Looking to get a corporate group out of the office and interacting? Here are 10 new group activities for that can work for teambuilding, meeting breaks, incentives, and other kinds of corporate outings.
1. Watson Adventures' new "Murder in Old Boston" scavenger hunt crawls along the Freedom Trail and throughout Old Boston. Groups with as many as 60 guests search for clues in the whodunit-style murder mystery. Each hunt lasts two and a half hours, and pricing starts at $1,300 for 15 guests.
2. Cornhole, a casual game, has participants aiming to throw a beanbag through holes in a board. Boston Cornhole arranges group tournaments in a location of the host's choosing; the two- to three-hour activity can take place indoors or outdoors. Pricing starts at $200 for three game sets, and the activity typically accommodates around 40 guests. For more than 40 guests, additional game sets are $25 apiece.
3. Charles River Canoe and Kayak hosts sunset kayaking tours for groups of 50 or more. Departing from Kendall Square, the leisurely activity costs $55 a head and lasts for two hours. Participants are divided into teams of two and paddle double kayaks during the journey.
4. American Outback Adventures and Events has a new teambuilding challenge inspired by the TV show Cake Boss. Catering to groups of any size, the activity sees guests dividing into teams to design and decorate their own cakes, which are prebaked. Teams are given a limited amount of time to complete the sugary decorating, and the confections go before a panel of judges at the conclusion of the day. Staffers bring along all required materials, professional bakers are on hand to assist, and the activity can take place in spaces ranging from boardrooms to event spaces. Pricing ranges from $95 to $175 per guest.
5. Mobsters and Lobsters is a new Mafia-themed trolley tour that takes groups through the North End. Each trolley can accommodate 40 guests, and planners can employ two vehicles per outing. After the tour, which includes facts about Boston's Mob-related past, groups gather for a wine tasting and lobster dinner at Venezia's Waterfront Restaurant. The tour and dinner combined last about two and a half hours, and the fee is $89 per person.
6. The Action Kitchen at the Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center is a 2,000-square-foot demo kitchen. The space hosts culinary teambuilding activities including the Creative Cook-Off. During the activity, groups of 10 to 50 divide into teams. Each team gets an identical market basket filled with seasonal ingredients. Professional chefs guide each group in cooking items ranging from spiced tomato tarts to sweet corn and red pepper chowder. Some teams get special awards in categories such as flavor and creativity. Pricing ranges from $110 to $155 per guest.
7. MIT Endicott House is a French Tudor-style mansion owned by the Cambridge institution. The elegant venue hosts monthly themed dinners. An upcoming dinner on October 21 will pair seasonal menu items with sips from Blue Hills Brewery. Selections include pumpkin soup paired with pumpkin lager and beef short ribs braised with Oktoberfest lager and served with the hearty beer. The dinners are $65 per guest.
8. Drink & Hunt is a new activity that combines technology with elements of a scavenger hunt and a pub crawl. Using Web-enabled phones, teams of 10 solve clues that lead them to the next watering hole. The crawl typically takes guests to five different venues and can have themes ranging from "Freedom Trail" to "Irish pubs." Packages for private groups include trivia games, an official scorer, and food discounts at each stop. Drink & Hunt staffers can also arrange for custom T-shirts and hats with corporate or team logos. Pricing ranges from $30 to $47 a head, and the tours can accommodate six teams at at time.
9. Taranta restaurant's Cooking Challenge involves a scavenger hunt around the markets of the North End. Restaurant reps give teams hints that direct them to particular items in each market, and staffers at the shop are on hand to assist. After they've completed the shopping mission, guests return to the restaurant and prepare a traditional Italian dinner. The activity can accommodate 15 to 25 guests; groups of 30 to 40 can be divided into teams. One team shops, and the other prepares the meal. Pricing begins at $130.
10. Entertainment Cruises now offers custom games for groups of 30 to 600 guests. Held aboard one of the the company's vessels, the game options include "Survey Says." In a space modeled to resemble a game show set, replete with sound effects and props, questions about co-workers are projected onto a large screen. Teams, each with five to 10 contestants, compete to show how well they know their colleagues. The outings can include dinner. Pricing begins at $50 per head.
