Teambuilding activities in the Pacific Northwest include traditional options such as kayaking and ziplining, as well as those that are unique to the region, such as coffee tasting and glassblowing.
Following are myriad team-bonding ideas throughout Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Washington
Seattle-born Starbucks may be the standard-bearer in coffee, with stores on main streets all over the world, but only in Seattle can groups participate in a Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room experience, including coffee bean roasting, brewing, tastings and coffee/food pairing.
“Coffee is something most people enjoy but few know much about,” said Suzanne Albee, convention services manager for Visit Seattle.
An outing on Lake Union with The Electric Boat Company is another special experience here.
“Scavenger hunts and bingo games highlighting Seattle’s landscape and attractions can be done on board to create a fun, competitive event for larger groups,” Albee said.
According to Meagan McGuire, vice president of sales and services for the Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority, indoor skydiving at Tukwila-based iFLY offers customizable packages for a rare teambuilding experience, including hands-on personal assistance from a flight instructor and a fully equipped conference room.
“Indoor skydiving is an exhilarating experience that’s suitable for almost everyone, is safe and provides an awesome challenge,” she said
Located in Old Bellevue is Whisk, an independent retailer of kitchenware, bakeware and more, where groups can take a cooking class.
“They go far beyond just teaching a recipe from a cookbook,” said Sharon Linton, marketing and communications manager for Visit Bellevue Washington. “Each class provides valuable hands-on experience, providing an interactive and collaborative setting for corporate teambuilding.”
Groups can visit Area 253 Glassblowing to make a piece of hand-blown art when meeting in Tacoma, Dale Chihuly’s hometown.
“Teams learn what goes into planning and crafting hot glass and shaping it into museum-quality art forms,” said Matt Wakefield, communications manager for Travel Tacoma and Pierce County. “They’ll come away with a stunning one-of-a-kind memento to spruce up their office.”
In Olympia, groups can visit Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, home to 200 species of birds.
It’s a place where “river meets sea, herons leisurely stroll and the boardwalk goes on for miles,” according to Jeff Bowe, director of sales for Experience Olympia & Beyond. “Grab your binoculars and break into teams to see who can spot the most birds, the rarer the better, and snap a photo.”
Edmonds-based WhirIyBall Seattle specializes in corporate teambuilding that mingles aspects of basketball, hockey, jai alai and bumper cars.
“A local event planner stated that ‘all who participated were able to relax and just have fun while building a stronger team,’” said Ernest G. Matthews Jr., group sales manager at the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau. “You can eat, drink and play all in one venue.”
Vancouver, Wash.-based Couve Cycle, a pedal-powered, multi-person bike, offers a fun outing with visits to downtown’s best craft breweries, as well as history and coffee tours.
“With seats for up to 14 people, the team can build camaraderie and enjoy a light exercise,” said Jacob Schmidt, director of marketing and communications at Visit Vancouver USA. “An electric assist is an option for teams that would rather go light on the pedal power and enjoy a breezy ride.”
According to Barbara Marrett, communications manager for the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, groups can set out with one of the many knowledgeable sea kayaking outfitters on San Juan, Orcas or Lopez islands for a team-bonding adventure tour.
“It’s a chance for groups to get not just outside, but outside their comfort zones,” she said.
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An authentic experience for smaller groups meeting in Portland awaits them at ADX Portland, a collaborative “makerspace” where local creatives share knowledge and tools.
“Folks love the hands-on experiences,” said James Jessie, senior vice president of convention sales for Travel Portland. “The shop offers a nice range of classes from screen-printed wall art to custom furniture.”
Pips & Bounce is another sought-after space in Portland for an entertaining group outing.
“There’s something about ping-pong that feels universal, but it’s also a delightfully unexpected teambuilding activity,” Jessie said.
Spaces here include a nostalgia-rich basement Rec Room for groups of up to 30, and The Club, which has 10 ping-pong tables, two full bars and accommodates 225 people.
In Beaverton, groups can participate in coffee cuppings, in-depth roasting classes and latte art workshops.
“The Dapper & Wise Coffee Lab, which also happens to be a great meeting space, hosts classes for the coffee-curious,” said Jackie Hagan, marketing and communications manager for the Washington County Visitors Association.
Teambuilding opportunities in Lane County include building sandcastles at Florence-based Sand Master Park, the world’s first sandboarding park, and competing in an Iron Chef-inspired competition on the campus of Eugene’s Lane Community College.
“Teams use local ingredients and have a feast they can connect over at the end,” said Rebecca Adelman, marketing manager for Travel Lane County.
Nearby Salem is Monmouth-based Emerson Vineyards, where groups of all skill levels can take a yoga class taught in part by friendly and adorable goats.
“The goats’ antics will make everyone laugh out loud,” said Kara Kuh, public relations manager for Travel Salem. “It’s the best group therapy session, ending with wine tasting in a beautiful vineyard setting.”
The Big Eddy Thriller rafting experience with Bend’s Sun Country Tours is one of the iconic, must-do adventures in Central Oregon, according to Ted Taylor, content manager for the Central Oregon Visitors Association.
“It’s a relatively short, but exhilarating, rafting experience that tackles some Class III rapids on the wild and scenic Deschutes River,” he said. “An experienced guide leads the raft, but teamwork is needed to get everyone through the rapids safely.”
Also located in Central Oregon is Redmond-based Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, which is set on 320 acres of beautiful Oregon high-desert Juniper forest.
Here, according to Roxia Thornton Todoroff, the entertainment facility’s director of sales and marketing, meeting planners can arrange creative, problem-solving or active teambuilding activities, including geocaching, golf, mountain climbing, ropes courses, scavenger hunts, skiing and white-water rafting.
“Options are limited only by your imagination,” she said.
Idaho
Groups visiting Boise during summertime can organize a guided white-water rafting trip on the Payette River just outside of town, and any time of year can sign up for a cooking class at Basque Market, which is located just blocks from the Boise Centre.
“Groups can pick up some international cooking skills and learn more about their colleagues along the way,” said Carrie Westergard, executive director of the Boise CVB. “Boise happens to be home to one of the world’s largest concentrations of Basque people, making it an ideal place to learn how to make unique and savory dishes like paella.”
And in Coeur d’Alene is the 2017 entrant, Escape Game Coeur d’Alene, which has groups work together to break out of a closed room. It also offers ziplining with Timberline Adventures.
“This high-adrenaline, low-impact sport allows guests of all ages to travel through the forest of the great Pacific Northwest at speeds of over 50 mph,” said Todd Gillespie, director of sales and marketing at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.
Groups first take a short drive around scenic Lake Coeur d’Alene, which was named among the top five most beautiful lakes in the world by National Geographic, and then ride ATVs to the top of a rather tall mountain.
“From there, it’s an adrenaline rush from start to finish as the course get more challenging as you progress,” Gillespie said.
