Humans have a fundamental psychological need for self-determination, which means they like to feel competent and in control when they’re taking part in a shared experience. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t like to win or perform very well at something? It’s a proven fact that winning releases dopamine and makes you feel motivated and accomplished.
Many of our team building activities leverage the benefits of competition by encouraging collaboration within teams as they strive to outperform other teams. During the summer (or warmer months), we offer a variety of outdoor team building events based on competitive challenges and activities. In a refreshing outdoor setting, basking in the sunlight and with the natural landscape there to inspire you, we believe that a little friendly competition can go a long way in energising and getting people fully immersed in the activity.
Here are our best 7 competitive summer team building activities to get your team fired up and fully engaged in the action:
1. Soap Box Derby
Sop Box Derby is a hilarious competition between teams to design, build, decorate and race their own carts in a thrilling dash to claim a spot on the podium.
This action-packed summer team building activity is a perfect blend of competitive spirit, teamwork, creativity and skill. Each team will have a simple paddle cart, a tool kit and some design materials to start with. Members must leverage each other’s strengths and participate in fun challenges to win cash and buy all kinds of materials for their cart. Not only must your cart be functional and safe, but extra points await the most creative designs. Brace yourselves for the thrilling finale, where each team will choose their driver to compete in a pulse-pounding race around the crazy course.
Despite the fierce competition, Soap Box Derby outdoor team building promises to bring everyone together through laughter and shared thrills. Enquire now for a free bespoke quote in less than 45 minutes!
2. The Crystal Team Challenge
The Crystal Team Challenge is a pure burst of competitive spirit that pushes teams to be the best in a series of challenges varying from physical skills to brain teasers, all in pursuit of earning precious crystals.
But what’s the ultimate goal in this action-packed summer team building event? Accumulate as many crystals as possible to secure your time in the much-anticipated cash grabber finale. Here, a member from each team enters to collect as many gold tickets as they can to claim victory for their team!
Teams will navigate through four different zones – Aztec, Medieval, Industrial and Futuristic – where they put their minds together to outshine the competition. With two themed activities per zone, there are plenty of chances to collect crystals. While some teams may be quicker, others might thrive in the puzzle-solving challenges. Yet, in the grand finale, the scoreboard can be overturned! You might rely on luck or perhaps find a genius tactic to catch the most tickets in the cash grabber dome. But be careful, the silver tickets will deduct points from your team’s tally! Enquire now for a free bespoke quote for The Crystal Team Challenge!
3. It’s A Knockout
It’s A Knockout is an exhilarating head-to-head challenge that ignites your team’s competitive spirit in a series of thrilling games and inflatable courses.
Prepare for an outrageous summer team building activity, packed with all kinds of colourful and silly surprises. From huge inflatables and slippery slides, to crazy costumes and quirky team games, this team building extravaganza will push your team out of their comfort zones, uncovering their inner child or any hidden talents along the way!
With the music pumping and the MC amping up the excitement, It’s A Knockout is designed to brim with infectious fun, bonding everyone through laughter as they find themselves in hilarious scenarios, unlike anything seen in the office! The competitive edge will push each individual to give their all while trying to claim the medals and the bubbly for the win. Enquire now for a free bespoke quote in less than 45 minutes!
4. Olympic Sports Day
What says competition more than the Olympic spirit? Olympic Sports Day is a summer team building activity crafted around an array of Olympic-themed challenges where teams will engage in head-to-head sport activities to win the coveted medals.
While we’ve kept the competitive and team spirit essence, we’ve sprinkled in plenty of fun twists and surprises. So, don’t think fitness alone will make you a winner, as points are also awarded for whimsicality, creativity and problem-solving skills!
Accommodating all fitness levels, teams will compete in a medley of Olympic-inspired games such as inflatable sumo, shot put, inflatable badminton, human table football and more. Additionally, teams will embark on a creative challenge to kick off the event, creating and proudly displaying their own team flag.
You can also personalise Olympic Sports Day to fit your team’s unique goals. Contact us today to discuss your team building event
5. The Gladiator
The Gladiator team building is perfect for those teams bursting with energy and ready to face off in an electrifying competition. In this event, only two teams will compete for the grand prize – the Gladiators and The Contenders. The teams will go head-to-head in a series of fast and furious inflatable activities.
The competitive spirit is palpable as teams dive into the action. solving tasks against the clock in challenges like Bungee Run, Relay Assault Course or The Eliminator finale. Complete with vibrant music, immersive theming and a thrilling medal ceremony at the end of the day, The Gladiator will soon become the talk of the office. And for those on the losing side, don’t worry – there’s always next year to stage a triumphant comeback!
Enquire now about this summer team building event!
6. Master of the Tasks
If you’re looking for a team building event that maintains the competitive edge but is less physical and more inclusive, Master of the Tasks is the funniest competition you’ll ever participate in, packed with all kinds of tasks that everyone can do!
But don’t be fooled if the tasks look easy. The clock’s ticking and the other teams are eyeing the same prize. It’s all about getting crafty and thinking outside the box when you’re facing off against the wackiest of challenges such as Smartie Pants, Blindfold Balloon or Condiment Caricature. The tasks will only be revealed one by one when the teams open their golden envelopes. With over 20 tasks in the mix, they have one thing in common: silliness.
If you think it’d be funny to pit your team against each other in a hilarious summer team building challenge that’s guaranteed to leave everyone in stiches, enquire today for a bespoke, no-obligation quote.
7. Putt For A Purpose
Add a charity twist to your summer team building activity with Putt For A Purpose. Competition takes on a new light as teams are motivated by a worthy cause. Using items such as food cans and boxes, each team will build their own mini-golf hole. At the end of the day, the golf course will be dismantled by the event staff and all the items will be donated to a food bank charity.
Combining fun, creativity, competition and giving, Putt For A Purpose is the perfect summer activity for a laid-back outdoor team building event. The first part of the event focuses on team collaboration, innovation and creativity as they construct practical golf holes using food cans, cereal boxes, shampoo bottles and other food bank items. In the second part of the event, the golf holes come alive as a complete mini-golf course. Grab your clubs and take turns playing the full mini-golf course. Victory goes to the team with the lowest points.
In Putt For A Purpose, competition takes on a deeper meaning as teams join forces to create a one-of-a-king mini-golf course, knowing that the items they’re utilising will soon find a new purpose through charity donations. Enquire now for a free bespoke quote
in less than 45 minutes!
Planning a summer team building activity?
We know that every event is different and we will help you create the best event to suit your team and requirements with fully mobile events and free venue finding. Our expert team can talk you through different ideas and options available.
