By Ronnie Wendt | Photo: Faulkner’s Ranch

The bleat of a goat, the clatter of pots and pans, or the quiet rustle of leaves in a sunlit orchard … These are the sounds of today’s team building in action.

Experiential team-building outings are rapidly replacing traditional icebreakers and trust falls, offering organizations immersive opportunities to connect, collaborate and create memories outside the boardroom.

Take Faulkner’s Ranch in Kansas City, Missouri, for example. At a recent corporate retreat, participants wrangled baby goats, dressed them in costumes and raced to complete the task first. The laughter was contagious, but the takeaways went beyond barnyard fun. The exercise shattered communication barriers, encouraged creative problem solving and left everyone with a shared memory.

“It’s one of those activities people never forget,” says Carina Foose, an event coordinator at the ranch, which has done team-building events for more than 30 years. “When you get people laughing and collaborating on something completely outside their comfort zone, it opens the door for genuine connection.”

That, she says, is the real goal of experiential team building — to put participants into a shared hands- on experience where soft skills, like communication, creativity and problem solving, can shine.

“These activities help people see their coworkers in a new light and get to know them a little better, so that in the office they have something in common to talk about,” Foose says.

START WITH A GOAL

For these novel experiences to work as intended, companies or organizers must start with a goal. Planners should consider what they want to accomplish and articulate that to their event coordinator or volunteers. “You have to start with the ‘why,’” confirms Foose.

Maybe the why is to improve collaboration between departments, boost morale after a tough quarter or get new leaders working together. Once the goal is understood, you can design the right experience around it.

Kimberly Osterhout, director of sales at Arbor Day Farm, which offers team- building opportunities in Nebraska City, Nebraska, says to build the experience with intention by asking: What do we want our team to walk away with?

“Whether it’s deeper trust, better communication, renewed energy or simply a shared moment of joy, clarity on the goal helps shape everything that follows,” she says.

The best goals are specific. For instance:

  • Maybe the goal is leadership development, problem solving, or to reward a team with some space to relax and unwind.
  • One company might want to keep members of a specific department together during team-building events to encourage collaboration and unity.
  • A company has 10 departments and, most days, they operate independently, but it wants to create teams with representation from all departments to encourage interaction between them.

These things all influence the activity that is chosen.

Sometimes, goals follow specific trends. For example, bringing remote employees together is a growing priority.

Foose explains that, since the pandemic, employees working from home may only see their coworkers on Zoom calls. “They have never met in person,” she says. “Increasingly, companies’ goals are to get everyone together for a team builder once a quarter or once a year.”

Organizations and attendees are also increasingly mindful of their carbon footprint and prioritize sustainability. They might be seeking team-building experiences that are focused on environmental stewardship.

“It is proven that nature has a quiet, transformative power that brings people together,” according to Osterhout. “When teams immerse themselves in environments rich with trees, fresh air and natural sunlight, they experience a calming effect that fosters genuine connection. Being surrounded by greenery helps individuals feel centered and present. This sense of presence nurtures openness, empathy and creativity, the essential ingredients for meaningful collaboration.”

PICK YOUR POISON

Chef John Bogan of the Lake Geneva School of Cooking in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, stresses that, once planners define the why of the event, they can select activities that match the team’s personalities and goals.

There are an abundance of creative options across the Midwest for experiential team-building outings.

Popular options include:

  • Farm Challenges, including goat dressing, cheese making or beekeeping, which are unique to the Midwest’s agricultural heritage.
  • Outdoor Adventures like ropes courses, kayaking or guided nature hikes that foster trust and resilience.
  • Culinary Competitions, such as “Chopped”-style cooking events that encourage skills like time management and teamwork.
  • Escape Rooms that help teams develop strategy, communication and leadership under pressure.
  • Volunteer Projects like Habitat for Humanity construction or even community cleanups that blend purpose with teamwork.

Whatever the activity, it should balance fun with function. “The best experiences match your team’s personality and the outcomes you want to see,” Foose says.

SET THE PACE AND THE TIME

Careful planning also considers the event schedule and pace. Timing is everything, according to Foose. She explains that an evening event might not be popular with attendees. However, most employees enjoy a workday activity that takes them out of the office for a change of pace.

Consider the rhythm of the event as well. After a morning of meetings or presentations, attendees appreciate activities that get them moving, laughing or decompressing.

“Teams collaborate best when they feel relaxed and have fun. Balance is key,” Bogan says. “Too much high-pressure competition can create stress, while too much downtime can feel aimless. The right mix fosters growth without fatigue.”

A well-paced agenda includes time to reflect, recharge and connect, alongside moments of fun and play. “This creates space for real transformation,” Osterhout says. “And offering a mix of activities that speak to different personalities ensures everyone feels seen and included.”

Osterhout gives an example. At Arbor Day Farm, planners may mix high- energy activities like running and climbing in Tree Adventures with quieter moments like sound bowl sessions to keep people engaged without burning them out.

PLAN FOR PARTICIPATION

Consider the people who will attend the event. What are their personalities and preferences? That will help shape the event you plan, suggests Osterhout. “Some attendees thrive in social interactive settings, while others prefer low-pressure, nature-based experiences,” she says. “Offering a variety of activities ensures everyone finds something that resonates and often the most unexpected experiences become the most memorable.”

Foose stresses making sure the activity fits the group by considering physical ability, comfort level and inclusivity. “No one should feel left out,” she says.

In every team-building exercise, there’s a mix of eager and reluctant participants. The event should be light- hearted and fun to draw in even the most hesitant.

To ensure this, Faulkner’s Ranch includes a DJ at every event. The DJ sets the pace and amps up the enthusiasm for each team-building activity. “He might notice that not everyone is cheering for their team,” Foose says. “So, he will announce extra points are available to the team that cheers the loudest.”

Chef Bogan likes to use music to set the tone, too. He plays lively music and makes a dance party part of the cooking activity. “When I say, ‘Dance party time,’ they need to shake it out,” he says. “That lightens everyone up.”

Each cooking school team also has a chef mate who is assigned to help with recipes and who selects a leader from the team to help oversee the activities. These individuals are present to keep the group focused and get everyone involved in preparing the dish within the time limit.

Planning for leadership participation is another critical factor. Bogan has seen firsthand how including C-suite members or team leaders as active participants shifts the energy of a group. “When leaders step into the experience authentically, it sets the tone,” he says. “It gives everyone permission to engage fully, take risks and be vulnerable.”

Leaders are less guarded and more open with employees in a casual setting. Osterhout shares that, during a recent salsa-making competition, she saw a C-Suite member doing a salsa dance during the event.

“Think about how that changes the vibe of the event,” she says. “When leaders show up as themselves, share openly and allow space for vulnerability, it sets the tone for the entire group. It’s amazing what happens when a leader steps back from directing and leans into the experience, whether that’s joining a wellness session, laughing through a challenge or simply being present. When leaders model authenticity, it gives others permission to do the same.”

The secret to team-building magic is intentionality, inclusivity and fun. Throw in some friendly competition, a killer playlist and leaders who lead by example, and suddenly coworkers become collaborators, problem solvers and each other’s biggest cheerleaders.