Here is our list of the best online retreat ideas.
Online retreat ideas include fun activities, events, and games remote team members can engage in during a virtual getaway. These activities usually take place on platforms like Zoom, Slack, and WebEx. Examples include Online Retreat Bingo, Virtual Tours, and Music Bee. The purpose of these ideas is to help remote team members relax while facilitating communication and boosting remote workers’ morale.
These remote gatherings are examples of online events for virtual teams and remote staff engagement ideas and can be online celebrations for groups.
This list includes:
- online retreat activities
- games for online retreats
- online staff retreat ideas
- online retreat events
Let’s get started!
List of online retreat ideas
Online retreat ideas are fun experiences that can create a bonding experience for participants at virtual company gatherings. From Icebreaker Games to Virtual Coffee and Tea, here are the most fun ideas you can use for your next online retreat.
1. Unconference Session
An unconference session is like a meeting without an agenda. In this format, the team can choose what to talk about. Folks suggest topics, and then participants vote on which ones they want to discuss. Topics can be work related or personal, depending on the retreat’s goal. The most popular ideas become the focus of small group discussions. Optionally, you can set a timer for conversations so teams have a chance to discuss multiple topics. This meeting format is a great way for all members to have a say and share their thoughts on topics that matter to them.
2. Meme Olympics
The Meme Olympics is a competition where teams create funny and creative memes. To host this Olympics-style contest, create meme categories. For instance, members could make memes about industry standards or work-from-home life. Then, have teams create and submit memes in their chosen categories.
You can share the memes anonymously with the whole team and have a vote for the funniest. Participants can earn awards if they win the top meme in their category. Finally, have the winners from each section go into a head-to-head vote, and award a grand prize to the top meme maker. This activity brings a great sense of humor to your online retreat.
3. Online Retreat Bingo
Bingo is a universal favorite game for gatherings, including online retreats. In the game, all players get a Bingo card containing several prompts.
For instance:
You can create your own Bingo card and send a printable or clickable copy to each participant. The game’s objective is for players to mark the boards containing actions they once performed. Alternatively, you can play the mingle Bingo variation, where players chat to find who has a particular trait on their cards. The first player to fill all the boards wins. However, for an easier version, you can name the winner as the first person to fill the boards horizontally or vertically.
4. Remote Tai Chi
Tai chi is great exercise and can help members unwind during a retreat. To run a remote tai chi session, work with an instructor who is experienced in guiding sessions virtually. Alternatively, find a how-to video on YouTube the team can follow. To prepare, start the session with a brief warm-up of gentle stretches and centering exercises. The instructor should demonstrate basic tai chi movements, and participants can follow along at their own pace. Participants can enjoy the posture, breath, and relaxation of the practice. Finally, be sure to end with a cool-down and post-session discussion. Virtual tai chi is a serene and health-promoting activity.
5. Personal Development Lightning Talks
Personal development lightning talks are short, quick speeches where folks share useful and interesting ideas about self-improvement. Each speaker gets a short time to talk about a topic they are passionate about, like a skill they have learned or a helpful mindset.
For instance, speakers could talk for two minutes about daily mindfulness, building resilience, or time-management hacks. The talks are brief but impactful, aiming to inspire and motivate others to grow and learn. Guests can take notes during each speech, and you can hold a popcorn-style Q&A session after the whole team shares. This exercise is a great way to learn new tips and tricks for self-improvement.
6. Mindful Eating Session
Retreats are a great place to practice healthy habits, and one habit that is often overlooked is mindful eating. During a mindful eating session, you can work on this technique with your team. To run this activity, have folks join a virtual meeting with their favorite meal or snack. Participants can begin by taking a minute to appreciate the food’s colors, textures, and smells. Then, have participants take a bite, chew slowly, and pay attention to the flavors. You can also count the number of times you need to chew a bite of food. During the meal, briefly discuss the different sensations folks experience while eating. This mindful eating session is a chance to be present and appreciate a good meal.
7. Guided Meditation
Guided meditation is one of the best online staff retreat ideas. There is no required number of participants to attend a meditation session. First, decide who will guide you through the session. You can hire a trained facilitator or ask an experienced team member to lead your group.
In addition, you can look up a good meditation video on YouTube and follow the instructions with your group. A meditation session can come in different forms, such as yoga, sound meditation, and focused breathing. In the end, you and your colleagues can talk about the session and how you feel afterward.
You can also use online tools to help you unwind, like The Zen Zone.
8. Online Icebreaker Games
During online retreat events, you cannot go wrong with icebreaker games. These games help players relax and bond and lighten up the atmosphere during your retreat.
For instance:
- Never have I ever: In this game, players raise their hands while the host calls out several actions. You must bring down a finger for any action you have experienced. The first player to bring down all fingers wins.
- Would you rather: Would you rather is a zero-point game where players choose what they will do between two actions or circumstances.
- Two truths and one lie: A player will make three statements. Two of these statements are true, while one is a lie. Then other players will take turns guessing the true and false statements.
- Truth or dare: First, a player will choose truth or dare. If the player chooses “truth,” then that player must answer any question asked. But if the player picks “dare,” then the player must do any given command.
Starting your retreat with an icebreaker game is sure to boost engagement and get attendees to loosen up for the rest of the event.
Here are tips to running good online icebreakers.
9. Virtual Tours
Taking a virtual tour is a relaxing way to enjoy your online retreat. You can tour many places, from haunted houses to zoos and museums. You can also explore a particular city without leaving your home. If you have a remote team in different cities, then you can ask a team member to volunteer as a tour guide. Then the guide will take the tour team around their city in real-time or through a pre-recorded video. Alternatively, you can use the service of a local guide who is an expert in leading virtual tours.
After deciding the location to tour, make reservations, sit back and enjoy the experience with your group. Depending on the service you book, you can also ask the guide questions during and after the tour. When the tour ends, you and your group members can further extend the fun by discussing your favorite parts of the experience.
For inspiration, here are online field trip ideas.
10. Virtual Keynote Speaker
Inviting a keynote speaker to address your staff is one of the best online retreat ideas. A virtual keynote speaker is an expert who specializes in delivering motivational and entertaining speeches during online events. Based on your preference, you can invite a famous author, leader, or motivational speaker to inspire and re-energize your group.
In most cases, these speakers have an area of specialization, such as engaging storytelling, digital marketing, and trust and relationship building. You can find a speaker by searching for TED talks on the topics you would love to focus on during your retreat. Hiring a virtual keynote speaker can increase participation and attendance during your gathering. Plus, your team members will have a chance to ask questions and interact with the speaker.
11. Online Book Club
Reading a book is one of the best ways to enjoy a retreat and relax. Therefore, you can host an online book club as a part of your team retreat. You can choose an easy-to-read book with fewer pages. This idea will encourage all participants to read the book before the meeting. As a bonus, you can invite an author to your virtual retreat to share a talk with your colleagues.
Also, you can do creative activities during your book club retreat to boost engagement. For instance, members can take turns acting out a scene in books. Then, other members will try to guess the book title and the character. You can set aside a prize for members who can guess correctly.
12. Virtual Campfire
A virtual campfire is one of the best online staff retreat ideas. You and your colleagues can build good relationships and create beautiful memories around a virtual fire. To enhance your experience, you can use a backdrop of a campfire scene. On the other hand, you can ask guests to light candles or use their phones’ flashlights.
Virtual campfires are almost incomplete without stories. Therefore, you can take this experience as an opportunity to sharpen your group’s storytelling skills. You can run the event as a BYOB or send guests a snack and drink box. Also, you can do fun icebreakers, especially at the start of the campfire. This activity will help guests feel more comfortable and boost engagement during the experience. A virtual campfire is a truly unique retreat idea where attendees can build friendships and have a great time.
13. Online Music Concert
If your colleagues are big fans of music, then you cannot go wrong with an online music concert. During this experience, attendees will have a lot of fun singing along to their favorite songs.
You can hire a musician to entertain your group privately or buy tickets for an online concert open to the public. If possible, then you can reserve a VIP service for your group. The service can include a virtual meet and greet, a question and answer session, and shout-outs. Your guests will have a lot of fun chatting with the musician before or after the show. You can also let attendees request their favorite songs from the performer.
14. Paint and Sip
A virtual paint and sip is one of the most fun online retreat ideas. This activity offers a relaxing and creativity-boosting experience for attendees. You can ask your teammates to come along with their painting supplies and favorite beverages. Also, you can curate a painting gift box and send the package to each participant.
First, partner with a painting studio. Then, select a picture to paint. During the session, take breaks to chat with members and let the painting dry. A quick icebreaker like never have I ever, this or that, and guess who will be great during the break. In the end, you and your friends can show off your work and discuss your experience.
15. Cooking and Baking Classes
During your retreat, you can treat your staff to a fun online cooking or baking class. Alongside having a great time, these classes can also let attendees learn a new skill. If your team prefers not to get hands-on during the session, then you can organize a cooking or baking demonstration instead.
You can partner with a local chef to show a virtual demo of preparing a particular meal or baked goodies. However, if you would rather participate in the cooking, then you should prepare the essentials ahead of time. You will need to set aside the required ingredients and tools. If you are using the service of an online cooking school, then you will get a list of all you need. Also, decide if you want to share the experience with other attendees or your group alone. Then, at the end of the class, you and your group members can show off your delicious meals and dine together.
16. Virtual Coffee and Tea
Virtual coffee and tea is among the best online retreat activities. You and your colleagues can relax and chat over your favorite coffee blend or tea. Be sure to use a video conferencing tool to see your colleagues. You can run the experience as a BYOB or send attendees kits with coffee beans or tea bags. You should instruct attendees ahead of time to come along with their favorite beverages and snacks.
Alongside coffee blends and tea bags, you can also include items like scented candles, thermos bottles, and mugs. During your virtual coffee session, you and other attendees can share small talk that is not necessarily related to work. You can also play fun icebreaker games like this or that coffee and tea edition, would you rather, and never have I ever.
17. Online Mixology Classes
Booking an online mixology class is a great way to impress your colleagues during an online retreat. You will find many online services that specialize in providing virtual cocktail classes. Also, you can have cocktail kits shipped to your colleagues’ respective addresses.
During the session, you will have a lot of fun learning the techniques for mixing a balanced cocktail. You can also learn about the history of cocktails, how to use bartending tools, and the best bites to pair with your drink. A cocktail class can also run as a BYO ingredient, depending on your team’s preference. Once the session ends, you and your colleagues will have enough time to chat while sipping your custom drinks.
Not to mention, this activity transitions well into an online retreat happy hour.
18. Music Bee
Music Bee is one of the most fun online retreat games, especially if your group members are music fans. In this game, players will try to guess the complete lyrics of a song. First, the host will sing or play a particular song and skip a few words. Then, the players will try to guess the song’s title and the missing lyrics.
Another way to play this game is by giving players clues rather than singing. In this variation, you need to write out a list of keywords or clues that hints at a particular song. Then, players will take turns guessing the title of the song. The first person to make a correct guess wins. You can also award extra points if a player can guess the artist, the songwriter, and even the album.
19. Families and Pets Meet and Greet
You can add a lot of delight to your retreat by planning a meet-and-greet session with your colleagues’ families and pets. This experience will allow your group members to bond while learning more about one another on a personal level.
At the start of the event, families can take turns introducing themselves. Each family can attend the gathering using the same device. However, if your group member’s family resides in a different location, then consider sending an invite link to their family members. Also, plan for family-friendly games like Bingo, freeze dance, or scavenger hunts. You can host the session as a casual dinner, where attendees dine and chat with one another. Also, you can create a virtual photo booth for all attendees to take pictures afterward.
20. Virtual Happy Hour
A virtual happy hour is perfect for unwinding and relaxing with your friends. You can add a theme to the experience and encourage attendees to come dressed in costumes. Also, arrange for entertainment to keep the experience fun for guests. You can do icebreakers, tell jokes, or chat while sipping your favorite beverages. You can also invite a virtual entertainer like a musician, a comedian, or your group’s favorite celebrity.
Be sure to cover beverages and snacks for your attendees. You can check if the law allows shipping alcohol to your guests’ locations. If not, then you can send a beverage allowance to cover the cost. Furthermore, you would want to schedule the event at the right time. You can create a poll for attendees to vote on the most convenient time for the gathering.
Conclusion
Online retreats are a great way to bring remote teams together for fun and focused team bonding. You can do fun activities during the retreat, attend workshops or classes, and even tour a city without leaving your homes. An online retreat can take place on platforms like Microsoft Teams, WebEx, Slack, and Zoom. Also, you can book the experiences online or find creative ways to do the activities for free. Regardless of how you choose to have the experience, you cannot underestimate the power of a retreat to boost your team’s morale, break work monotony, and build strong relationships.
Browse these Zoom meeting ideas next.
