Here is our list of the fun team building activities in Washington, D.C.
Team building activities in Washington D.C. are ways to entice teams out of the office for sociability, morale boosting, and team development. Examples include retreats, happy hours, and sports events. The purpose of these activities is to bring team members together in the nation’s capital to have fun and learn new skills like communication.
These activities are examples of team building exercises and group activities and are similar to corporate events in Washington D.C. and D.C. team outing ideas.
This list includes:
- team building activities for small groups in Washington, D.C.
- team building activities for large groups in Washington, D.C.
- team building activities for adults in Washington, D.C.
- corporate team building ideas in Washington, D.C.
Here we go!
List of team building activities in Washington, D.C.
From Espionage! to pedal pontoon boats, here is a list of fun activities you can use for your next corporate adventure in Washington D.C.
1. National Mall Scavenger Hunt (Staff Favorite)
A National Mall Scavenger Hunt is one of the best team building activities for adults in Washington, D.C. This adventure leads teams from the Lincoln Memorial to the Eisenhower and helps them explore some of the most iconic sights in between.
What to expect:
- 90 minutes of smart and engaging photo challenges
- prompts that inspire teamwork and group bonding
- a helpful expert host to facilitate the experience
- fun photo opportunities
- an easy booking process and customer support guarantee
This experience is a great way for teams to work collaboratively and get to know each other better while exploring one of the most historical places in the US.
Learn more about the National Mall Scavenger Hunt.
2. Field Day (Top Pick)
Field Day is a series of exciting outdoor activities and competitions that engage your team!
Here is what this experience includes:
- 90 minutes with a world-class host
- several competitive outdoor games and activities
- team photos ops, perfect for your social media
- childhood activities that will make participants feel like kids again
To make planning simple, we will bring all the game equipment to your chosen location. Overall, Field Day enhances teamwork, strategic thinking, and creates an unforgettable experience.
Learn more about Field Day.
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3. Museum Hack Scavenger Hunts (Great for Team Building)
Museum Hack leads scavenger hunts in museums in Washington D.C., like the National Portrait Gallery. These experiences include unconventional stories about the art, artists, and objects, team building games, ice breakers, and fun team photos.
The experience includes:
- an expert host to oversee the experience
- engaging and surprising stories
- novel ways to engage in exhibits
- group challenges and photo prompts
- friendly competition with other teams
The activity aims to be interactive rather than passive and revolves around scavenger hunts that inspire attendees to see and connect with exhibits in new and surprising ways.
Learn more about Museum Hack Scavenger Hunts.
4. Washington Printmakers Gallery
Printmaking is a unique form of art, and you can learn the process at the Washington Printmakers Gallery! The venue offers a wide range of classes and workshops. Examples include Watercolor Paint Making with Earth Pigments, Beginning Printmaking, and The Painterly Gel Print. After creating art, you and your team can explore the venue’s gallery, which includes works from workshops. Best of all, if you find a piece you love, then you can purchase it for your office or house!
Learn more about the Washington Printmakers Gallery.
5. The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Bonsai trees are adorable tiny trees, and you can bring your team to look at some at The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. Collections are split into three regions, which are Japanese, Chinese, and North American. The Japanese collection features 63 trees, including beech, maple, and pine. In the Chinese pavilion, 36 trees call the space home, including elm, hackberry, and boxthorn. Finally, the North American section consists of 63 trees, such as juniper, cedar, and hawthorn. Alongside the trees, you can also check out the museum’s viewing stones collection.
Learn more about The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum.
6. Swingers
Mini golf fans will love this unique indoor venue! Swingers offers a fresh take on mini golf, featuring gourmet food, cocktails, and a party atmosphere. This spot is great for teams of all sizes, as up to 20 golfers can book at a time. The crazy golf courses have two themes, which are Clocktower and Waterwheel. Courses aim to challenge you with loops, twists, bumps, and drops. After playing a round, you can enjoy food from local restauranteurs, including tuTaco and Kneadza Pizza. Plus, Swingers offers group packages and full venue buyouts.
Learn more about Swingers.
7. National Nightmares
If you are looking for a spooky way to enjoy the city, then check out National Nightmares! Teams can go on walking ghost tours with this firm.
Here are some available tour options:
- Hill of Haunts: Public and private tours of Capitol Hill featuring the city’s top landmarks
- Paranormal Park: A 105-minute outing through Lafayette Square
- Of Poltergeists and Pirates: Old Town Alexandria: A 90-minute exploration of Old Town Alexandria featuring pirate stories
- Chase’s Ultimate Nightmare: An extended two-hour tour that goes in-depth into local legends
- Monumental Mayhem: A visit to some of DC’s most well-known monuments
Halloween and ghost fans will have a blast during these tours. Plus, you will get to see some amazing landmarks along the way!
Learn more about National Nightmares.
8. The Board Room
Be sure to stop by The Board Room for your next team game night! This board game café has over 30 games you can rent for a low flat fee. Available games include classics like Scrabble, Risk, and Trivial Pursuit. You can even bring in your own games if you would like.
In addition, you can enjoy wine, cocktails, and over 21 different draft beers. The Board Room does not have a kitchen, but you are welcome to bring in your own food. This location is perfect for team building activities for large groups in Washington, D.C., as up to 200 players can attend a party at a time.
Learn more about The Board Room.
9. Second Story Books
You can spice up your office book club by visiting Second Story Books. Along with the space’s large collection of books, you will find several rare titles. The store has copies of unique historical, medical, and fiction books. For instance, you can find a signed first-edition copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar here. The store also offers appraisals if you are interested in finding out the value of one of your own books. Whether you are interested in seeing special titles or finding your next read, Second Story Books has a great selection.
Learn more about Second Story Books.
10. Atlas Brew Works
Atlas Brew Works is an artisanal brewery with two taproom locations in the DC area. Atlas is a sustainable firm, as it has been 100% solar powered since 2015. Available brews include a blood orange Gose, Vienna lager, and 202 draft.
The original taproom is in Ivy City and features 16 taps, brewery tours, and event space. Tours discuss the materials and science behind brewing beer, and tickets include a draft as well. At the Navy Yard location, you can enjoy 15 brews as well as pizza and wings from Andy’s Pizza. Atlas puts on events as well, including trivia, plant swaps, and live music. These taprooms are great locations for team building outings.
Learn more about Atlas Brew Works.
11. Capital Segway
To see the city from a new perspective, take a tour with Capital Segway! Each rider gets a headset in order to hear the tour guide clearly. Before taking off, instructors will teach you how to ride a segway safely. Then, you will explore the city’s top landmarks. Landmarks on the tour include the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument. You will get to stop along the way to snap pictures as well. If you are interested in a private experience, then you can book a VIP tour.
Learn more about Capital Segway.
12. Potomac Paddle Club
One of the best team building activities for small groups in Washington, D.C. is a cycleboat adventure. Potomac Paddle Club is home to the only pontoon pedal boat, otherwise known as a Cycleboat, in Washington D.C.
Potomac Paddle Club’s boat has ten cycle stations and can fit up to 20 folks on board. Six people have to pedal in order for the boat to move. During the boat ride, teams take turns cycling and sipping cocktails. If teams decided they would rather relax than pedal, then the boat has a motor powered by solar panels.
For more information on Potomac Paddle Club.
13. Mixin’ Mimi Mixology
Teams love a good happy hour for socialization and relaxation. You can bring happy hour straight to your office with Mixin’ Mimi Mixology. Mimi is a full-service mixologist who provides all-inclusive bar options like:
- a bartender/mixologist
- a bar
- specialty cocktail creations
- premium spirits, cordials, and mixers
For extra fun, sing karaoke!
For more information on Mixin’ Mimi Mixology.
14. Muse Paintbar
One of the fun corporate team building ideas in Washington, D.C. is a paint and food night at Muse PaintBar. Your team can munch on delicious food and sip on wine while Muse Paintbar’s instructors demonstrate how to paint step-by-step. Depending on the date of your event, your team can paint seasonal paintings, classic landscapes, or whimsical art like llamas with sunglasses!
For more information on Muse Paintbar.
15. Game Truck
Game Truck is the ultimate mobile party truck for team building!
This service offers mobile gaming theaters, laser tag, and a host of other customized goodies including:
- 85+ age-appropriate video game titles
- Certified GameCoaches
- Consoles including Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch
- H.D. Flat Panel T.V.’s
By booking this option, your team can opt for multiple teambuilding activities like LaserTag or Video Game tournaments.
For more information on Game Truck.
16. Casino Parties
You can bond your team with a fun night of gambling and cocktails. District of Columbia Casino Night Events brings multiple Vegas-style games to your office like:
- roulette
- long table craps
- slot machines
- high stakes poker
- double down blackjack
The event staff will take care of all logistics, from music to food to clean-up.
For more information on District of Columbia Casino Night Events.
17. District Clay
Your team will love getting their hands dirty with a District Clay pottery excursion. The studio offers two options for team-building: Corporate Handbuilding Events and Corporate Wheel Events.
With the Corporate Handbuilding Event, each participant starts with leather-hard clay slabs and uses basic pottery hand-building techniques to create a bowl. This includes decorating and texturing each bowl. Finally, District Clay will bisque fire, clear glaze, and glaze fire your teams’ work. Teams can pick up their bowls four to six weeks after the event.
With the Corporate Wheel Event, teams begin with a lump of clay and use a pottery wheel to create a pottery piece.
For more information on District Clay.
18. Pedal Saloon Pub Crawl
One of Washington D.C.’s most unique team building experiences is a Pedal Saloon Pub Crawl. This attraction offers a 14-person pedal-powered bar on wheels. A certified Pedal Saloon conductor owns the captain seat, but the saloon needs a minimum of six pedalers to help power the pub. Your team can work together while sipping on their favorite cocktails!
For more information on Pedal Saloon Pub Crawl.
19. D.C. Metro Food Tours
The Foodies on your team will love bonding over food, wine, and markets on a D.C. Metro Food Tour. The provider offers a host of food tours, including:
- Old Town Alexandria Food Tour: This tour takes your team around a 250-year-old port city once home to George Washington and Robert E Lee. Food samplings include family-owned restaurant originals and a dessert enjoyed for over 150 years.
- Capitol Hill Food Tour: This tour takes foodies behind the U.S. Capitol for scenic strolls and food ranging from traditional Salvadorian dishes to Spanish tapas to Belgian cuisine.
- Georgetown Food Tour: This tour takes your team through iconic Georgetown and ends with a pie treat from a family-owned bakery.
- Dupont Circle Food Tour: This tour offers foods ranging from bistro-style American with Asian influences to authentic Turkish dishes to Malaysian street food.
Other tours include the Little Ethiopia Food Tour, U Street Food Tour, Adams Morgan Food Tour, Del Ray Food Tour, Arlington Food Tours, and Cherry Blossom Food Tours.
For more information on D.C. Metro Food Tours.
20. O Street Museum Tours, Experiences, And Scavenger Hunts
O Street Museum is a hidden historical gem rich with secrets. The row of houses was once home to FBI Director J Edgar Hoover’s G-men, agents tasked with combatting organized crime, gangsters, and outlaws. Inside the museum are 100 rooms, 70 secret doors, and unique exhibits.
O Street Museum offers multiple team building activities like:
- Espionage Hunt: This hunt includes a hunt clue sheet and takes teams on O Street Museum Tours’ themed rooms, secret doors, and unique exhibits.
- Secret Wine Cellar: Teams will experience a delicious dinner and a tour of the museum’s themed rooms and secret doors.
- Speakeasy Hunt: Teams will snack on treats while they search for scavenger items signature to the O Museum.
- Team Building Hunt: A scavenger hunt focused on inspiring creativity, communication, and teamwork.
The museum also offers tours, including Mustache Madness Hunt, Secret Gardens, and Shop ‘Till You Drop (Champagne Tour).
For more information on O Street Museum Tours.
21. Washington D.C. Boating
You can bond your team with a day on the water. From kayaks to canoes to paddleboards, there are multiple boathouses that offer fun aquatic adventures. Some of our favorites include Tidal Basin, Key Bridge, and The Wharf Boathouse.
Tidal Basin offers four-person pedal boats that your team can use to explore the Tidal Basin. Key Bridge Boathouse offers single kayaks, double kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. The Wharf Boathouse offers single kayaks, double kayaks, and rental canoes.
Other boathouses include Ballpark, National Harbor, Thompson Boathouse, and Washington Sailing Marina.
For more information on Tidal Basin, Key Bridge Boathouse, and The Wharf Boathouse.
Conclusion
Washington D.C. is a playground for team building activities. With so many activities to choose from, we recommend narrowing down activities based on your team’s interests. For example, if there are many foodies amongst your team then food tours are the perfect outlet. Or, if your team is into art then a Muse Paintbar event would be apropos. Another tip when planning a corporate team building activity is to consider the size of your group. For smaller groups, you can host events like a paddle boat for up to twenty team members. For larger groups, you can plan a casino night or a Mixin’ Mimi Mixology and Lip Sync karaoke.
Next, check out these lists of indoor team building ideas and outdoor team building activities.
Grace He