3 Team Building Games for Bonding and Friendly Competition

There’s nothing wrong with a little healthy competition, try some of these team-building activities in San Francisco for some fun team bonding. Add some heat to a corporate hang-out or team exercise with a creative class that will spark some friendly rivalry. These classes and team-building game ideas are fueled with positive energy and creativity, so they will only bring out the best in your team. 

From cocktail making classes and cooking workshops to getting crafty with some terrarium building classes, we offer a variety of unusual team building activities! With these games, your team members will put aside their individual roles, and work together or alongside one another on the same creative project. Showing support for your coworkers outside of the office makes it easier to bring the same attitude back into your workplace. Your team will get to know each other’s strengths a little better which will make them more invested in the company's overall success! With these fun group games, you don’t need to worry about boring or awkward ice breakers. The activity will lend itself to easy conversation and engaging entertainment. 

The friendly competition will also allow your team to release some stress from a busy week. It’s important to show your team how much you appreciate their hard work. A simple and fun way to give gratitude is by treating them to one of these Bay Area experiences. Instead of another cocktail hour or pizza party, try one of these three team bonding games, alongside these Bay Area activities, for a memorable experience with your coworkers.

Spice up the competition with cooking classes

Turn your cooking class into an episode of your favorite cooking show. Cooking classes provide a wonderful opportunity for competition. From Thai cooking and Indian cuisine to making pasta from scratch and sushi making, there are many cooking classes to choose from to suit everyone on your team. Try a pizza making class and go head to head over the ideal pizza toppings. Discuss whether or not pineapple should go on pizza over a glass of wine while you wait for the moment of truth when the oven door swings open.

If you’re hoping for something a little sweeter, get your bake-off on with baking classes in the Bay Area. Make some showstopping cupcakes after learning some basic cake decorating skills from a pastry chef. For the technical challenge see if you can make a batch of identical macarons. 

You can even split up into teams and work together to create a delicious meal. In this format, your team members will be able to practice skills that will translate to the workplace such as team work, leadership, open mindedness, communication, and more! With a low stakes competition, such as cooking, your team can practice their skills and learn more about their strengths and weaknesses. By the end of the night, you’ll want to challenge the other team to a rematch regardless if you won or lost! And don’t forget, you’ll get to enjoy a delicious home cooked meal to smooth over the rivalry and have new recipes to take home with you! 

Try game night with craft cocktails 

You want your team building activities to stand out over regular after-work drinks. Instead of just meeting up at the local bar, learn how to make cocktails and throw in some classic games. Start with a cocktail-making class in the Bay Area. Use the cocktail-making class as an easy ice breaker. By the time you sit down for drinks, you’ll already have some conversation starters. This is a fun spin on a work happy hour, as you get to share a unique experience with your coworkers and learn something new. 

Cocktail making can be a creative competition in itself, you can find out who’s the best bartender in the bunch. You’ll have expert guidance from a local bartender who will make sure everyone is sipping on something delicious. You’ll learn how to pair liquor with your favorite flavors and learn unique cocktail recipes you can recreate at home. 

Once your craft cocktails are assembled, break out the games to keep the conversation flowing. Try a game of trivia, this will allow you to break off into teams and work together to come up with the best answers. Learn more about your coworkers and find out what their interests are through the trivia categories where they shine. Or make some room and play a few rounds of charades. You can’t go wrong with this party classic. And with a handcrafted drink in hand, there’s no doubt your team will have a good time!

Show off your creativity with DIY terrariums 

Terrarium building is a no-skills-necessary DIY craft, so you and your coworkers will all be starting at the same skill level. With terrariums, you can let your creativity stand out. You are the architect of your miniature garden. In terrarium classes in the Bay Area, you will choose the plants, decor, and design to make your terrarium unique. Wouldn’t you want to be recognized for your originality and hard work? Add some prizes to the mix, to make it more interesting. Award the most colorful, the most zen, the one with the funkiest plants, and more! This is a fun way to acknowledge your teammates and point out their positive qualities. Everyone is a winner in this contest, but they’ll appreciate the recognition of their individual personality.

Terrarium building is also a relaxing craft. So while you’re adding character to your plantscape, you’re taking care of your mental wellbeing. This is especially important to practice in the workplace, where burnout can be common. While you want to create a positive environment where your team can bond, you also want to allow them to recharge. A DIY class is an ideal opportunity to do both!

You’ll also be able to show off your creative terrariums on your desk, as a constant reminder of the experience. In addition, DIY terrariums will add some green to the office which will be a certain mood booster. And don’t worry, you won’t have to hire an in-office gardener, as your terrariums are made up of low-maintenance plants! Seeking even more cool classes for team building in the Bay Area? How about these suggestions?