Articles Tagged with: fun at company event ideas
Company Outing with Family and Kids

Should You Invite Families and Kids to your Company Outing?

One of the best parts of a company outing is being able to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of the office. Spending time with your coworkers in a new environment is a great way to bond and learn more about the people you work with every day. However, depending on the nature of your company retreat, there is a possibility that team members will want to bring their families with them. This brings up the question: should families and children be invited to company events?

While it might seem like an easy answer, there is a great deal of consideration that should go into this decision. Take a look below as we explore the different aspects, limitations, and advantages of extending an invitation to the families of employees for a company retreat.

Benefits of Inviting Families to a Work Retreat

One of the most important advantages of allowing employees to bring their children and loved ones to a company outing is that it shows your team that your company cares about them outside of their work efforts. This helps them feel like they are not just a number, but a respected member of the team. Including a family dynamic in the event can also give it an air of informality and relieve tension for newer employees by making them feel more comfortable.

The location for company outings and the nature of the retreat itself are important to consider when inviting family members. Certain places are going to be a great environment for team building and fun, while others might be a little more goal-oriented and focused. Some of the best company retreats to invite families to include:

  • Large-scale events with activities
  • Picnics or outdoor games
  • Holiday parties

If you are planning a work-related outing for your team and would like to encourage employees to include their families in the event, be sure to offer a range of activities that attendees of all ages can enjoy. One easy way to do this is to find a location that offers a variety of activities for team members and their families to choose from.

Family-Friendly Company Outing Activities

Many work retreats encourage team-building exercises as part of their itinerary. These help generate a stronger sense of comradery and cooperation. If you’re struggling to find ways to include your employees and their family members in group activities, look no further than the following:

  • Tug-of-war
  • Relays and races
  • Treasure or scavenger hunts
  • Go-karting or bumper cars
  • Trail hiking

The most important aspect of selecting group activities is that you plan for individuals who may not want to participate. Certain events may be too rigorous or physically demanding for guests like expectant mothers or anyone with a small child, so be sure to incorporate some more low-impact activities such as trivia, board games, or puzzles.

When Not to Invite Family to a Company Retreat

It can be a great deal of fun to have your coworkers interacting with and getting to know your family in a relaxed and engaging environment. However, certain situations may not be improved by the presence of spouses, relatives, or children.

When a company outing is strategically designed to include activities like brainstorming sessions, project planning, and work-related seminars, family members should not be included. These types of retreats are geared toward education and development—things that can be hindered by the presence of family members, especially young children. Not only will it be difficult for an employee to focus if they are at an event with their family, but the attendee’s family also may not be as interested in your quarterly sales as the rest of the group. It’s a negative experience all around, and one that can easily be avoided by refraining from inviting family members to work-centered company retreats.

If you are attempting to stay on a budget for the event, it may also be a good idea to avoid extending invitations to more than the necessary number of attendees. Including family members in an event can be costly, regardless of the activity. Companies looking to shave a few dollars off of their event budget should consider only inviting team members, supervisors, and managers.

Plan a Family-Friendly Work Retreat at Frogbridge Events

Company outings can be stressful to plan, especially if you are including a large group of people that includes team members and their families. Here at Frogbridge Events, we make it easy for you to plan a safe and memorable retreat for attendees of all ages with our menu of exciting activities and 86-acres of natural beauty in Central New Jersey. If you’re ready to take your work outing to the next level, contact Frogbridge Events and start planning your next amazing company retreat today. You can reach us at (609) 208-9475 or contact us online for more information about our grounds, activities, and facilities.

Taking on the challenge of planning the ultimate team-building company picnic is exciting. However, if you have no clue where to start, this task may feel daunting. When it comes to planning a company event outdoors, it is your job to ensure everything is taken care of and runs smoothly while managing your other job responsibilities. Feeling anxious and stressed about how your event will turn out is common, but don’t be discouraged. The following information will provide you with insightful information on how to organize a successful and eventful company picnic. 

Steps for Planning a Fun Outdoor Company Picnic  

If you’re looking for advice on how to plan a lively company picnic, you’re in luck. Depending on the type of picnic or event your hosting, there may be different details you’ll need to think about and prepare. However, with any type of team-building company event, there are four steps you must take to ensure it’s productive and consistent with your expectations. Read on to discover the best next steps to achieve just that!  

Consider Your Goals

The main question to ask yourself when planning your company picnic is, “What’s the purpose of the event?” Before jumping into little tasks like searching for vendors, sending out invitations, and securing a venue, focus on identifying your vision and goals for the event.

If your goal is to produce a thoughtful and powerful getaway that encourages collaboration, boosts morale, and builds connections through engaging and friendly competition, then you’re already one step closer to organizing the perfect company picnic.

Set the Tone

After you conceptualize your company picnic, get your crew pumped up for a fun-filled weekend. When most people hear the word “team building,” they think of awkward and boring ice breakers. If people on your team go into the picnic with a negative outlook, others will start to feel the same.

Before you leave for the picnic, call for a company meeting. This is where you can set the tone, state your goals for the picnic, and show your team that this picnic will be memorable. Some things you can mention in the meeting to spur up excitement include:

  • Delicious catered food
  • Competitive activities
  • Entertainment
  • Other games and prizes

After all their hard work, this is an opportunity for your team to take part in a transformational and inspiring event– one that is sure to have them feeling like kids again.

Let Your Team Have Some Free-Time

Once your company arrives at the picnic, don’t try to rush it. Give your team the ability to adjust to life outside the office and take in the smell of fresh air. After all, this is an event for them– therefore, let them roam around, relax, mingle, and of course, get pepped-up once they see how much effort you put into making this picnic unique.

It is critical that members on your team have the time to engage in personal conversations face to face, especially if most of their work is independent or remote. Meeting in person, without the worries of work tasks, is now largely about connecting and bonding intimately, and less about focusing on work talk.

Incorporate Friendly Competitions

The most important thing you can do to make your company picnic one worth remembering is to incorporate friendly competitions to inspire employee engagement. There are several different types of enticing team-building activities and games that you can include in your company picnic that will spark up and challenge your team. Here is a list of company picnic game ideas and activities to help inspire employee engagement:

  • Cornhole tournament
  • Karaoke
  • Treasure hunt
  • Board game tournament
  • Sporting events
  • Water activities
  • Giant scrabble
  • Giant Jenga
  • Carnival like games
  • Putting greens
  • Company Trivia

The list goes on, but the main point is to include games that require your employees to get up, think hard, and collaborate with their peers. To make the thrill of winning even more attractive, include game winner prizes and incentives. Not only does a little competition never hurt anyone, but it can help your team build self-confidence and learn something new about themselves and their coworkers.

Still Not Sure Where to Start? Contact Frogbridge Picnics & Events for Support

An outdoor company picnic is the perfect opportunity for everyone at the office to take a break and feel appreciated for all that they do. Planning this by yourself might seem overwhelming, which is why our Central NJ corporate event venues is here to alleviate any of the troubles you have. 

When you choose to host your outdoor corporate event or company picnic at Frogbridge Events, our devoted event planners will help with the details to make your event an exceptional one. From building the ideal menu to creating a personalized website, our comprehensive planning process provides an incomparable and care-free experience for your corporate event or company picnic. To start planning your company picnic at Frogbridge, please complete our contact form or call our office today at (609) 208-9475.

The Best Icebreaker Questions to Ask at an Outdoor Company Retreat

The Best Icebreaker Questions to Ask at an Outdoor Company Retreat

Many of us spend our time at work so focused on the task at hand that we become wrapped up in our own world. It can be easy to isolate yourself from your coworkers when there is a lot on your plate, but there are well-established benefits to being friends with your fellow team members.

With new social distancing restrictions, creating relationships with other employees can be a challenge. However, outdoor corporate retreats are a perfect opportunity for coworkers to mingle and get to know each other in a safe and engaging environment. Gathering outside the office is a great way to boost morale, and these icebreaker questions are a surefire way to encourage conversation and team building at your next company retreat.

Teambuilding Icebreakers

Given the chance, most folks love to talk about themselves. Using icebreaker questions can help get the ball rolling. Whether you are looking to strike up a general conversation or attempting to learn more about the people you work with every day, these questions can provide an opportunity to connect with your team members on a more personal level.

“What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?”

Company retreats help you get to know your fellow employees, and they are also a great opportunity to learn. Asking this question will invite unique insights from other team members, especially if they come from other employment backgrounds. Learning about advice that has inspired others is a chance to get a fresh perspective.

“What is the worst excuse you’ve ever heard?”

This is a lighthearted question that can provoke some hilarious responses. From anecdotal stories about your coworkers’ children to little white lies told to friends, there is a dose of humor in this question that is a great way to break the ice.

“Is there something you wish people knew about you?”

Asking your team members this question gives them an opportunity to share a side of themselves that others might not be aware of, especially if they are a newer employee. Giving people the chance to talk about a side of themselves that others don’t often see makes them feel more comfortable.

“If you could instantly learn one new skill, what would it be?”

Theoretical questions make great icebreakers because they force you to think outside the box. Some may answer this particular question with a business-focused response, but others may try to approach it with a little more levity. This is a particularly good choice for a topic of conversation while on an outdoor retreat, especially after participating in a group activity such as puzzles or physical challenges where employee skill level can vary across the team. Regardless of the setting in which you pitch the inquiry, you are sure to get some great answers to this question.

“If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?”

Similar to the question above, asking your team about their ideal superpower is a chance to uncover more about who they are as individuals. Asking “why” opens up room in the conversation for varying justifications. Your social media manager may want the power to stop time so they can get more work done, but your HR representative might want the same power so that they can catch up on sleep!

“Where would you travel if you knew that money was no object?”

Travel questions are always a hit, especially during a time when we are discouraged from doing so. You might find that some team members dream of visiting exotic locations in far-off, beautiful countries, while others would love to conduct a multi-city road trip to visit all of the baseball stadiums in the United States. You might even get a few ideas for your next vacation.

“Is there something you would like to try next year for the first time?”

This is a much different question than simply asking what someone’s goals are for the next year. By asking someone what they would like to explore for the first time, you open the floor to a conversation about ambitions and aspirations instead of the well-trodden list of yearly resolutions. You might also discover a side of them that you never knew existed. Is the quiet accountant actually a thrill-seeking mountain climber, or is the office comedian learning how to meditate? You won’t know until you ask.

Plan Your Perfect Outdoor Company Retreat in Central NJ

Looking to book a safe and satisfying corporate retreat for your team? Frogbridge Events is here to help. With 86 acres of picturesque views and a variety of engaging amenities including kayaks, tennis courts, ziplines, bumper cars, and more, we guarantee your team has never experienced a company event quite like this.

Social distancing doesn’t have to prevent us from being social. Our corporate company picnic in Central New Jersey can help you plan a stress-free and safety-compliant outing for your whole office that they will never forget. If you’re interested in learning more about our unique outdoor retreat, call (609) 208-9475 or contact us online. We can’t wait to help you plan the corporate event of your dreams.

organizing friendly competition at your company picnic

Organizing Friendly Competitions at Your Outdoor Company Picnic

Taking on the challenge of planning the ultimate team-building company picnic is exciting. However, if you have no clue where to start, this task may feel daunting. When it comes to planning a company event outdoors, it is your job to ensure everything is taken care of and runs smoothly while managing your other job responsibilities. Feeling anxious and stressed about how your event will turn out is common, but don’t be discouraged. The following information will provide you with insightful information on how to organize a successful and eventful company picnic. 

Steps for Planning a Fun Outdoor Company Picnic  

If you’re looking for advice on how to plan a lively company picnic, you’re in luck. Depending on the type of picnic or event your hosting, there may be different details you’ll need to think about and prepare. However, with any type of team-building company event, there are four steps you must take to ensure it’s productive and consistent with your expectations. Read on to discover the best next steps to achieve just that!  

Consider Your Goals

The main question to ask yourself when planning your company picnic is, “What’s the purpose of the event?” Before jumping into little tasks like searching for vendors, sending out invitations, and securing a venue, focus on identifying your vision and goals for the event.

If your goal is to produce a thoughtful and powerful getaway that encourages collaboration, boosts morale, and builds connections through engaging and friendly competition, then you’re already one step closer to organizing the perfect company picnic.

Set the Tone

After you conceptualize your company picnic, get your crew pumped up for a fun-filled weekend. When most people hear the word “team building,” they think of awkward and boring ice breakers. If people on your team go into the picnic with a negative outlook, others will start to feel the same.

Before you leave for the picnic, call for a company meeting. This is where you can set the tone, state your goals for the picnic, and show your team that this picnic will be memorable. Some things you can mention in the meeting to spur up excitement include:

After all their hard work, this is an opportunity for your team to take part in a transformational and inspiring event– one that is sure to have them feeling like kids again.

Let Your Team Have Some Free-Time

Once your company arrives at the picnic, don’t try to rush it. Give your team the ability to adjust to life outside the office and take in the smell of fresh air. After all, this is an event for them– therefore, let them roam around, relax, mingle, and of course, get pepped-up once they see how much effort you put into making this picnic unique.

It is critical that members on your team have the time to engage in personal conversations face to face, especially if most of their work is independent or remote. Meeting in person, without the worries of work tasks, is now largely about connecting and bonding intimately, and less about focusing on work talk.

Incorporate Friendly Competitions

The most important thing you can do to make your company picnic one worth remembering is to incorporate friendly competitions to inspire employee engagement. There are several different types of enticing team-building activities and games that you can include in your company picnic that will spark up and challenge your team. Here is a list of company picnic game ideas and activities to help inspire employee engagement:

  • Cornhole tournament
  • Karaoke
  • Treasure hunt
  • Board game tournament
  • Sporting events
  • Water activities
  • Giant scrabble
  • Giant Jenga
  • Carnival like games
  • Putting greens
  • Company Trivia

The list goes on, but the main point is to include games that require your employees to get up, think hard, and collaborate with their peers. To make the thrill of winning even more attractive, include game winner prizes and incentives. Not only does a little competition never hurt anyone, but it can help your team build self-confidence and learn something new about themselves and their coworkers.

Still Not Sure Where to Start? Contact Frogbridge Picnics & Events for Support

An outdoor company picnic is the perfect opportunity for everyone at the office to take a break and feel appreciated for all that they do. Planning this by yourself might seem overwhelming, which is why the team at Frogbridge Picnic & Events is here to alleviate any of the troubles you have. 

When you choose to host your outdoor corporate event or company picnic at Frogbridge Events, our devoted event planners will help with the details to make your event an exceptional one. From building the ideal menu to creating a personalized website, our comprehensive planning process provides an incomparable and care-free experience for your corporate event or company picnic. To start planning your company picnic at Frogbridge, please complete our contact form or call our office today at (609) 208-9475.

Excellent place for events of any kind.
– Xavier V.