TOP TEAM BUILDING EVENTS AND LOCATIONS
By Great Performances
Part of any smart human resources and executive team’s plan should include team building activities. Team building encourages collaboration, improves communication, builds trust, increases motivation, and heightens morale. Activities include anything from holiday parties, team outings, workshops, and, a growing trend, volunteer days.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite venues and activities for team building that provide a wide variety of events and activities for your teams. Need help finding a venue or planning an event? One of our event planners can help you out (P.S. these are also great for client engagement, welcoming summer associates, or new team member orientation).
Top 12 Team Building Activities
The Situation Room at SPYSCAPE HQ
CityPickle at Wollman Rink
Volunteer Projects with GrowNYC
Exhibit tour at Brooklyn Museum followed by a meal at The Norm
SummerStage Concerts this summer in Central Park
Interactive Experiences at Poster House
A peaceful Retreat at Wave Hill
Amateur Night at Apollo Theater
Bronx Zoo Treetop Adventure
Glamping on Governor’s Island
Rooftop Happy Hour at New York Aquarium
Visit Little Island and then have lunch at Pier 57 featuring the Good to Go kiosk by James Beard Foundation
Our event planners are experts at planning all sorts of events – including team building activities that can fit all group sizes and types. From outdoor sporting events to indoor exhibit tours and everything in between, we can plan an event for your team!
Favorite Venues for Team Building
Wollman Rink
CityPickle is bringing the country’s fastest growing sport to Wollman Rink in Central Park! The rink will house 14 courts – the largest pickleball offering in the Northeast – with 196 hours of pickleball daily. The perfect outdoor casual sport for your group. Refreshments packages are also available for order, catered directly to your group on the court.
Brooklyn Museum & The Norm
From a modern glass and steel pavilion to the grandeur of the Beaux-Arts Court, the Brooklyn Museum has a space to fit your event.
The Brooklyn Museum offers a variety of Special Events perfect for teambuilding including: Pints & Prints, Outdoor Yoga on the Stoop, and Art History Hour in The Norm.
Your group could always take a guided tour of the latest exhibits and end with a delicious lunch at The Norm.
SummerStage at Central Park
This summer marks our third year as the food and beverage partner for Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage located in Central Park. With an amazing line up of performances, it’s a great place to enjoy the best of NYC summer.
Wave Hill
Conveniently located 30 minutes from Midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s renowned gardens and spectacular views of the Hudson River provide the perfect setting for team-building retreats, off-site conferences, meetings, and corporate events. Wave Hill House, our historic Hudson River mansion, fully engages your attendees’ senses by “bringing the outside in.”
Regular programming also includes Cooking Demos, Forest Bathing, Yoga on the Lawn, and Concerts on the Great Lawn.
Poster House
An extraordinary venue for design connoisseurs, culture mavens, and everyone who enjoys having fun, Poster House is a hidden gem nestled between the art galleries of Chelsea and the dynamic NoMad and Flatiron districts. The award-winning space offers meeting areas, workshop space, and a conference room, with posters providing color, fun, and inspiration for your team gatherings.
Poster House offers variety of Guided Tours, Interactive Experiences, and – for a more budget-friendly option – First Fridays!
Brooklyn Academy of Music
The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), located in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, is recognized internationally for its innovative programming of dance, music, theater, musical theater, and opera. Founded in 1861, it is America’s oldest continuously operating performing arts center, and it still recognized worldwide for its bold, contemporary productions and its celebration of international musicians, choreographers, and theater companies.
Group Tickets are available for most seasonal productions. For a more intimate experience, BAMcafe hosts BAMcafe Live every month, featuring free music by artists from around the world.
Caramoor
This 90-acre historic estate in Katonah, NY is home to one of the area’s largest music festivals and one of our top wedding venues, a testament to its beauty. With space for everyone to spread out and enjoy field activities, Caramoor also has intriguing spaces, a reception tent, and areas for formal and informal dining.
In addition to their famous Concerts on the Lawn, Caramoor also offers Afternoon Tea sessions throughout the Spring & Summer.
Apollo Theater
Established in 1934, the legendary Harlem theater has housed some of music’s most talented performers in the world.
Designated a national landmark, the Apollo has launched the careers of icons such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, James Brown, and Lauryn Hill and continues to maintain its position as the nation’s most popular arena for emerging and established African-American and Latino performers.
Their famous Amateur Nights provide a great outting. They also offer Educational Programming and Workshops for adults.
Central Park Zoo
This tranquil oasis has become one of our favorite spaces. Whether sipping cocktails as our sea lions glide gracefully through the water or strolling through the lush gardens taking in the elegant architecture, your guests will experience an exotic environment set against a classic New York City backdrop.
Governors Island
Easily accessible to NYC via ferry, Governors Island is the perfect spot for an outdoor or indoor team building event. With plenty of outdoor space that can accommodate large event with tents, stages, and more; and indoor space that’s perfect for retreats, workshops, and meetings, there’s a solution for everyone. Governors Island also is home to QC NY Spa, a destination day spa, and Collective Retreats for a luxury glamping experience.
Ready to start planning? Complete the form below and one of our expert event planners will be in touch shortly!