A summer kick-off party is a perfect way to unwind after a long winter while building relationships between coworkers. You just can’t beat getting out of the office and going outside to soak up some sun.
Summer parties don’t happen every day, so we’re here with some inspiration to help you find the best company summer event ideas for your team!
Throwing an outdoor office party is sure to boost morale and get everyone smiling. After all, sometimes you just need a little vitamin D and fresh air to feel rejuvenated. So without further ado, let’s dive into our favorite summer party ideas for work.
Here’s Why You Should Throw a Kickoff To Summer Party
David Goldstein, Founder and Creator of Opportunities at TeamBonding, recently shared his thoughts about why summer parties are such a hit with teams everywhere:
“In the summer, most people want to go enjoy the sun. After months of cold weather, people are just ready to be outside. People don’t want to be stuck inside—they want to run around, laugh, and feel like kids again.
“I think early summer is the best time of year for it, too—it’s the season when everybody’s hopeful! You’re coming out of your hibernation state, and you’re getting outside. I think it’s just when people are happiest to be outdoors.
“There’s also just this quality about summer that gives people permission to let loose. No one’s thinking about emails or deadlines when they’re running across a field in flippers or laughing their way through a team challenge.”
The research backs up what David has witnessed since launching TeamBonding decades ago, too.
Research shows that getting outside improves our mental abilities like thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving. It also reduces stress and anxiety, which can help prevent employee burnout.
Summer Kick-Off Party Ideas Your Team Will Love
The best summer events are the ones that bring out childlike excitement in participants—whether it’s racing around in a scavenger hunt, playing ridiculous games, or just being out in the sun with good people.
Keep reading for some of our favorite ideas for summer kick-off parties that’ll wow your team.
1. Fun Field Day
If you’re like most of us, it’s been way too long since you got outside for a summer field day—you just can’t beat the combination of friendly competition, laughter, excitement, and soaking up the sun.
Your team will appreciate spending time together outside of the office, and all you need is a space big enough for your team to play. Activities can be as simple as a water balloon toss, tug-of-war, or a sack race.
If you want to do it yourself, use materials you have lying around the office or at home. Here are some great options that’ll help you create fun challenges:
- Old traffic or sports cones
- Ropes
- Sporting equipment
- Water balloons
- Hula hoops
- Soccer balls
- Kites
If you’d like to step it up a notch, consider hosting an official team building event!
“One of my all-time favorite summer work ideas has always been the Outrageous Games,” said David. “It’s kind of a corporate Olympic style because it’s outdoors and can be done in any type of venue.
“It’s just so fun. People get a chance to be kids again—they get to do fun things they don’t normally have permission or give themselves permission to do.”
The Outrageous Games event is an Olympics-themed field day activity packed with non-athletic fun for everyone. Your team will compete head-to-head in ten wild and wacky events designed to build teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.
We’ll bring fun rewards, but consider offering extra incentive for the winning team to get everyone into it. Free lunch, a half-day, or a nice prize of your choice is sure to do the trick.
2. Get Outside and Give Back
If you’re looking for a great summer party theme for work, how about giving back to others?
Almost any game can be set up as a competition. All you need to do is put some prize money on the table that’ll be donated by the winning team to a nonprofit organization of their choice.
Another way you can give back is by creating gifts or care packages for different charities.
If you prefer a hassle-free experience, we offer a wide variety of fun charitable activities for both indoor and outdoor settings. Here are just a few of many options:
Giving back to those in need while spending time in the sun together could be just what your team needs to feel a sense of fulfillment and togetherness this summer season.
3. Organize a Scavenger Hunt
Who doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt? It’s a challenging yet exciting team building activity and one of our favorite work summer party ideas. The best part? You can use items from around the office, so you can focus on purchasing just food and drinks.
Divide your employees into even pairs or groups and give each team a series of written clues to solve and objects to track down. Bonus points if you set up in a beautiful local park.
Agree on a time limit of 2 to 3 hours and determine a meeting spot for all teams to converge. The location can be an outdoor or indoor space, or you could make the city the limit!
To make your office scavenger hunt more unique, personalize the clues based on employee interests and have them take smartphone pictures of each item they find. We do something similar with our Polaroid Scavenger Hunt.
The party doesn’t have to end after the hunt, either. Head out to a local restaurant or just order some pizzas and drinks for the afterparty to cap off a day full of fun, bonding, and adventure.
4. Set Up a Potluck or Cooking Competition
Instead of buying all the food yourself, consider hosting a cooking competition or potluck instead. Encourage all of your colleagues to bring one homemade dish each—whether it’s a light appetizer or lavish dessert—to share with the group.
Then, organize an office-wide luncheon where everyone gets to sample each other’s cooking. Employees will learn more about each other through their food, and potlucks are a proven crowd-pleaser—after all, who can turn down a smorgasbord of free food?
If the weather permits, we suggest setting up at a park with a gazebo rental to get in the summer kick-off party spirit. If not, though, no one will complain about having free food and good conversation indoors.
A cooking competition is another fun way to challenge your team and reward them with a tasty snack. You could host a salsa showdown or guacamole contest.
It’s best to choose a food type that is easy to make without the use of kitchen equipment. Then, set up a tasting station with paper plates and decide which team did it best!
5. Celebrate a Weird Summer Holiday
There are a surprising number of obscure or downright absurd holidays that don’t get the recognition they deserve. When was the last time your office celebrated National Ice Cream Day (July 16) or National Wine and Cheese Day (July 25)?
Pick the most random occasion on the calendar or have your team vote for a favorite and then plan an event around this seasonal theme—the wackier the holiday is, the more laughter and shenanigans you’ll have.
This summer kick-off party idea is a chance for everyone to unleash their creativity and show off the quirkier sides of their personalities, which don’t often come to the surface in a work environment.
Ready To Start Planning Your Summer Work Party?
Ideas like these are just the beginning—at TeamBonding, we have a huge catalog of outdoor team building activities to choose from, and we’re happy to handle all the planning.
If your team isn’t able to get together in person, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still have an office party. Hosting a virtual summer office party to get your team together is a great alternative.
So if you’re not sure how to get started planning your company party this summer, we’re here to help. Let’s chat about how TeamBonding’s expert planners can take the pressure off your summer kick-off party planning!
