Top 10 Outdoor Activities for Team Building in Charleston

With the snow days behind us and warmer weather returning, it's no surprise your team is eager to get outside. Even if they managed to enjoy a quick snowball fight or brisk walk during the colder months, much of their time has likely been spent cooped up indoors.

Now is the perfect opportunity to shift gears and plan an outdoor adventure that brings your team together while reaping the benefits of sunshine, fresh air, and collaboration.

Spring and summer are ideal seasons for outdoor team-building activities in Charleston. Whether you're planning something fun and lighthearted or an experience focused on building deeper connections and trust, there are countless options to fit your goals.

There are 4 categories we divide team building into:

1. Informing - Focuses on sharing updates, brainstorming ideas, and providing clear direction. Includes activities like meetings and quarterly "State of the Union" addresses, where leaders communicate vital information and lay out the blueprint for business operations. Often one-directional, these sessions can take various formats, whether in person, via email, or through video, ensuring teams stay informed and equipped for success.
2. Building - Through activities like training sessions and skill building workshops, this category emphasizes reflection, debriefing, and continuous improvement. Designed to add "bricks" to your team's foundation, Building activities are typically conducted once per quarter and are never purely instructional, ensuring a balanced and engaging experience for all participants.
3. Bonding - These activities are intentionally designed with structure and purpose to build trust and strengthen the "mortar" that holds your team's foundation together. Focusing on laughter and shared experiences, Bonding activities are often held monthly and can be purely focused on creating meaningful relationships, ensuring your team grows closer and more cohesive.
4. Entertainment - Designed to encourage laughter, fun, and stress relief, Entertainment activities create positive emotional experiences for your team. With less structure and an emphasis on enjoyment, these activities bring energy and excitement to the group. Held quarterly, Entertainment events can be purely for fun, allowing your team to unwind, recharge, and build a sense of joy and connection in a relaxed, engaging environment.

These four categories of team building, Informing, Building, Bonding, and Entertainment, are powerful tools that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your team. They are NOT mutually exclusive. Feel free to mix and match to create a well-rounded experience.

For example, combining education and fun, like in edutainment, ensures activities are fun, engaging, and purposeful. By intentionally aligning the focus of each activity with your team's goals, you can create meaningful opportunities for growth, connection, and motivation.

When team building is done with creativity and intention, it becomes an investment in your people that pays dividends in culture, engagement, and performance.

In the lowcountry, we're lucky to have a wide rage of outdoor activities that can check one, or all, of these boxes.

Here are the 10 best outdoor team building activities in Charleston that you can explore:

1. Scavenger Hunt - Explore Charleston while working together to solve riddles, complete challenges, and stretch comfort zones. Scavenger hunts combine edutainment with light physical activity, offering something for everyone. Click here to learn more about our most popular team building activity, the Holy City Wanderer.
2. Kayaking Tours - Looking for a relaxed bonding experience? Take your team on a guided kayak tour through Historic Shem Creek or other scenic Lowcountry waterways. A naturalist guide will lead the way, sharing fascinating insights about the area. For a more intimate and unstructured adventure, you can also rent kayaks and explore at your own pace.
3. Combat Archery - Channel your inner Katniss Everdeen with this high energy activity! Combat archery is the perfect way to build stronger relationships, trust, and camaraderie while doing something fun and out of the box. Far from the typical and often uninspired team building activities, Combat Archery combines the intensity of paintball with the classic strategy of dodgeball. This high-energy experience is designed to break down barriers, spark creativity, and encourage collaboration, all while providing an epic adrenaline rush.
4. Beach Olympics - Combine sun, sand, and friendly competition with a Beach Olympics event. Activities like tug-of-war, relay races, and sandcastle building bring out the best in teamwork and creativity.
5. Paddleboarding Adventures - Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is great for groups who want to try something different while challenging their balance and coordination. Add a relay or SUP yoga session for even more fun.
6. Charleston Adventure Forest - This exciting option takes team building to the treetops! Adventure courses with ziplines and obstacle challenges allow teams to face their fears, communicate effectively, and support one another—all while having fun.
7. Boat Charter - What better way to reward your team than a day on the water? Boat charters allow for a mix of relaxation, collaboration, and celebration, making it a perfect mix of entertainment and bonding.
8. Kayak Team Building - This experience blends paddling with purpose, using On Purpose’s CORE framework - Communicating Open-minded Real-time Engagement - to create meaningful connections. Teams start with fun, land-based activities to spark communication and creativity before heading onto the water in single and tandem kayaks. Through challenges that require teamwork, problem-solving, and collaboration, your group will bond while building confidence and cohesion on Charleston’s beautiful waterways.
9. Ropes Course/Zip Lining - Take team entertainment to new heights... literally! Ropes courses and zip lining provide a thrilling and adventurous way for your team to step out of their comfort zones. These activities help employees build confidence, encourage trust, and create unforgettable shared experiences, all while having a blast in a high-energy environment.
10. Fun Parks (Mini Golf, Go Carting) - Inject some lighthearted fun into your team’s day with a trip to a fun park. Whether it’s racing around a go-kart track or sharing laughs on the mini-golf course, these activities are perfect for stress relief and creating positive memories together. With minimal structure and maximum enjoyment, this option fosters camaraderie in a casual, playful setting.

Support Local While Planning Your Team's Adventure

Charleston is full of incredible opportunities for outdoor team building, and the companies behind these activities bring local expertise and passion to the table. Choosing to support local businesses not only ensures an authentic Lowcountry experience but also strengthens the community.

For example, booking a boat charter with Palmetto Breeze or Captain Cocktail Cruises means your team will be guided by experts who know the waterways like the back of their hand. Whether it's a relaxing sunset sail or a fishing excursion, these local charters bring a unique twist to your team outing.

For something a little higher off the ground, Wild Blue Ropes Adventure Park offers a thrilling way to challenge your team’s limits while fostering camaraderie and trust. And if you’re looking for a fun, lighthearted atmosphere, Charleston Fun Park or Frankie's Fun Park in North Charleston provides classic entertainment options like go-karting and mini golf that are sure to bring out plenty of laughs.

If you’re ready to get started, we can help you customize an experience that aligns with your team’s goals. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, or a little bit of both, the possibilities in Charleston are endless.

For more on this topic, check out these blog posts:

• Team Building Activities in Charleston, SC
• Do You Want a $7 Return on Your $1 Investment?
• The Importance of Getting Out of the 'Boredroom'
• 6 Reasons Team Building is Important