One of the best parts of a company outing is being able to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of the office. Spending time with your coworkers in a new environment is a great way to bond and learn more about the people you work with every day. However, depending on the nature of your company retreat, there is a possibility that team members will want to bring their families with them. This brings up the question: should families and children be invited to company events?

While it might seem like an easy answer, there is a great deal of consideration that should go into this decision. Take a look below as we explore the different aspects, limitations, and advantages of extending an invitation to the families of employees for a company retreat.

Benefits of Inviting Families to a Work Retreat

One of the most important advantages of allowing employees to bring their children and loved ones to a company outing is that it shows your team that your company cares about them outside of their work efforts. This helps them feel like they are not just a number, but a respected member of the team. Including a family dynamic in the event can also give it an air of informality and relieve tension for newer employees by making them feel more comfortable.

The location for company outings and the nature of the retreat itself are important to consider when inviting family members. Certain places are going to be a great environment for team building and fun, while others might be a little more goal-oriented and focused. Some of the best company retreats to invite families to include:

• Large-scale events with activities
• Picnics or outdoor games
• Holiday parties

If you are planning a work-related outing for your team and would like to encourage employees to include their families in the event, be sure to offer a range of activities that attendees of all ages can enjoy. One easy way to do this is to find a location that offers a variety of activities for team members and their families to choose from.

Family-Friendly Company Outing Activities

Many work retreats encourage team-building exercises as part of their itinerary. These help generate a stronger sense of comradery and cooperation. If you’re struggling to find ways to include your employees and their family members in group activities, look no further than the following:

• Tug-of-war
• Relays and races
• Treasure or scavenger hunts
• Go-karting or bumper cars
• Trail hiking

The most important aspect of selecting group activities is that you plan for individuals who may not want to participate. Certain events may be too rigorous or physically demanding for guests like expectant mothers or anyone with a small child, so be sure to incorporate some more low-impact activities such as trivia, board games, or puzzles.

When Not to Invite Family to a Company Retreat

It can be a great deal of fun to have your coworkers interacting with and getting to know your family in a relaxed and engaging environment. However, certain situations may not be improved by the presence of spouses, relatives, or children.

When a company outing is strategically designed to include activities like brainstorming sessions, project planning, and work-related seminars, family members should not be included. These types of retreats are geared toward education and development—things that can be hindered by the presence of family members, especially young children. Not only will it be difficult for an employee to focus if they are at an event with their family, but the attendee’s family also may not be as interested in your quarterly sales as the rest of the group. It’s a negative experience all around, and one that can easily be avoided by refraining from inviting family members to work-centered company retreats.

If you are attempting to stay on a budget for the event, it may also be a good idea to avoid extending invitations to more than the necessary number of attendees. Including family members in an event can be costly, regardless of the activity. Companies looking to shave a few dollars off of their event budget should consider only inviting team members, supervisors, and managers.

Plan a Family-Friendly Work Retreat at Frogbridge Events

Company outings can be stressful to plan, especially if you are including a large group of people that includes team members and their families. Here at Frogbridge Events, we make it easy for you to plan a safe and memorable retreat for attendees of all ages with our menu of exciting activities and 86-acres of natural beauty in Central New Jersey. If you’re ready to take your work outing to the next level, contact Frogbridge Events and start planning your next amazing company retreat today. You can reach us at (609) 208-9475 or contact us online for more information about our grounds, activities, and facilities.

Taking on the challenge of planning the ultimate team-building company picnic is exciting. However, if you have no clue where to start, this task may feel daunting. When it comes to planning a company event outdoors, it is your job to ensure everything is taken care of and runs smoothly while managing your other job responsibilities. Feeling anxious and stressed about how your event will turn out is common, but don’t be discouraged. The following information will provide you with insightful information on how to organize a successful and eventful company picnic. 

Steps for Planning a Fun Outdoor Company Picnic  

If you’re looking for advice on how to plan a lively company picnic, you’re in luck. Depending on the type of picnic or event your hosting, there may be different details you’ll need to think about and prepare. However, with any type of team-building company event, there are four steps you must take to ensure it’s productive and consistent with your expectations. Read on to discover the best next steps to achieve just that!  

Consider Your Goals

The main question to ask yourself when planning your company picnic is, “What’s the purpose of the event?” Before jumping into little tasks like searching for vendors, sending out invitations, and securing a venue, focus on identifying your vision and goals for the event.

If your goal is to produce a thoughtful and powerful getaway that encourages collaboration, boosts morale, and builds connections through engaging and friendly competition, then you’re already one step closer to organizing the perfect company picnic.

Set the Tone

After you conceptualize your company picnic, get your crew pumped up for a fun-filled weekend. When most people hear the word “team building,” they think of awkward and boring ice breakers. If people on your team go into the picnic with a negative outlook, others will start to feel the same.

Before you leave for the picnic, call for a company meeting. This is where you can set the tone, state your goals for the picnic, and show your team that this picnic will be memorable. Some things you can mention in the meeting to spur up excitement include:

• Delicious catered food
• Competitive activities
• Entertainment
• Other games and prizes

After all their hard work, this is an opportunity for your team to take part in a transformational and inspiring event– one that is sure to have them feeling like kids again.

Let Your Team Have Some Free-Time

Once your company arrives at the picnic, don’t try to rush it. Give your team the ability to adjust to life outside the office and take in the smell of fresh air. After all, this is an event for them– therefore, let them roam around, relax, mingle, and of course, get pepped-up once they see how much effort you put into making this picnic unique.

It is critical that members on your team have the time to engage in personal conversations face to face, especially if most of their work is independent or remote. Meeting in person, without the worries of work tasks, is now largely about connecting and bonding intimately, and less about focusing on work talk.

Incorporate Friendly Competitions

The most important thing you can do to make your company picnic one worth remembering is to incorporate friendly competitions to inspire employee engagement. There are several different types of enticing team-building activities and games that you can include in your company picnic that will spark up and challenge your team. Here is a list of company picnic game ideas and activities to help inspire employee engagement:

• Cornhole tournament
• Karaoke
• Treasure hunt
• Board game tournament
• Sporting events
• Water activities
• Giant scrabble
• Giant Jenga
• Carnival like games
• Putting greens
• Company Trivia

The list goes on, but the main point is to include games that require your employees to get up, think hard, and collaborate with their peers. To make the thrill of winning even more attractive, include game winner prizes and incentives. Not only does a little competition never hurt anyone, but it can help your team build self-confidence and learn something new about themselves and their coworkers.

Still Not Sure Where to Start? Contact Frogbridge Picnics & Events for Support

An outdoor company picnic is the perfect opportunity for everyone at the office to take a break and feel appreciated for all that they do. Planning this by yourself might seem overwhelming, which is why our Central NJ corporate event venues is here to alleviate any of the troubles you have. 

When you choose to host your outdoor corporate event or company picnic at Frogbridge Events, our devoted event planners will help with the details to make your event an exceptional one. From building the ideal menu to creating a personalized website, our comprehensive planning process provides an incomparable and care-free experience for your corporate event or company picnic. To start planning your company picnic at Frogbridge, please complete our contact form or call our office today at (609) 208-9475.