Spring is in the air in Santa Cruz County! When the weather is this nice, taking the time to bring a team together to bond outside the workplace is a no-brainer. Whether you’re looking for a quirky goat yoga session or a thrilling ropes course in the redwoods, Santa Cruz County’s got you covered for fresh team building experiences!
For the Foodie Team
Private Tour and Tasting at Mutari Craft Chocolate – Tour the Mutari Craft Chocolate House & Factory while learning about cacao and enjoying your own single origin sipping chocolate. Partake in an in-depth tasting of their single origin chocolate bars and take home an in-house made truffle treat!
Wine Tasting at Birichino Tasting Room – Enjoy a private tasting at Birichino’s downtown Santa Cruz tasting room for a group of up to 35 people. Though they are principally concerned with producing distinctive wines, they can also provide a menu of savory and sweet items. Customers are always welcome to provide their own food service as well! Founded in Santa Cruz in 2008 by Alex Krause and John Locke, Birichino sources fruit from a number of exceptional, family-owned vineyards widely dispersed throughout California.
Bee Experience at Hotel Paradox – Hotel Paradox partners with the Santa Cruz Bee Company to bring you honey tastings from the Hotel Paradox’s rooftop beehives! Learn the importance of natural beekeeping and bee activity in the Santa Cruz area.
Pizza Project at Seascape Beach Resort – Seascape Beach Resort’s chef will lead your team to create unique pizzas at their outdoor wood-fired oven, set on the South Bluff of Seascape. They provide all the pizza ingredients, water, ice tea, salads, and dessert from their Wood-Fired Oven Buffet for a complete dinner. This activity is ideal for groups up to 50.
Salsa Team Building Challenge at Chaminade Resort & Spa – Go head to head with your staff to see who can concoct the best salsa! The challenge is facilitated by Chaminade Resort & Spa’s culinary staff.
For the Crafty Crew
Paint and Sip with The Painted Cork Art Studio – This comfortable, fun, and hip art studio comes with an exciting social flair! Guests get their creative juices flowing as a professional art instructor guides them through a 2 to 3 hour acrylic painting class while they enjoy their favorite wine, beer or non-alcoholic beverage and snacks. All art supplies are provided and there is no experience necessary. Pick the painting and they’ll do the rest! Extra studio time is available for meetings and presentations.
Succulent Terrarium Bar at the Dream Inn Santa Cruz – Dream Inn Santa Cruz has partnered with the Little Shop of Horticulture to bring your team the opportunity to build-their-own succulent terrarium! Direction is provided for those still developing their green thumb. The Succulent Terrarium Bar can be paired with a private luncheon in the Dream Inn’s ocean view event space. These are perfect mementos to bring back to the office!
Sand Castle Building with Seascape Beach Resort – Kneeling in the sand with teammates around a shared creative pursuit brings you close to each other in ways seldom possible. Seascape will transport your team down to the beach and provide all the tools to build sandcastles, ending with a judged competition. Add on lunch and make it a full beach day for your team!
For the Adventurous Organization
Kayak Excursion with Kayak Connection – Whether it’s trusting your teammates to hold their kayaks steady as you walk across them, or working together to practice water rescues, they’ve got something that will inspire, thrill, and motivate your crew out on the beautiful Monterey Bay!
Learn to Sail with Chardonnay Sailing Charters – Take your team out to sea and learn to sail a Santa Cruz 70’ world class yacht! After your introduction to their vessel, it is time to set sail into open water, where your new skills will allow you to take the helm, trim the sails, and lead your shipmates on an adventure navigating the Monterey Bay!
Geoteaming with Roaring Camp Railroads – Utilizing the latest GPS technology, embark on a custom designed adventure through the Redwood trails of Roaring Camp. Participants are on a mission that requires team skills and collaboration for success to develop their strategy “muscles.”
Mountain Biking with The Inn at Pasatiempo – The Inn at Pasatiempo has partnered with The Ride Guides to lead mountain biking tours leaving directly from their property for a 2-3 hour ride through the Santa Cruz Mountains. Equipment is provided or you are welcome to bring your own!
Classic Outdoor Fun at Pajaro Dunes Resort – Treat your group to a day of classic fun with Pajaro Dunes Resort’s tennis courts, bocce ball, pickle ball, basketball, beach or lawn volleyball and giant checkers/chess. Pair it with their Hawaiian Shave Ice trailer for authentic shave ice as a treat beyond their custom catering.
Ropes Course at Chaminade Resort & Spa – Inspire different perspectives by taking your team up in the tree canopy of Chaminade’s on-property ropes course!
For the Mellow Members
Team Building & Leadership Development with Horses – Join Intentional Leaders for an unusual equine experiential leadership and teambuilding retreat held on a Soquel ranch. It’s a unique event that partners with horses (free of equipment – no riding) as the co-facilitators and offers powerful insights about effective relationships, creative problem solving, and the self-empowerment that results from enhanced awareness, presence, and intention.
Meditate with The Monk Dude at the Dream Inn Santa Cruz – Reduce stress, optimize productivity, and rewire your brain with a meditation experience with The Monk Dude! Unwind through music, guided visualization, and group meditation.
Goat Yoga at Hotel Paradox – Join Hotel Paradox in their Solaire breezeway to find balance and awareness alongside baby goats from Kinderwood Farms! Each session includes a $5.00 voucher to their Solaire Restaurant and Bar!
S’mores Beach Bonfire at Pajaro Dunes Resort – After a fun day of activities, chill out on the beach with a private bonfire and s’mores. Keep your eyes peeled for whales and dolphins just offshore!
Yoga Sessions at The Inn at Pasatiempo – Schedule an early morning (or afternoon) yoga session with Robin Penney of Yoga Sessions. Located in the gardens with a backdrop of willow and acacia trees and encircled by native fauna and foliage, this is the perfect opportunity to get in tune with nature and relax!