High Score —These Minnesota Team Building Trends are a Big Hit!

After years of tireless research, we’ve come up with the exact formula needed for a successful Minnesota team building event. First, start with a fun venue, combine it with a fun activity, add in just a touch more fun with some awesome surroundings, then add some fun team members, and there you have it! FUN! Of course, team building should also be challenging, inspiring, motivating, and unifying too. That goes without saying.  The good news is, there is no shortage of Minnesota activities that meet those criteria so that your team can build a better business environment.

Come Sail Away

Activity:  Boating

When you live in a place where sparkling lakes are abundant and rivers flow past gorgeous shorelines, there’s nothing more enchanting and bound to bring folks closer together than a boat charter. Whether you choose a luxurious yacht or a historically charming paddle boat, your crew will fall in love with cruising the waterways.

Team building ideas:  Many cruise lines offer theme packages for private charters, like a Casino Cruise for exciting, Vegas- like shenanigans; a Dixieland Cruise for dancing; or a Sunset Cruise for quiet enjoyment of the surroundings. You might even consider a scavenger hunt while on board. Have something else in mind? The cruise staff will be happy to work with you to customize your event.

Also included:  What’s a cruise without fine cuisine? Many cruise lines offer you full food and bar menus from which meals are skillfully prepared and professionally served on board for your guests’ enjoyment.

Final score: High marks for a relaxing environment, low key atmosphere and an activity that brings your team together socially.

Resources:  Book your boat from any one of these fine charter boats for corporate events — including Lake Minnetonka's Al & Alma's Supper Club and Charter Cruises, Lady of the Lake and Paradise Charter Cruises | Minneapolis Queen or entertain your group in Saint Paul on board the Padelford Riverboats Co or northern Minnesota's Destiny Cruises. For a complete list of boat charter companies, take a look at our Minnesota Event Activities Directory.

Meet in the Alley

Activity:  Bowling | Bocce Ball

A few decades ago, a bowling alley was pretty basic. Typically, you’d find smelly shoes, funny shirts, plenty of beer, and maybe a greasy burger and fries. These days, those old bowling alleys are gone, and in their place -- Entertainment Centers.

Team building ideas:  Spacious and crowd pleasing, Entertainment Centers offer state-of-the-art bowling lanes, bocce ball, laser tag, arcade games, billiard tables, dart boards and more. Any or all of these activities will keep your team happily competing while secretly (and maybe not so secretly) enjoying themselves.

Something extra:  You can still get a burger and fries, but why would you want to when so many of these venues offer a full gourmet-style menu to please and appease even the most selective of eaters on your team.

Final score: Rack up the points for activities that encourage friendly competition and encourage team work too.

Resources:  Line up your lane and more at any one of these Minnesota Entertainment Centers — including Mermaid Entertainment and Event Center. Go here for a complete list of bowling and bocce ball centers in Minnesota.

Bet on It

Activity:  Casino Gaming

Maybe what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, but what happens at your corporate casino gaming event will be talked about for years to come! Whether your team is populated with high rollers or small potato gamblers, everyone feels the thrill of gaming.

Team building ideas:  Many casinos offer a wide range of gaming opportunities including slots, blackjack, poker, bingo and more. There is literally something for everyone and a way for your team members to engage with one another in a social setting.

Something extra:  What’s not to love about a casino? Most have entertainment, a variety of dining options, spa, hotel/resort, golf courses, tennis courts and more.

Final score:  Your team is a big winner when you choose this activity. The gaming promotes competition as well as challenge. And as always … fun.

Resources:  You can bet on the best time at any of these Minnesota Casinos — Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, the twin cities largest casino resort and Shooting Star Casino, Hotel + Event Center located in Mahnomen, MN. For a complete list of Minnesota casinos, go here.

Know the Ropes

Activity:  Challenge Courses

Challenge Courses run the gamut from climbing walls, high ropes and zip lines to dodge ball, trampolines, paintball, and even tank driving. Like its name implies, a Challenge Course quickly requires your crew to come together and work as a team to conquer the task they’re facing.

Team building ideas:  Challenge courses are designed to promote teamwork, dependency on the group, strategizing skills and more. Your team can simply show up and the pros at these venues will show them the ropes.

Something extra: Some Challenge Course venues also offer food and a place to eat, unwind and review after the challenge is complete.

Final score:  If your team is up for it, Challenge Courses offer some of the most beneficial team building results, including a sense of achievement as well as team unity in working toward a common goal.

Resources:  Hang out at any of these Minnesota Challenge Courses and watch your team bond. Get a complete list of Minnesota Challenge Courses here.

What’s Cooking?

Activity:  Cooking Schools

No matter if your team fancy themselves as the next Julia Childs or swear they can’t boil water, Cooking School team building is something your group is going to eat up! Facilitated learning with professional chefs is made even more delicious with the prospect of eating their completed assignment. (It’s also a great motivator for doing well, because who wants to eat an ill-prepared completed assignment?)

Team building ideas:  Many cooking schools have result-specific team building curriculums already in place. For example, your group will be divided into two teams and must communicate non-verbally as they prepare their recipe. Or, leadership of the group changes hands at random points during the cooking process.

Something extra:  Of course, the spoils go to the participants, making this the tastiest of team building exercises on the list. Bonus — instructions from a professional chef is a great take-away for anyone who wants to improve their performance in the kitchen.

Final score:  Communication, team work, individual accountability (“Who forgot the rolls in the oven? You had one job!”) all combine to create a delicious experience.

Resources:  There are never too many cooks in the kitchen when you register for classes at these Minnesota event venues. For a more complete listing of cooking schools, look here.

Play a Round

Activity:  Golf

Whether it’s nine holes or eighteen, there’s just nothing like a relaxing day spent on the links chasing down that little white ball, hitting it out of the rough … and into the water hazard. Maybe “relaxing” isn’t the right word. However you define it, it’s a popular pastime for team building.

Team building ideas:  Plan a formal tournament with prizes or just a friendly round for the whole team.

Something extra: Most courses and country clubs have a bar and lounge or full service restaurant on site for winding down after the round. Banquet and meeting facilities may also be available.

Final score:  For your team, golf can be a good way to show support for one another, offer encouragement and share knowledge while getting competitive.

Resources:  Tee off with the team at any of these great Minnesota golf courses or country clubs —  Green Haven Golf Course, Majestic Oaks Golf Club, Bunker Hills Event Center, and Rush Creek Golf Club all located in the north metro. Prefer a Northern Minnesota resort experience? Head to Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center, Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge, Grand View Lodge or Breezy Point Resort + Conference Center for a can't miss experience. You can also find a bevy of bunkers listed here.

Go Team

Activity:  Pro Sporting Events

Home run, touch down, basket, score — heading to the ballpark, stadium, or arena with your team to watch a team is one of the most satisfying team building exercises to come along since the invention of the hotdog.

Team building ideas:  Encourage carpooling to the event and tailgating (when permitted) prior to the event. Suggest a gathering after the game for a meal or beverages to discuss strategies that you witnessed working on the field and how you can apply them to your own group.

Something extra:  Hot dogs, burgers, fries, pizza, beer, soda, peanuts, pretzels — no matter how healthy your diet, you’ve just got to indulge.

Final score:  No matter the sport, attending the event together works to promote comradery, communication and cohesiveness among team members. Pre-game tailgating also encourages a more relaxed and social environment between co-workers.

Resources:  Root, root, root for these Minnesota Professional Sports home teams — including fan favorite Canterbury Park offering live racing and casino gaming! Score big with a complete listing of Minnesota sports arena event venues here.

Gather more ideas from your Minnesota event destination!