Looking for some fall bonding activities? Here are three offerings for a variety of different groups.
In the Gym: Brooklyn Boulders, a new 18,000-square-foot climbing gym in Park Slope, Brooklyn, offers programs for corporate groups looking for an athletic approach to teambuilding. The gym has 30-foot grappling walls, a hanging stalactite for advanced climbers, a replica of the Brooklyn Bridge's archways for scaling, and graffiti walls by local artists. Teambuilding packages can be customized, but activities may include team climbing, where groups of four or five compete to see who can climb a wall the fastest, blindfolded climbing, where teammates guide each other, or non-climbing exercises like obstacle courses. Basic packages start at $1,500 for as many as 15 people and include four hours at the gym, branded T-shirts, and lunch.
On the Water: Atlantic Yachting offers a fleet of sailboats and instructors who can teach groups how to sail on guided excursions on the Hudson River. Teambuilding activities are usually three or four hours long, starting with a lesson on the basics of sailing. Once trained, participants divide into two or more teams to compete in a regatta or series of short races. The company, which is based on the Hudson in the Upper West Side, can accommodate four to 24 people. Prices start at $250 per boat per hour; beverages and catering are additional.
Behind the Bar: Astor Center's newest cocktail class, "The Bartender's Garden: Cocktails from the Greenmarket," teaches groups how to make drinks using seasonal ingredients. Instructor and general manager Jenn Smith provides some bartending basics such as the proper way to shake a cocktail, then leads the class in hands-on techniques like creating juices and infusions, or even pickled garnishes. Participants can then use the ingredients along with a large array of spirits and mixers to create their own signature drinks. Priced at $4,600 for up to 36 people, the package includes a half-hour reception with buffet-style food and sparking wine, a two-hour class, and a half-hour reception afterward.
