gladiator fights are better.

 

[Drako]

My reply was serious. Most people hate teambuilding exercises. It takes them away from work that they need to get done and often involves boring and mundane exercises. If you really want to reward people, give them a bonus or a day off. A teambuilding exercise is not a reward in any way, shape, or form.

I was referring to my original post about "snipe hunting". I didn't mean to imply that other's posts weren't serious.

 

[Phoenix86]

reward them each with a $75 gift card instead of boring them to death with your "teambuilding" exercises

You can't do this very easily because now you have to tax that and that's too much work for payroll in most cases... :\

 

[IndyColtsFan]

You can't do this very easily because now you have to tax that and that's too much work for payroll in most cases... :\

Most companies have bonus/recognition programs so this shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[hanoverphist]

My reply was serious. Most people hate teambuilding exercises. It takes them away from work that they need to get done and often involves boring and mundane exercises. If you really want to reward people, give them a bonus or a day off. A teambuilding exercise is not a reward in any way, shape, or form.

but they do usually serve their purpose, which is building team cohesiveness. this isnt a reward, it is an exercise in getting a team to work together. paintball, lasertag or other group activities where people have to work together to succeed are great for getting people to form cohesive team skills. giving them cash or a day off is not serving any purpose other than reward.


edit: just reread the OP, apparently it is for just a reward. take everyone out for a great lunch, give em a cash prize and cut them loose for the rest of the day. i didnt realize the team building thing was a thread hijack

 

[IndyColtsFan]

but they do usually serve their purpose, which is building team cohesiveness. this isnt a reward, it is an exercise in getting a team to work together. paintball, lasertag or other group activities where people have to work together to succeed are great for getting people to form cohesive team skills. giving them cash or a day off is not serving any purpose other than reward.

I can assure you, after having worked in corporate America for a long time, that most people at these things are watching the clock, rolling their eyes, and thinking to themselves "make this stop."

 

[spidey07]

I can assure you, after having worked in corporate America for a long time, that most people at these things are watching the clock, rolling their eyes, and thinking to themselves "make this stop."

That is why alcohol MUST be involved.

 

[mugs]

Here's a serious reply.

If you're near Tempe, you can try the Dave and Buster's.

http://www.daveandbusters.com/specialevents/corporate-events.aspx

We did something like this, but it was at a big arcade in Vegas. We got to play all the games we wanted to play for ~2 hours, but there was also a prize for team that had the best score on a certain set of games.