Here’s a statistic that may surprise you: 60% of interns are offered full-time positions after completing their internships, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). However, stats for internal mobility would be higher if more companies treated intern recognition as more than an afterthought. A box of donuts and a “thank you” mug? We can do better—and should.
Interns represent your future employees, brand advocates, and leaders in training. When you compliment, praise, and recognize them, you reinforce a culture that values people from day one. When interns feel seen and appreciated, they tend to stay because they develop passion, loyalty, and love for your business. In fact, according to a Gallup study, employees who feel appreciated are 4.6 times more likely to perform their best work, which is a mindset that begins well before their first full-time role.
Enter National Intern Day, landing this year on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
This marks your company’s golden opportunity to thank interns meaningfully, creatively, and memorably. These up-and-coming professionals contribute fresh ideas, extra hands, and Gen Z fluency in tech and trends. So, if corporate plans to buy a pizza and call it a day this year, TeamBonding is here to level you up!
Creative Ways to Celebrate National Intern Day 2025
If your plan for Intern Appreciation Day is a last-minute store-bought cake in the breakroom, rethink it. Happy National Intern Day should feel sincere and personalized, unlike something you remembered 10 minutes before the morning meeting.
Here are a few creative ways to celebrate your interns:
- Give your interns public praise—on social media, in meetings, and the company newsletter. Don’t underestimate the value of a well-crafted shoutout.
- Create face time with leadership. Schedule short “Ask Me Anything” sessions between interns and directors or executives who have been in the business a while. These conversations offer insight and build mentorship bridges.
- Offer personalized growth tools. It could be an inspirational book about careers or a customized one-on-one for resume coaching. Give interns resources that speak to their future.
- Host a short but meaningful awards ceremony. Go beyond “Best Intern.” Give out fun titles, like “Spreadsheet Sorcerer” or “Most Likely to Fix the Printer Without Crying.” Make it funny and entertaining with praise and heartfelt gratitude.
- Schedule a professional development event. Discover Your Strengths, or Strengths Finder 2.0, is a corporate leadership and team building workshop where interns (and current employees) can uncover their professional talents and build confidence. Business teams will learn how to leverage their strengths, helping them achieve personal and professional goals.
Whether remote or in-office, your interns should leave National Intern Day feeling celebrated, not just acknowledged.
You could also try:
- Have a manager write a handwritten thank-you note highlighting specific moments or achievements that have helped the company.
- Give interns branded office supplies they’ll use, like quality pens, custom notebooks, or thermoses.
- Create a photo wall (digital or physical) featuring interns throughout their internship. Let them take it home as a keepsake.
- Let interns take over your company’s social media accounts to share what they’ve learned and loved about working with your company. (They’ll make it look cooler than you can).
The best National Intern Day 2025 experiences combine appreciation with authenticity. Interns know when you’re just checking a box, so don’t. Make it meaningful.
How to Say Happy National Intern Day with Meaning
Intern Appreciation Day deserves more than a lukewarm box of pizza and an awkward round of applause. A meaningful National Intern Day doesn’t have to be expensive or over-the-top, but it should be intentional, creative, and fun. Connection builds positive culture, and fun is the fastest way to make that happen.
The best celebratory events strike a balance between gratitude and enjoyment. Want to create something interns will remember? Think beyond the boardroom.
For instance, you can kick things off with a hands-on experience like Team Mixology. Whether crafting the perfect cocktails or zero-proof mocktails, this social, interactive session is a hit for interns looking to unwind and relax outside the office. It’s less “corporate” and more “cheers to your hard work,” a celebration with a few drinks.
Looking for a surprise and fun away from the conference room? Hop aboard the Mystery Bus. Interns pile in without knowing the destination, resulting in a laughter-filled, trivia-laden trip around the city. There will be teamwork, music, road trip games, challenges, and shared adventure with spontaneous, energizing, memorable moments. There are three guaranteed experiences on this bus trip: one culinary, another cultural, and the last is a low-stress physical exercise.
Do you think your interns would prefer an outdoorsy, active celebration? Plan a custom day of outdoor activities like relay races, scavenger hunts, or field days. These events get everyone moving, laughing, and bonding through friendly competition and fitness. Plus, something is refreshing about ditching the desk for sunshine and team spirit.
The bottom line is that the best celebratory event shows your interns they’re appreciated, valued, and worth more than a coffee run. It tells them, “We see your effort and are glad you’re here.” And when appreciation meets play, you build memories and stronger teams.
Virtual National Intern Day Ideas for Remote Teams
Just because your interns work from home doesn’t mean they should feel like an afterthought. National Intern Day is just as important, if not more, for remote interns who may be missing hallway high-fives, team lunches, and in-person positive energy. With creativity and good intentions, you can plan a virtual Intern Appreciation Day that feels personal, fun, and inclusive.
Check out these practical virtual National Intern Day ideas to make your interns feel special.
- Host a Virtual Happy Hour. Give interns a chance to let loose and socialize beyond their screens. This TeamBonding event doubles as an online mixology class, hosted by an award-winning mixologist. Groups will learn to make a couple of delicious cocktails, and kits with fresh ingredients are delivered directly to their door. Games, icebreakers, and trivia create space for laughter, casual conversation, and connection with coworkers in all company corners.
- Send Personalize Care Packages. There’s something special about receiving unexpected, fun mail. Create intern-specific boxes with snacks, company-custom swag (mugs, socks, and notebooks), and a handwritten, personalized note of appreciation. Skip the cookie-cutter language—make it personal by mentioning something each intern contributed while working with your business. Highlight and praise their efforts.
- Set Up a Virtual Project Showcase. Give interns the spotlight with a short, structured presentation where they walk through a project, an idea, or a takeaway from their internship. This empowers interns while giving company leaders a look at emerging talent and new perspectives from fresh eyes.
- Offer a Career-Focused Reward. Gift interns with something that invests in their future. This could be access to a professional development course, a one-on-one coaching session, or a curated mentorship chat with a senior leader. It sends the message: “We care about what’s next for you.”
Pro Tip: Virtual doesn’t have to mean impersonal. When your digital celebration has thought and heart, it can be as meaningful as anything in the office, and maybe even more so.
5 Thoughtful National Intern Day Ideas from TeamBonding
- Mad Dash Scavenger Hunt. This experience is the perfect interactive adventure for engaging interns through tech-powered fun and team bonding. Using a custom mobile app, interns race through creative challenges, trivia, and photo missions to build, communicate, collaborate, and connect. The game is fully customizable, making it easy to celebrate National Intern Day.
- The Food Truck Challenge. This is a fast-paced, hands-on team building experience where interns cook delicious street food while designing and branding a unique food truck concept. From tacos to whoopie pies, creativity and collaboration take center stage. It’s a flavorful, friendly competition, helping interns bond, build confidence, and feel celebrated.
- This collaborative drumming experience is where interns learn percussion, rhythm, and the art of connection through music. Led by a professional percussionist, this team building exercise helps interns and employees communicate, listen, and work in sync, culminating in a powerful group performance. It boosts confidence and celebrates creativity, energy, and teamwork.
- Virtual Laughter Yoga. This activity is joy-filled and wellness-focused, helping remote interns connect, de-stress, and recharge. Through guided laughter, breathing, and light movement, interns experience boosted mood, confidence, and clarity, all from their computer screens. It’s the perfect digital pick-me-up for National Intern Day, combining mindfulness and fun into an unforgettable hour.
Why Intern Recognition Builds a Stronger Company Culture
Recognition is the foundation of belonging. When people feel they belong, they give their best. It’s that simple.
Interns may be temporary, but their business impact is long-lasting. They bring fresh, positive energy, new perspectives, a willingness to learn, and a passion for the business industry. When you take time to appreciate their contributions during National Intern Day, you’re validating their effort. You also reinforce the idea that everyone is valued regardless of tenure or rank. That message echoes beyond the intern team.
According to Deloitte, companies prioritizing employee and intern recognition see 31% lower voluntary turnover, a significant cultural win. This means more people want to work for your company. And while interns may not be part of your immediate long-term headcount, they’re watching closely. They’re absorbing how your team communicates and connects, how you celebrate victories, and whether junior voices are heard. They’re seeing generational workplace culture and hoping to add to that. They need to know they’re somewhere they matter.
The ripple effect of appreciation doesn’t stop with interns. The company sees a culture of appreciation in action, elevating morale everywhere. Full-time employees see mentorship efforts being honored, leaders get a chance to be inclusive, and your brand becomes one to attract top talent.
Did you know interns who feel seen are more likely to return as full-time hires? They even speak positively about your company to others online while recommending your workplace to peers. There’s a long-term ROI on small moments of gratitude. Recognition is more than good vibes; it’s a strategy for loyalty, engagement, and building a culture people want to be part of.
Kick-start Intern Appreciation Day with TeamBonding
Recognizing interns on National Intern Day 2025 is thoughtful and strategic. Whether remote or in-person, creative, personalized celebrations show your interns they’re valued while building stronger teams and reinforcing a culture of appreciation in the workplace. It also boosts retention and strengthens positive morale. From fun events to meaningful gestures, every effort counts.
Make this year fantastic for your interns! At TeamBonding, we have experiences that help celebrate National Intern Day with impact and authenticity. Contact us today to start planning.
