"Go outside and play" isn’t just something a parent says, it’s also great advice for groups. Outdoor activities give attendees a sense of place and let them experience the destination in a meaningful way. With gardens, parks and prairies, there’s always a reason to get outdoors and engaged in central Iowa.
Des Moines
Iowa’s capital city has a park for every need. For those who appreciate art, the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in downtown Des Moines offers an excellent way to squeeze in some walking time and art education. The 4.4-acre park features 28 different works of contemporary art from noted artists, and groups can listen to an audio tour as they walk through it, or download an app that gives more detail about each sculpture.
A different type of fun awaits at Adventureland, an amusement park and waterpark that features several rides for a screaming good time, like the new Monster roller coaster, or the Splash Over, billed as the “human washing machine,” which turns guests upside down. The park also has meeting space and group rates.
Sports venues like the Iowa Speedway (in nearby Newton) or an Iowa Cubs baseball game are also popular with groups, according to Addison Bratvold, marketing and public relations manager for the Greater Des Moines CVB.
“Groups enjoy cheering on the AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs at Principal Park downtown,” she said. “The Park offers skyline views and fireworks after every Friday night home game, and the NASCAR track [at Iowa Speedway] provides groups the chance to ride shotgun at high speeds, tour the facility and participate in other teambuilding activities.”
Another popular sporting activity is strapping on the skates at Brenton Plaza in the wintertime, when the facility operates an outdoor ice-skating rink daily. When the seasons grow warm, the plaza becomes an outdoor venue for group receptions and live music. The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden also welcomes groups, and the newly added outdoor gardens offer incredible skyline views of the city plus a waterfall, rose garden and sculptures to peruse as attendees stretch their legs under the beauty of an Iowa sky. The facility also has indoor meeting space and catering from its in-house, locally sourced restaurant.
In addition to great outdoor venues and activities, Des Moines also offers excellent teambuilding events as well. The Polk County Conservation office offers a variety of teambuilding opportunities, from canoeing and hiking to orienteering and geocaching, according to Bratvold. For an indoor option, groups can contact the Des Moines Community Playhouse, which features theater games, seminars and workshops on communication and creative problem solving.
One opportunity in Des Moines stands out, and it will be an experience groups won’t forget: a teambuilding community event with the Kiwanis Miracle League.
“Groups can buddy up with the Kiwanis Miracle League and volunteer their time to assist children with special needs so they can participate in an organized baseball league,” Bratvold said. “Groups can also do field maintenance, clean-up or help assist athletes around the bases.”
Ames
In the college town of Ames, groups have a diverse selection of outdoor activities and venues. One of the most popular is Reiman Gardens, which grew out of a simple horticulture garden at Iowa State University in 1914. Reiman Gardens offers several options for groups, from indoor meeting rooms to outdoor event spaces. Planners can take advantage of a meal option with the group tour, which ranges from a box lunch to a full-course dinner. Speakers are also available to make the history and beauty of the gardens come alive.
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Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyards also makes nature come alive, especially in your wineglass. The rolling, verdant hills of the vineyards make an amazing setting for events, and the facility also offers an indoor banquet hall that accommodates up to 300. In the summertime, the winery hosts live music and serves up fresh gourmet pizza on the weekends. Attendees can work off that pizza with a day of teambuilding at Seven Oaks Recreation, which has activities for every season, from paintball, tubing and canoeing in summer to snowboarding and skiing in winter.
Marshalltown
Northeast of Des Moines is Marshalltown, noted for its dedication to green space with parks, trails and outdoor activities. The Linn Creek Greenbelt Parkway is nearly eight miles long and part of the cross-country American Discovery Trail, so it’s a perfect way to get attendees outside and moving. The trail connects to Grimes Farm and Conservation Center, with hiking and biking trails, an observation tower known as Mildred’s Tower and a preserve with wetlands and prairies. With so much nature available, geocaching is a popular activity, along with trail and bike runs.
More teambuilding activities can be found at the Iowa Valley Adventures Challenge Course, which features a 50-foot Alpine rope tower as the centerpiece of problem-solving and leadership training exercises. The area also offers six golf courses, perfect for conference-based tournaments.
Newton
Just 30 miles from Des Moines is the town of Newton. The town has its own Arboretum and Botanical Gardens with 1,220 square feet of meeting space, along with trails, a butterfly garden and a water garden. Another outdoor option is the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, a 700-acre sanctuary where attendees can spot bison, elk and other wildlife. The facility offers environmental education programs, along with 1,300 square feet of meeting space, a movie theater and a bookstore.
Pella
Best known for its Dutch heritage and Tulip Time, a festival held during the amazing tulip blooming season in spring, Pella also has group activities throughout the rest of the year. Planners can arrange for guided tours featuring the town’s rich European heritage and architecture, including the Klokkenspel, an animated musical clock on Franklin Street featuring four-foot-high figures dancing on the hour to the sounds of a 147-bell carillon. Also, Pella Historical Village and the Vermeer Mill are open for tours, and allow groups to catch a glimpse of life from pioneer days to the turn of the century.
Everything in Pella, including teambuilding activities, has an old-world flair. The Roberts Creek Archery Range is part of the 1,535-acre Roberts Creek Park, and features 56 targets. Pella also boasts the 14-mile Volksweg Trail, which follows the Des Moines River then heads through the North Overlook woods. At Lake Red Rock, groups can also arrange tours of the Red Rock Dam, followed by a hike along the Eagle Lair Loop below the dam, where many bald eagles feed and rest.
