What are some company outing ideas for employers in Canada?

Employers can tailor the 15 company outing ideas below to different team sizes, locations and energy levels. Each one is easy to plan, inclusive by design, and built for Canadian teams:

1. Host a seasonal team picnic

A team picnic gives everyone a reason to step away from their desk, connect in person and enjoy the outdoors, without pressure or formal structure. Public parks in most Canadian cities have rentable shelters, green space and accessible restrooms. You can make it inclusive by offering various food choices, shaded seating and optional games like bocce, ladder toss or a collaborative art station. Consider adding music or inviting a local performer to keep things engaging. If planning a corporate family day, make room for kids’ activities like face painting or scavenger hunts. A relaxed setting can encourage conversation and create space for new connections.

2. Plan a visit to a local farm, orchard, or sugar shack

Booking an outing to a nearby farm, orchard or sugar shack gives your team a reason to get outside, explore nature and experience something seasonal. In the fall, apple picking and corn mazes offer a great backdrop for informal bonding. A sugar shack visit connects employees to a uniquely Canadian tradition in spring. These spaces often have group-friendly amenities like fire pits, picnic areas and walking trails. Encourage teams to bring their families or form carpools to make it easier for everyone to attend. It’s typically simple to plan, affordable for most budgets and flexible enough to accommodate many preferences.

3. Organize a community service day

Community service outings give teams a purpose-driven way to connect. Consider volunteer opportunities that reflect your values and support local organizations, like planting trees, serving meals at a shelter or participating in neighbourhood cleanups. You can keep the experience accessible by offering multiple activity types, such as donation sorting, event setup or packing hampers. Not everyone wants a day of physical labour, so make room for different abilities. You can also offer paid time off for volunteering outside the group event, giving employees more freedom to contribute in their own way. A shared act of service can bring teams together while boosting employee morale and giving back to the community.

4. Bring food trucks to your office

Sometimes, the best outing doesn’t involve leaving the office at all. Hosting a food truck event on-site can be an easy, flexible way to build connections during the workday. Consider inviting a few local trucks offering different cuisines and dietary options, such as vegan, halal and gluten-free, so that everyone can participate. Set up tables or picnic blankets and offer music or a casual Q&A with leadership to keep the tone relaxed and engaging. This outing can work exceptionally well for hybrid teams that come in on specific days, as it gives people a reason to show up and interact outside of meetings or scheduled work.

5. Book a private movie screening

A private movie screening can be a low-pressure, high-impact way to help teams relax and connect. Consider renting a local theatre or setting up a projector for an outdoor movie night. Choose a film with wide appeal and provide snacks that reflect diverse preferences. You might also include family tickets to turn it into a corporate family day event. A movie outing creates space for shared experience without needing small talk or team-building games, making it ideal for introverted employees or those who prefer low-stimulation settings.

6. Try a wellness-focused retreat

A wellness outing can offer space to recharge and reflect. You could look into hosting a half-day retreat close to the office, like guided forest therapy, an outdoor yoga session or a sound bath. Some teams might respond better to activities like laughter yoga or expressive arts workshops. What matters is allowing people to slow down and focus on their well-being together. Wellness outings can support mental health, help employees feel appreciated and remind teams that productivity isn’t the only measure of success.

7. Run a city-wide scavenger hunt

A scavenger hunt brings out collaboration, creativity and a little healthy competition. You might create your own using free public art, architecture, or landmarks across your city, or hire a local company to run the logistics. Teams can explore together at their own pace, with checkpoints that involve trivia, photo challenges or creative problem solving. This outing works best when it’s accessible by transit and includes options for those who prefer shorter walking distances. Offer a small prize or celebration afterward to wrap it up.

8. Attend a local festival or community event

Rather than planning an event from scratch, consider aligning your outing with an existing festival or public celebration. Many Canadian cities host inclusive events year-round, such as Pride, Indigenous arts festivals, multicultural food fairs and seasonal markets. Attending one of these can support employee engagement while showing your team what your company stands for. You might cover transportation and tickets, then create a meeting point or shared meal to bring employees together. These events also offer flexible timing and built-in entertainment, making it easier for caregivers or hybrid workers to join when it works best.

9. Host a board game night

A board game night offers a laid-back, screen-free setting for people to connect over something simple. You could reserve a private room at a local board game cafe or bring a curated selection of games into your office common area. Offer a mix of games such as co-op, party and strategy so everyone can find their comfort zone. Include snacks and drinks and allow employees to drop in and out on their own schedule.

10. Book a hands-on workshop

Creative activities like pottery painting, cooking classes, or build-your-own charcuterie boards let teams engage in something tactile and fun. These can be excellent icebreakers and work well for cross-functional teams who don’t interact often. Look for local studios or venues that can accommodate group sizes and offer step-by-step guidance for beginners.

11. Try an escape room or puzzle-based experience

Escape rooms push your crew to talk things out, solve puzzles and think on their feet. That’s a direct line to better workplace communication, problem solving and quick decision making (key workplace skills). These rooms typically come in all shapes and sizes. You can pick a difficulty level that suits your team, whether they’re puzzle pros or first-timers. Themes often range from spooky mysteries to high-tech heists, so there’s something to match your team’s interests. If heading out isn’t an option, some companies bring the escape room experience right to your office or event space. Mobile setups mean less hassle with travel and more time for team bonding.

12. Host an outdoor sports day

A classic sports day with relays, tug-of-war, and low-stakes challenges can inject fun, movement and friendly competition into your company outing. Obstacle courses, potato sack races, and water balloon tosses are easy-to-set-up games that encourage laughter without requiring serious athletic skill. You can build teams randomly to mix departments, or let people form their own groups to boost comfort and camaraderie. To keep it inclusive, you could offer adaptive versions of each event. For example, seated options for relay races or modified rules for those with mobility considerations. Include rest areas, shaded spots and hydration stations so everyone stays safe and comfortable.

Consider having a mix of activities: something physical (tug-of-war), something goofy (three-legged race) and something relaxed (beanbag toss). Not everyone loves to compete, but most people enjoy watching their coworkers try to hop across a lawn with a spoon in their mouth. Have indoor alternatives ready in case of bad weather, such as tabletop games, trivia rounds or team-building exercises that match the day’s spirit. You can even include small prizes or playful team awards like “most enthusiastic” or “best sportsmanship.”

13. Go on a brewery or coffee tasting tour

Craft breweries, cideries, roasteries and even chocolatiers across Canada often offer private or semi-private group tastings, with staff on hand to walk teams through the process. You can add a tour element, like seeing how the product is made, or build in a casual Q&A with the owners for a more educational spin. For urban teams, these types of outings can work well because they’re typically centrally located, easy to walk to and short enough to fit into an afternoon. For teams with varying preferences, be sure to include non-alcoholic options or consider turning the event into a coffee, tea or even smoothie tasting tour. You can also make the experience more inclusive by offering transportation support, like covering transit passes, coordinating carpools or hiring a shuttle if needed.

14. Visit a museum, art gallery, or science centre

Cultural outings cater to a wide range of energy levels and personalities. Introverts can enjoy quiet, self-guided sections, while more social team members can bond over shared discoveries or group discussions. Plus, many venues are wheelchair accessible and offer sensory-friendly options, making inclusivity a built-in feature. Booking a guided tour can add extra value by providing insider knowledge and encouraging conversations that go beyond the exhibits. Alternatively, letting the team roam freely with optional checkpoints or scavenger hunts can keep the tone casual and fun. To amp up the connection, follow the visit with a group meal or coffee nearby, allowing everyone to chat about what they saw and experienced. Cultural outings combine learning with relaxed social time, helping your team bond over something fresh and inspiring.

15. Let employees design their own outing

You might not always need to plan the outing yourself. Offering a “choose your own adventure” budget allows employees to decide how they want to connect. Some might go out for lunch with colleagues, others might take their families to a museum or cultural centre. You could set parameters (timing, spending limit, optional themes) and encourage people to share photos or stories afterward. This format is especially effective for distributed or hybrid teams, where logistics make large-scale outings harder. By letting employees shape the experience, you support autonomy and personalization (two key drivers of engagement).

Company outings allow employees to connect, strengthen relationships and experience company culture beyond the workplace. When planned with their interests and needs in mind, these events can build community, encourage collaboration across departments, and help employees feel a stronger sense of belonging.

FAQs about company outing ideas

How do you organize company outings?

Start by asking your team what they want. A short, anonymous survey can help you understand preferred activities, accessibility needs, and ideal timing. Once you’ve gathered feedback, consider options that reflect your company’s values, team availability and budget. You might keep things simple or explore more involved ideas like family-friendly festivals or wellness retreats. To keep things smooth, build a checklist with logistics like transportation, food, safety and accessibility.

How do you increase participation in company outings?

Invite input early and often. When people feel heard, they’re more likely to engage. Try offering a few outing options and letting the team vote, or give employees the chance to plan small group activities themselves. Consider different formats: virtual, in-person, indoor, outdoor, family-friendly or solo-friendly. Ensure outings are accessible by transit, offer inclusive food options, and avoid scheduling over busy periods. Most importantly, position attendance as optional, not mandatory. A no-pressure environment can encourage participation, especially for introverts, caregivers or those balancing demanding schedules.

How do you make company outings enjoyable?

A single event won’t work for every team or personality type, so it helps to rotate your formats from active to low-key, team-based to self-guided. Choose inclusive, accessible venues with flexible options for participation. Think about comfort too: shaded spaces, diverse menus, shorter timelines and sensory-friendly options can make a significant difference. You might also build in time for unstructured connection, like a shared meal or casual activity, rather than packing the day with programming. When people can show up as themselves, feel like they belong and participate in their choices, the experience can become much more enjoyable for everyone.