Posted by Updated November 2025
Four Decades of Field Study
After four decades of corporate team building, relying on repeat business and referrals, and often working with the very same teams, Venture Up has had no choice but to innovate. Constantly. In some cases, we’ve produced a one-of-a-kind program, such as a product launch for a pharma company in which teams created massive canvas art to display in the meeting space, never to be seen again. In other cases, we incorporated client ideas and morphed it into one of our leading programs.
Behind the Scenes
Team building trends shift like younger-gen staff turnover rates. So we’ve kept an arsenal of flexible team activities not shown our our web site, suitable for those special, uncommon requests.
Here are just a few off-shoots from our traditional programs. While on the surface they appear as apples, oranges and grapefruit, they all share a common a unifying purpose — increase collaboration, raising morale and employee retention.
Corporate Trainers: Flying Solo
We humans have difficulty seeing ourselves objectively; hence our quest for outside opinions when it comes to family or business matters. Likewise, corporate HR directors are inclined to do the same — looking outside their walls for that special company or forward-thinking new corporate trainer, flying solo, with an interactive social media following.
Investing in fun team-building activities also lightens the burden on internal HR training programs, as they can reinforce objectives without the corporate jargon and microscope. Combining outside resources on a regular basis is an effective way many small and large firms create an energized, cooperative company culture.
Even if you are a corporate trainer starting out, here are a few points to inspire you while you develop your own original delivery:
- Short, repeatable sessions work best.
- Run them on site so save client costs
- Consider hybrid formats.
- The options below fit small or large groups and translate to real work skills.
Create your own themes, or borrow from us:
Humans vs. Zombies — A Lively Tag Game
Objective: fast decision-making under pressure
Works for: 20–200+ / parking garages, fields or any open space
Run time: 60–90 minutes
Setup: safe zones, flag/bracelet mechanics, foam blasters or soft tags, clear win conditions
Tip: add a debrief on task switching and calm comms
Escape the Room (portable)
Objective: problem solving, time boxing, and role clarity
Works for: 12–300 via tables of 5–8 / Meeting rooms
Run time: 60–75 minutes plus a 15-minute debrief
Setup: sealed clue kits, parallel puzzles, visible countdown
Tip: rotate captains to expose quiet talent
Zero-G session (indoor flight or wind-tunnel sim)
Objective: trust building and stress management
Works for: small groups on rotation.
Run time: 90–120 minutes including safety brief.
Setup: waiver, weight limits, certified instructors.
Tip: pair with a short comms / drill back at the venue to tie learning to work
Paintfest (team mural or panels)
Objective: collaboration without competition
Works for: 15–400. Any ballroom
Run time: 60–120 minutes
Setup: primed canvases, simple grid or brand-neutral theme, smocks, drop cloths
Tip: assemble panels into a lobby display to extend impact
Jam session (rhythm workshop)
Objective: listening skills and cadence
Works for: 20–300. Indoor preferred for sound control
Run time: 45–75 minutes
Setup: hand percussion, call-and-response patterns, a conductor role
Tip: record a two-minute take and review how the groove tightened
Engineer-off (build challenge)
Objective: prototyping under constraints
Works for: 20–200.
Run time: 90–150 minutes.
Setup: kits for cars, catapults, hovercrafts, or bots; test lanes; spec sheet; safety glasses
Tip: fixed budgets force trade-offs that mirror real projects
Field Day (classic games)
Objective: quick wins, cross-team bonding
Works for: 30–500 outdoors or large halls
Run time: 75–120 minutes
Setup: stations like sack race, three-legged, relay, giant puzzles, scorecards
Tip: run short heats to keep wait times near zero
Giving Back (CSR service)
Objective: purpose and local impact
Works for: 20–500
Run time: 60–180 minutes
Setup: partner with local schools, shelters, or food programs; kits for bikes, STEM, hygiene, or school supplies
Tip: pre-stage donations and handle delivery so teams see outcomes
How to choose the right format
• Goals first: alignment, trust, or creative problem solving
• Group size: pick parallel stations above 40 people
• Time: 45–90 minutes fits agendas
• Space: confirm ceiling height, noise rules, freight access
• Risk: use insured facilitators for anything technical
• Debrief: reserve 10–15 minutes or you lose half the value
Arizona logistics — from pine trees to deserts
• Phoenix and Scottsdale offer many indoor venues for summer heat. Outdoor events fit October–April. Cool weather in Sedona, Prescott, Show Low are one to two-hours away.
• Ask resorts about noise limits and shared lawns before you commit.
• City parks may require permits and insured vendors; lead time varies by municipality.
• Hydration plans are mandatory outdoors. Provide shade, water, and sunscreen.
• For hybrid teams, pair an on-site build with a parallel virtual puzzle track.
Simple measurement plan
• Before: one-question pulse on team energy.
• After: the same pulse plus one behavior you expect to change next week.
• At 30 days: check that behavior. Adjust the next session accordingly.
Budget controls
• Reuse kits and rotate themes.
• Favor parallel table-based activities to scale without extra staff.
• Keep transport distances short within the Valley to cut delivery fees.
Sample run sheet (60–75 minutes)
0:00–0:05 Welcome and goal
0:05–0:10 Safety and roles
0:10–0:50 Activity
0:50–1:05 Debrief: what worked, what transfers to work
1:05–1:15 Photos, teardown, water
FAQ
Q: Ideal group size?
A: 20–40 per room is efficient; scale with parallel tables above that.
Q: Indoor or outdoor?
A: Indoors May–September in the Valley. Outdoors fit fall to spring.
Q: Permits?
A: Required for many public spaces. Start early.
Q: Insurance?
A: Ask for a certificate naming your venue.
Q: Remote options?
A: Run mixed pods on site and online with shared scoring.
Q: How often?
A: Quarterly is sustainable. Monthly if turnover is high.
Related Resouces: The Solo Trainer
Venture Up, established in 1983, is the original team building company helping organizations build trust and collaboration through real-world experience.
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