Here’s why team building in Washington DC is important: Great teams produce great work. By investing in your team’s well-being and happiness, you’re showing your employees that you appreciate the work they do and care about making an investment in job satisfaction and professional growth.
We’ve created a comprehensive list of the best team building activities in Washington DC, plus corporate events, company outing ideas, and more.
Our list highlights the best team building activities, corporate event ideas, team outings, and team bonding ideas in Washington DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Fairfax, Frederick, Gaithersburg, and Reston.
1. Museum Hack
Museum Hack is definitely the most fun you’ll ever have in a museum (and probably at a company team building event, too!)
Museum Hack’s corporate team building activities are full of the following:
- interesting facts shared by world-class facilitators
- sassy behind-the-scenes stories
- epic photo challenges
- interactive activities for maximum team bonding
In addition to renegade team building tours, Museum Hack also offers escape rooms and custom scavenger hunts in the museum. The best part about Museum Hack’s company team building activities is that the facilitators can totally customize the tour to match your company’s industry, mission, and core values. Your guide can talk about extraordinary levels of service in the Roman Empire, ancient health care, tech innovations, and more! Experience the best museums in Washington DC like you’ve never experienced any museum before while building lasting relationships with your coworkers.
Learn more about Museum Hack.
2. The Great Guac Off
The Great Guac Off™ is part guacamole making competition and part team building, all wrapped up into one awesome corporate event. While it may sound a little unusual, trust us: The Great Guac Off is one of Washington DC’s best team building activities.
Here is what you can expect:
- 90 minutes with world-class hosts
- premium guacamole ingredients and chips
- avocado-themed trivia and mini-games
- a fast-paced guacamole-making contest
Every Guac Off is challenging, fun, and collaborative, with friendly competition and lots of team bonding. The Great Guac Off can be hosted at the official DC Guac Off location, at your office, or at a nearby venue of your choice. This is a great team building activity for small and big groups, as there are no minimum or maximum team sizes.
Learn more about The Great Guac Off.
3. Gingerbread Games
Gingerbread Games is the company holiday party to end all company holiday parties. Your team members will compete head to head in holiday trivia and other small challenges before facing off in the grand finale: an epic gingerbread house-building competition!
Gingerbread Games features the following:
- 90 minutes with amazing elf facilitators
- Holiday Trivia, Snowman Hustle, and Gingerbread Self-Portraits
- a high-energy gingerbread house-making contest
The atmosphere will be festive and merry, prizes will be awarded, and gingerbread houses will be eaten. To add maximum merriment to your company event, you have the option to include snacks, cookies, professional photographers, and/or BYOB. This team outing can be hosted at your office, the location of your choice, or at one of Gingerbread Games’ locations around Washington DC.
Learn more about Gingerbread Games.
4. The National Bonsai Foundation
The National Bonsai Foundation is all about celebrating protecting the ancient art of bonsai. The foundation wants folks to understand and love these tiny trees and their cultural importance. The foundation takes care of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, which has a great collection of these small trees. These bonsai come from Japan, China, and North America. Visitors can see a huge range of plants, such as white pine, maple, and beech. One of the bonsai even survived Hiroshima! The museum teaches visitors about bonsai through programs and exhibits so more folks can appreciate this special tradition.
The museum also has a large collection of viewing stones, which are meant to look like natural landscapes. These viewing stones come from over 105 different countries, making this collection a diverse display. To see some of these unique and ancient artworks in person, be sure to stop by!
Learn more about The National Bonsai Foundation.
5. East Potomac Golf Links
East Potomac Golf Links offers diverse golfing experiences, featuring two nine-hole courses , one 18-hole course, and three practice holes. Additionally, East Potomac offers a two-story, 100-stall driving range. The driving range has Toptracer Range technology, making it an ideal spot for year-round practice. The facility also houses a free putting green spanning over 18,000 square feet.
Teams can also check out the oldest continually operating miniature golf course in the country! Further, East Potomac offers the exciting sport of FootGolf, a fusion of golf and soccer. When teams get hungry, they can snag a quick bite at the Food Trailer or sit down at The Potomac Grille. Consider stopping by for an afternoon of fun!
Learn more about East Potomac Golf Links.
6. Sip & Develop
Sip & Develop is a unique twist on a traditional paint-and-sip experience! This venue combines cocktail hour with simple film developing instructions. Best of all, you do not need any film developing experience. The firm entertains and guides you step-by-step through the process of developing photos.
Whether you want to take your own pictures or have in-house professionals do it for you, Sip & Develop offers a range of options. Teams can choose from various activities, including mini-photo shoot and develop, single studio portrait, and expert darkroom developer. The studio also hosts private events, making it a great venue for memorable parties. This activity is perfect for friends, family, or coworkers!
Learn more about Sip & Develop.
7. Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns is one of the largest caverns in the eastern US. Visitors can explore castle-sized rooms with huge stone formations. At over ten stories high and four million years old, these caverns are an amazing sight. Teams can go on guided tours along lighted cavern pathways.
Luray Caverns also provides a variety of above-ground attractions that are included with each admission ticket. For instance, teams can check out the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum, Shenandoah Heritage Village, and Toy Town Junction. Teams can also explore The Garden Maze and the Rope Adventure Park.
Further, the caverns host special events, such as the Shriners Caroling in the Caverns. Luray Caverns helps visitors explore both below ground and above.
Learn more about Luray Caverns.
8. Clay Cafe
Clay Cafe offers creative activities that are great for all skill levels. Teams can check out paint-your-own pottery, pottery wheel classes, and diverse art classes. The paint-your-own pottery option lets you paint already-made ceramics, and it includes paints, hand-dipped glazing, and firing. Pottery wheel and clay courses last 75 minutes, and most visitors create one to two pieces. Hand-building classes provide a relaxing sculpting experience, and guests will make unique creations such as vases and bowls. The studio also offers hourly studio time for experienced potters. Teams can even book private wheel birthday parties for special celebrations!
Learn more about Clay Cafe.
9. The Fresh Food Factory
The Fresh Food Factory combines a market and an eatery. The space uses local and sustainable ingredients to make fresh and high-quality food. You can find fresh produce and artisanal goods in the market. To help support the local community, FFF offers local and organic goods at affordable prices. Further, FFF offers training in nutrition, food safety, and cooking. Then, folks can head over to the eatery to enjoy chef-inspired dishes. If companies are hosting events, then FFF can even cater! This market is a great spot in Washington, DC, for a tasty and fresh dining experience.
Learn more about The Fresh Food Factory.
10. The National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum
NIHF teaches guests about inventors and innovation. The museum shares influential inventors’ history, inspiring future innovators. Exhibits cover various themes like “Women in Innovation” and “Champions of Innovation,” showcasing innovations from cars to trademarks. NIHF also offers professional development workshops for STEM teachers to foster innovation in students. Students can also check out learning opportunities for students from pre-K to college. Overall, the NIHF promotes intellectual property, technology advancements, and education.
Learn more about The National Inventors Hall of Fame.
11. ARTECHOUSE
ARTECHOUSE combines art, science, and technology to create fun and innovative experiences. Established in 2015, the space has become a leader in digital and experiential art. ARTECHOUSE supports artists like Refik Anadol and Daito Manabe. ARTECHOUSE has created over 30 exhibits and had 1.7 million visitors. The current exhibition, Beyond the Light, partners with NASA to explore the universe. Visitors can check out entire rooms decorated like galaxies. Future exhibits will explore AI as well as poetry. For a unique experience, be sure to visit!
Learn more about ARTECHOUSE.
12. Host A Meetup
Meetup events are a great way to not only bring your team together but also to promote your brand and show your community how much you appreciate it. Planning a meetup isn’t as hard or daunting as it may seem. It’s as simple as: 1) Choosing a location. It could be anywhere you like, like your office/store, a local park, a cafe, or a bar. 2) Planning a few engaging activities like a small scavenger hunt, a photo challenge, or Human Bingo game attendees should complete during the event. Invite not only your team but also your customers, vendors, suppliers, and local community for maximum impact. A meetup is an effective DIY team building activity that can be as relaxed or involved as you choose.
Check out some of these meeting and event venues for inspiration.
13. EKGameTime
Teams who play together, stay together, and EKGameTime is all about play! EKGameTime is a mobile company that provides different gaming options for company team building activities in Washington DC. Games promote strategic thinking in a fun and relaxed environment. All skill levels can play any of the top fun activities for employees (laser tag, bubble soccer, archery, and tag). Depending on the activity and number of participants, EKGameTime will need anywhere from a half basketball court-sized area up to an entire football field to set up the activity. EKGameTime can set up in either an outdoor or indoor space.
Learn more about EKGameTime.
14. Common Good City Farm
If your team is passionate about local food and sustainability, then you’ll want to check out Common Good City Farm. Common Good City Farm is an awesome organization in Washington DC that gives teams the opportunity to volunteer during the growing season. As volunteers, your team will participate in tasks such as planting, harvesting, weeding, composting, etc. You’ll also learn and have meaningful discussions about sustainable agriculture and the food system. In addition to being a great way to bond with your team outside the office, partnering with Common Good City Farm is a meaningful way to contribute towards urban agriculture and healthy food access in Washington DC. This corporate event is best for small teams as throughout the season (March – November), Common Good City Farms hosts volunteer groups of up to 15 people for two-to-three hour sessions.
Learn more about Common Good City Farm.
15. US National Arboretum
If you are looking for more alternative and DIY fun corporate events, then look no further than your local state parks and hiking trails. The US National Arboretum, located in Northeast Washington, DC, is a great place to start. With 446 acres and almost ten miles of winding paths, there is plenty to explore! Make sure to check out the following must-see locations within the US National Arboretum while you’re there with your team: the Asian Collections, the National Capitol Columns (one of DC’s most notable and unusual landmarks), and the National Herb Garden.
Learn more about the US National Arboretum.
16. Escape Room Live
Escape rooms offer teams the unique opportunity to rapidly improve leadership skills, outside-the-box thinking, and group problem-solving skills, all while having a good time. Escape Room Live in Washington DC is home to immersive and fun corporate events. Escape rooms bring everyone together because, let’s face it, you definitely can’t escape in time alone. Escape Room Live has four team building escape rooms for your group to choose from to achieve team bonding, including Pirates Curse, Curse of the Mummy, Titanic, and The Cabin.
Learn more about Escape Room Live.
17. Scavenger Hunt DC
Scavenger Hunt DC designs and hosts company team building activities in Washington DC. While the company’s name suggests a specialization in team building scavenger hunts, Scavenger Hunt DC also hosts a variety of different corporate events, from simple team building activities to full-on strategic operations. All of the company events are focused on fun activities for employees designed to improve communication, collaboration, and leadership skills. Scavenger Hunt DC uses mobile technology to display real-time scores during the games, which adds a competitive edge to these corporate events.
Learn more about Scavenger Hunt DC.
18. District Winery
District Winery offers a few different corporate event packages, each of which will enhance your next team outing. Did you know that in order to fine-tune a wine, many wineries mix different wine varieties together? The Blending Session company event package offers an inside look at this interesting process. You can also choose “Wine Games” to drink good wine, play trivia, and enjoy a blind wine taste test and label-making competition. Or, go with District Winery’s True Wine Detective competition, which challenges participants to ID wines via sight, smell, and taste alone. Find out more about District Winery’s Washington DC team building activities on the company website listed below.
Learn more about District Winery.
19. River and Trail Outfitters
River and Trail Outfitters offers team building activities for companies in the Baltimore, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia area. The company team building activities can be customized to your team’s needs and desired level of physical activity. River and Trail Outfitters has programs that range from low impact like bicycling to more difficult challenges that take place on the rock climbing wall and adventurous whitewater rafting. Half day and full eight-hour programs are available. Because River and Trail Outfitters offers extensive and long tours, catering options are available. Various corporate team building activities packages include a Bike Scavenger Tour, Team Rafting Challenge, Surf and Turf, and Team Adventure + Picnic.
Learn more about River and Trail Outfitters.
Choose the right team building activities in Washington DC for maximum impact on your team’s satisfaction.
Did you find any Washington DC team building activities and company outing ideas that your team will enjoy?
We definitely hope you did. On the off chance you’ve read this list and still need some help, don’t hesitate to drop us a line! We’re always happy to help find great team outings in DC.
Remember that, when done right, company team building activities will result in stronger teams with improved communication and collaboration skills. Let’s start planning your team’s awesome corporate event in the Washington DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Fairfax, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Reston area ASAP.
