Looking to energize your team and create lasting memories? You’re in the right place. Build your team with an environmental experience, a Western adventure or a friendly competition in the kitchen.

Grow a Team in Nature

Arbor Day Farm aligns meetings and retreats with the Arbor Day Foundation’s mission of reforestation, tree planting and environmental education, letting participants give back while connecting with nature.

The farm provides a mix of quiet, active and playful events that foster teamwork. Forest bathing and sound bowl sessions help teams slow down and reconnect, while tree identification walks and orchard tours spark curiosity and conversation.

Fun experiences like salsa-making competitions, margarita classes and wine tastings inject laughter and energy into events, and celebrate sustainability with locally sourced ingredients.

Interactive challenges, like the Mystery at the Mansion, allow participants to step into roles, solve puzzles and collaborate in a playful, low-pressure setting. Kimberly Osterhout, director of sales, says, “It’s amazing to watch personalities come alive with this activity. Quiet members become witty detectives, detail-oriented thinkers thrive and connection happens naturally.”

Collaboration across horticulture, wellness, culinary and hospitality teams helps Arbor Day Farm craft team-building experiences that resonate long after the retreat ends. Attendees will return to the workplace with improved communication, trust and a shared purpose. arbordayfarm.org/meetings-retreats/team-building

Team Build the Western Way

For groups seeking a mix of fun, camaraderie and memorable experiences, Faulkner’s Ranch outside Kansas City, Missouri, delivers a modern twist on classic Western hospitality.

“We’ve been running our ranch-style team-building program for 30 years,” says Carina Foose, event coordinator. “Our goal is to get people out of their everyday work life and into a playful, engaging environment where teamwork comes naturally.”

In the ranch’s signature Ranch Chores program, teams compete in hands-on activities, from cow milking and goat dressing to pedal-cart races and water balloon challenges. Every activity encourages collaboration and creativity. Participants quickly discover hidden talents in themselves and others, from cheering skills to precision in competition, all while building connections.

Faulkner’s Ranch is a full-service venue, handling everything from indoor meetings for up to 200 guests to catered meals and themed entertainment. Event menus range from casual hot dogs and slushies to upscale brisket-carving stations, all prepared on site with an emphasis on hospitality and family-style fun.

Transportation, nearby hotel coordination and Western-themed touches throughout help set the tone before guests even arrive. Foose notes, “You gather the guests; we take care of the rest. People arrive excited, and leave with memories and a stronger sense of teamwork.”

Whether for corporate retreats, holiday parties or multi- office gatherings, Faulkner’s Ranch combines Western heritage, interactive activities and thoughtful planning to create team-building experiences that stick with participants long after the sun sets. faulknersranch.com/team-building

Get Cooking with Culinary Team Builders

At the Lake Geneva School of Cooking in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, team-building events take a hands-on approach into the kitchen.

Groups begin with a relaxed reception, featuring sparkling apple cider or champagne, allowing participants to settle in and socialize. Then, guests are introduced to the dishes they’ll prepare, with visual cookbooks and photos to guide them. From there, teams might collaborate on a four-course meal or dive into the more competitive Iron Chef challenge, which adds a mystery ingredient for each group to incorporate.

Chef John Bogan and his experienced team guide participants through the cooking process, ensuring everyone on the team plays a role that fits their strengths. Whether it’s grilling, risotto-making or plating desserts, team members must communicate, delegate and problem solve together. Each island has a chef mate to keep teams on track, making sure no one dominates while encouraging participation from quieter members.

Participants bond over culinary skills in a dynamic, high-energy setting. Music, dancing and an interactive environment help participants relax and engage fully with the experience. Once the dishes are complete, teams present their creations, often incorporating fun competitive elements like scoring and team captain announcements, for instance.

The Lake Geneva School of Cooking can accommodate groups of 12 to more than 40, with options for plated dinners or social reception-style buffets. Every participant leaves with a signed cookbook, sometimes additional keepsakes and lasting memories cultivated through shared culinary achievement. lakegenevacookingschool.com/team-building-events