As the old saying goes, ‘You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.’ The same can be said about individuals working in teams; you can get a group of people together, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to work together.
For many organizations across Southern California, the solution is simple: invest in team bonding activities and team-building exercises. It’s a fun and effective way to bring people closer together and help them learn to work with one another.
If you’re a SoCal business leader looking to convert a loose group of professionals into a well-oiled machine running on all cylinders, you probably want options within an hour’s drive of company headquarters. With this in mind, let’s take a look at which team bonding and building activities can be found across Southern California:
San Diego
Organizations based in and around America’s Finest City are in luck. There’s no shortage of San Diego team building activities available. For instance, you could organize a photo-based scavenger hunt in the San Diego Zoo, where teams are given a list of animals to capture on camera. You could also arrange a walking tour of the Gaslamp District with a tasty lunch at the halfway point and a fun history quiz at the end. As far as bonding exercises go, nothing top whale-watching in San Diego Bay, followed by tacos and tequila in Old Town.
Palm Springs
There’s no shortage of fun and interesting group activities in Palm Springs, many of which offer a great opportunity for team bonding and building. Examples include cooking classes, rock climbing lessons, paint and sip sessions, golf outings, and ATV rentals. You could also have various teams compete in a photo scavenger hunt regarding the many incredible examples of mid-century-modern architecture scattered throughout Palm Springs.
Orange County
Practically every popular type of team building exercise and team bonding experience can be found in Orange County. Scavenger hunts, escape-the-room adventures, and activity-oriented experiences are all available. As far as bonding goes, what better way than to take your team on a day trip to the “Happiest Place on Earth?” Located in central Anaheim, Disneyland is open year-round and has as much to offer groups of adults as it does families and small children.
Long Beach
From puzzle games to citywide races to quirky stunt competitions, Long Beach is full of fun and interesting group activities. Those looking for something more laid back can schedule a pub crawl or walking tour that explores the many waterfront attractions found in Long Beach. Other popular options include sailing, painting, and cooking lessons, as well as room escapes and axe throwing. All the standards – as well as one-of-a-kind options – can be sought and experienced in Long Beach.
Los Angeles
Every kind of group activity you can think of can be found in Los Angeles. Airsoft, batting cages, boating, cooking, go-karts, golfing, laser tag, paintball, painting, puzzle solving, rock climbing, room escapes, and walking tours are all available year-round. All you need to do is pick an option and pick up the phone!
Santa Monica
Santa Monica is a hotbed of team bonding and building opportunities. Examples include beach volleyball, cooking lessons, group tours, and a trapeze school. Consider ending the day with a trip to Santa Monica Pier, where your team can enjoy thrill rides and carnival games. Wrap it up with a group dinner at one of the many fine restaurants located near the water.
Turning a group of strangers into a functional team takes time and effort. But the rewards are worth it. What’s more, team building exercises and team bonding experiences provide a reliably effective way to bring people together and forge strong relationships.
Alex Farina is a freelance writer from Ohio. He enjoys writing about design, nature, and technology.
