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19 Lively Team Building Activities in San Jose for Work Groups

Change the pace (and setting) for your teams that usually solve problems around a screen. The best San Jose outing is one that explores a different location and a fun, shared task. A cooking competition, tour of the Winchester Mystery House or afternoon among the redwoods gives colleagues something to experience together, where the activity is something completely separate from their workday.

Research published in Human Factors also found that structured team training can improve teamwork processes and performance. So the best balance for success is to make the event both structured and entertaining. 

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Creative Team Building Activities in San Jose

1. Visit the Shark Tank

Take in a game of hockey at SAP Center — home of the San Jose Sharks. The Center has been nicknamed “The Shark Tank” by local hockey fans. Corporate events in San Jose can't top a day of sports-related fun. Sports unite a team like nothing else.

2. Lasermaxx

Who doesn't love a good game of laser tag? Let out your inner child for a fun and competitive chance to best your colleagues or team up – winning team buys lunch!

3. Almaden Park Picnic

There's no better way to celebrate your holiday work party than to grill for a picnic or cookout at Almaden Park. Finding things to do in San Jose has never been easier!

Play team building games while you and your colleagues enjoy your favorite summertime foods surrounded by gorgeous scenery.

4. Eat and Play

At The Plex, choose from multiple eatery options and then take turns at different sports and games. The Plex houses sports arenas like one for bocce ball and a full arcade, as well as an entire roller rink.

5. Cooking Competitions

cooking class team building activities in San Jose
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One of the easiest recommendations is clearly team building activities in San Jose. This includes everything from team culinary classes like Duel of the Dumplings to team painting workshops. Sip some wine while you cook your way through laughter to a better team bond.

Along the same lines, there are fantastic options for cooking classes in San Jose and online cooking classes. Wherever you hail from, test your meddle at cuisine creations from a variety of ethnicities. Compete with your colleagues to create the best food for the next potluck conference meeting.

6. Paint and Sip

Attend a paint and sip in San Jose for a fun night on the town! Your team will thank you for it later. What better way to bond than by playing with colors and recreating works of art? Nothing! These events get the team relaxed, making them perfect employee engagement ideas.

7. Pottery Classes

group making pottery in studio
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Throw your hands into your work with pottery classes in San Jose. Discover a talent you didn't know you had — and see what your colleagues can create.

Creativity is the glitter that improves your final product, so motivate your team with some fun company team building activities like this one. When all is said and done, this also makes a romantic date idea in San Jose to enjoy with your partner.

8. Art Classes

If you're looking for things to do in San Jose to engage your employees or colleagues, art classes in San Jose are the way to go!

Paint your way to team harmony or to inspire motivation on team projects in the future. Your whole team will enjoy a creative break from meetings to make something beautiful.

Unique Team Building Activities

9. Dance Classes

dance class team building activity in San Jose
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Learn to spin and twist with the best of them at dance classes in San Jose. Impress your coworkers with your current moves and pick up some new ones together.

Social dancing is a fabulous way to improve your bond with the people with whom you spend your days. For remote teams, there are also online dance classes.

10. Virtual Game Nights

Who knows the most? Maybe being a know-it-all is frowned upon in a team environment at work, but it can be an asset when you team up for virtual game nights or online trivia games. You'll never run out of company team building activities and things to do in San Jose.

11. Virtual Adventures

Do you love puzzles and codes? Build your brain cells in collaboration with your colleagues or employees with virtual scavenger hunt and virtual escape room in San Jose activities. Worry through puzzles together and improve your group problem-solving skills.

12. Demolition Rooms

Destroy objects from TVs to bottles, computers to garden gnomes at various demolition rooms around town. Break Stuff San Jose is a popular option. Some may even permit you to bring your own items for destruction!

13. Winchester Mystery House

Winchester Mystery House in San Jose
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The inspiration for a horror film, the historic Winchester Mystery House has puzzles for even the most avid mystery fans. Guests can attend guided tours, enjoy a Houdini-themed escape room or do axe throwing in San Jose at the lanes in the Winchester stables.

Outdoor Team Building Activities in San Jose

14. Community Service

volunteers at a food bank
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What are some good community building activities? How about building the community! Find a local organization like Sacred Heart Community Service or Second Harvest of Silicon Valley to help you get started.

These community service ideas are some of the best outdoor team-building activities in San Jose. They involve using compassion skills and building collaborative projects.

15. Human Monopoly

Visit Discovery Park to play life-sized Monopoly with your group. Team building activities in San Jose don't get more interesting or traditional than playing the roughest, toughest board game around with your colleagues. Get to know how your teammates react under pressure.

16. Public Art Murals

Enjoy gorgeous art with your team at no cost. The SJ Walls are an outdoor art project that is part of the Worldwide Walls program.

Local and visiting artists paint murals on the outside of buildings to represent the community's personality. The murals change every year, so when you've seen one, you have not seen them all!

17. Mount Hermon Adventures

Take a zip line trip through the canopy for a thrilling team experience. View the gorgeous redwoods through the treetops. How else would you spend a spectacular day in California?

Team building activities in San Jose and team building in Palo Alto wouldn't be complete without a trip to Mount Hermon.

Whether you're looking for an at home event or an exciting reason to get out of the office as a group, this list should get you started. Some of the most popular ideas include an escape room in San Jose, Break Stuff San Jose and axe throwing in San Jose.

Exciting outdoor team building activities include visiting parks such as Calero County Park, with over 4,000 acres of green space. Fun things to do nearby may include ideas for team building in Palo Alto or employee appreciation gift ideas.

For even more fun team building ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!