Samantha Northart

Lead Facilitator, NYC

Best Team Building Activities: NYC Insider’s Guide

When it comes to team building activities, NYC is the ultimate destination. With iconic landmarks, vibrant energy, and unparalleled diversity, this vast city offers endless opportunities for outstanding team building. 

NYC has so much that you won’t find anywhere, from Manhattan to Brooklyn and beyond. Trust me. 

This guide explores the best events for every season, a couple of restaurant recommendations from a local (that’s me), and tons of ideas for team building. 

What Makes Team Building Events in New York Stand Out?

With over 15 years spent facilitating team building in NYC, I’ve seen this incredible city work its magic and bring teams closer together time and time again. It’s not just another destination for team building—the city itself is a part of the experience. 

You Can’t Beat New York Vibes

In my experience with 15+ years of team building activities, NYC just starts them off at a higher base level of energy than those in smaller cities. This seems to make each experience that much more memorable, which is fantastic for bringing people together. 

The sidewalks, street crossings, pedestrian plazas, public transit systems, and parks are a big part of why this city is great for corporate events. NYC’s pedestrian element is just something you don’t have in most other cities. Plus, most people don’t have cars, which subtly changes things in comparison to other cities. 

There’s also that energetic vibe unique to NYC that comes through in the team building events NYC companies choose. For example, we turn people loose in Central Park for these scavenger hunts and similar activities to make use of this iconic location. 

My Favorite NYC Moment: Building Bonds Through Bikes

One of my favorite memories—and one of the best examples of why these events are amazing—is a charity bike build I helped facilitate for a few years. 

Every year, this high-end financial services company would do a huge bike build for the end of their summer internship program. Then, at the end of the event, the kids would show up, and it would be a surprise to everyone! The kids didn’t know they were getting bikes and the interns didn’t know they’d meet the kids they were building the bikes for.

You could tell they could see where their physical labor was going. You’d watch their eyes as they realized how the bike build changes lives, and you could feel the shift in that room. 

When you stand back and watch your team members’ faces light up, everything falls into place. You know exactly why you decided to do the event and that it was worth every ounce of effort put into it. 

Seasonal NYC Team Building Activities 

NYC’s vibrant energy makes every season ideal for team building activities, from summer scavenger hunts in Central Park to cozy winter events at iconic venues. However, comfort is key. If your team is freezing or overheating, even the best-planned event can flop. 

When you plan around the season’s strengths, though, NYC truly shines. Each time of year brings unique advantages that make specific activities stand out. 

Here’s a quick guide to the seasons of New York City:

• Spring (March-May): The city comes alive in the springtime as flowers bloom and temperatures rise, which means it’s perfect for outdoor activities.
• Summer (June-August): With long days, vibrant energy, and warm weather, summer is ideal for outdoor adventures and exciting challenges in the heart of NYC. 
• Fall (September-November): With cool, crisp fall air and vibrant colors, fall in NYC creates a picturesque setting for a blend of indoor and outdoor activities. 
• Winter (December-February): With countless cozy indoor venues and festive outdoor team building activities, NYC is the perfect place for a winter event. 

With this in mind, here are four of my favorite activities for each season: 

• Spring: Explore the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens or the Central Park Conservatory with a springtime walk or Polaroid Scavenger Hunt to capture the season’s beauty. 
• Summer: Unleash your inner child with Summer Camp on Governor’s Island—laughter, competition, and a scenic ferry ride make this a standout option. 
• Fall: Organize a fall foliage hunt in Prospect Park to soak in the stunning colors of autumn while fostering teamwork.
• Winter: Celebrate a milestone by ice skating at Bryant Park, followed by warm drinks at a nearby cafe with your team. 

How the Weather Shapes Corporate Team Building Events

NYC’s weather is amazing, but it’s also unpredictable. To make sure everyone enjoys themselves, consider both the season and the current weather.

For example, while March typically averages around 46-55 degrees Fahrenheit, an unusually cold year might surprise you with below-freezing temperatures. 

Immersive Team Building Activities: NYC Specials 

With all the corporate team building activities New York City offers, it comes down to capturing the city’s energy and iconic locations to create unforgettable experiences. 

Here are four more of the coolest team events NYC can serve up: 

1. The Beat the Box challenge can be done anywhere—it’s a collaborative escape room-style challenge that brings out the best in any team. 
2. The Mystery Bus event gets your team on a bus and takes them to the weirdest, coolest, and most exciting destinations, and it’s so much fun in NYC. 
3. The Do Good Bus activity has your team travel together by bus to reach a destination where they’ll make an impact on the community through charity. 
4. Team Teddy Rescue Bear is a classic team building event where your team will make snuggly bears for kids in need, and it always leaves everyone feeling warm and fuzzy. 

If your team is visiting New York, I’d also recommend just getting out to a nice restaurant followed by a Broadway show. I recommend hitting up Mama Mia 44SW for some great Italian food before catching a show everyone’s looking forward to. 

Scaventures: Team Building Scavenger Hunts in NYC

Scaventures—aka upgraded scavenger hunts—are always high on my list for corporate events. New York has so many fantastic places to explore, too. 

For example, The High Line, Hudson Yards, and (of course) Central Park are some of my favorites. You can also check out historic landmarks like Times Square or the Statue of Liberty, both of which are great for visiting teams. 

Whether you go with something indoors or outdoors, TeamBonding’s Scaventures are designed to improve collaboration, communication, and creativity!

1. Go Team: High Tech Scavenger Hunts

If your team loves playing with their tech, this modern-day scavenger hunt is a great choice. It gets your teams to explore their surroundings using our custom GPS app on their mobile devices. 

Your team will navigate around various hotspots throughout the city to collect photos, videos, and some hilarious target items (you’ll find out).

2. Go Give: Charity Challenges

Does your crew love helping others? This one combines adventure, technology, and giving back into a whole day of fun. 

Your teams will complete GPS-triggered challenges that positively impact a chosen project or cause, complete with real-time feedback to keep them excited! 

3. Amazing Race Scavenger Hunt

This one’s a fun scavenger hunt inspired by the Amazing Race TV show, but your team doesn’t have to watch the show to benefit. It’s a customized adventure built for your team and a fantastic pick for NYC! 

Your team members will race around the map to complete fun challenges while taking photos and videos to share after the event. 

Have somewhere specific in mind? We’ll set up trails for your team to follow through locations like Central Park, Kissena Park, Downtown Brooklyn, or anywhere else you’d like. Just let us know. 

4. Pub Crawl Scavenger Hunt

Is Happy Hour a hit with your team? The Pub Crawl Scavenger Hunt is where it’s at! Raise Team Spirit and your glasses as your team explores the city, experiences interactive challenges, participates in trivia, and more. 

This laughter-filled bar crawl will create a unique camaraderie between team members that’ll shine in and out of the office. I recommend wrapping up at The Waylon in Hell’s Kitchen—it’s a Packers Bar with a great patio in the back for the warmer months. The financial district has lots of great old bars to make your pub crawl a hit, too. 

Top 5 Honorable Mentions

In the interest of keeping this article short, here are five more scavenger hunts for team building in NYC:

• Day at the Museum
• Zombie Rising
• Monster Mash Dash — Halloween Scavenger Hunt
• Go Team Festive-Us — Holiday Scavenger Hunt
• Sleuth: The Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt

Tips for Unforgettable Team Building Activities: NYC Awaits! 

Whether you’re based in New York City or just visiting, here are some tips to help your team have an amazing time: 

• Plan for the weather (yes, again): Remember, NYC’s weather can be unpredictable. Always check the forecast and be ready to pivot.
• Embrace local flavor: Ditch the generic activities and incorporate the Big Apple in all its glory, from the vibrant neighborhoods to the iconic landmarks. 
• Customize for your team: Think (or ask) about your team’s preferences, strengths, and goals, and use that information to tailor the event to their personalities for an engaging experience. 
• Emphasize collaboration: Team building is all about working together, so if you’re planning your own event, remember to focus on teamwork and problem-solving. 
• Include downtime: If you’re planning a full day, make sure to balance high-energy activities with relaxed moments to bond and chat. 

NYC Team Building Idea Wrap-Up

Already an NYC local? Just need a quick list of ideas? Here’s a wrap-up of everything featured in this article to save you some time: 

Seasonal Activities

1. Spring: Brooklyn Botanic Garden Walk or Central Park Polaroid Scavenger Hunt 
2. Summer: Summer Camp on Governor’s Island
3. Fall: Fall Foliage Hunt in Prospect Park
4. Winter: Ice Skating at Bryant Park

Immersive Team Building Events

1. Beat the Box Challenge
2. Mystery Bus Adventure
3. Do Good Bus
4. Team Teddy Rescue Bear

Scaventures

1. Go Team: High Tech Scavenger Hunts
2. Go Give: Charity Challenges
3. Amazing Race Scavenger Hunt
4. Pub Crawl Scavenger Hunt
5. Day at the Museum
6. Zombie Rising
7. Monster Mash Dash — Halloween Scavenger Hunt
8. Go Team Festive-Us — Holiday Scavenger Hunt
9. Sleuth: The Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt

Plan Your Unforgettable NYC Team Building Event Today

You can see “the city” anywhere, but there’s only one New York City, and it has something for everyone. So whether you’re organizing a quick team bonding session or a day-long corporate outing, you’re sure to enjoy the team building activities NYC has to offer. 

You can use these as inspiration when planning your own corporate outing (NYC makes it easy, after all) or let the TeamBonding crew handle the heavy lifting. It’s guaranteed fun either way, but feel free to drop us a line if you’d like some help.