Why outdoors is different

Outdoor team building works best in three situations.

When you want people to get to know each other better. Outdoors, people are less guarded. That makes getting to know one another go deeper than a standard drinks reception in a meeting room. New teams, mergers, teams that have worked together for a long time but feel little connection: being outside takes the barriers away.

When you want to break through stalled communication. A team that keeps having the same discussions in the same meeting room sometimes needs a different context. The outdoor space forces different conversations. The space, the light, the movement: that changes how people interact with each other.

When you want to lift energy and motivation. A day in nature works differently from a day in a hall. Your people go home fresher, and the effect lasts longer than an inspiring speaker in a darkened hall. Organising outdoor team building is investing in how your team performs for the rest of the quarter.

The location is a means, not the end. A good outdoor programme has a rhythm. It starts with energy and movement, so people warm up and wake up. Then a moment of working together, something where you depend on one another. Then space for informal conversation, because that's where the real connection lives.

Good outdoor team-building activities:

• Orienteering games across a large site
• Building challenges with materials you find around you
• An outdoor cookery workshop on a country estate
• A walking route with tasks that leads the team through a city or landscape

All of these get people moving and talking at the same time.

Avoid activities that would work just as well indoors, such as a quiz that could have happened in a meeting room: you lose the benefit of being outside. Being outdoors should add something to the format, not just be the backdrop to the activity.

Outdoor team building works at three kinds of location.

Nature and country estates are the best choice when you want calm and connection. The Veluwe, the Achterhoek, the Zeeland coast, the North Holland dunes: all strong for outdoor programmes. Always provide an indoor space as a plan B in case of rain.

Urban outdoor spaces (a park, a city harbour or a neighbourhood as a playing field) work well for a sporting or creative team-building session. Short and sharp. The energy of a city makes people sharper and more alert.

Your own grounds or company location work if you don't want to lose time to travel. The garden, the car park or an adjoining park as the stage. Less remarkable, but logistically simple and accessible for everyone. Bonus tax benefit: WKR-friendly.

Always tie your choice of location to the aim. People who need to build trust in each other need a calmer environment than a team that needs energy and drive. More on a strong team day →

An outdoor team-building day costs around €150 to €300+ per person ex VAT for 250 to 500 guests. For 500 to 1,000 guests, count on around €125 to €350+ per person. All figures exclude VAT and include venue, catering, activities and production.

The exact budget depends on the type, the location and the programme. The figures above show the breadth for an average event.

An outdoor team-building day that truly works asks for good programme design. Not loose activities sitting next to each other, but a day with a story. People challenged at the right moment. The informal space actually given space.

We are an agency that combines concept and delivery. We build the programme, supply facilitators, sort the venue and arrange a plan B if it rains. There is one point of contact, one quote and no surprises afterwards.

We know the venues. We know the formats that work. And we know when a team needs a moment of doing nothing at all. Because sometimes giving space is the best outdoor team building you can organise.

Plan a conversation with Live Impact. We ask three questions: who are your people, what's going on, and what should the day deliver? Then we build an outdoor team-building programme that truly works.

Call us on 085 401 40 14 or email hello@live-impact.nl.

Seriously fun.