30 Best Team Building Activities Chicago IL Offers Corporate Teams

Searching for team building activities Chicago IL? Look no further! This guide highlights top activities that can enhance teamwork and boost morale. From unique venues to exciting outings, discover the best options for your team below.

Key Takeaways

• Chicago offers a diverse array of team-building activities, from interactive games and culinary experiences to tours and creative workshops.
• Many locations can accommodate large groups, ensuring options for both small teams and corporate gatherings, enhancing camaraderie and communication.
• Activities like escape rooms, cooking classes, and outdoor tours not only promote teamwork but also create memorable shared experiences that strengthen team bonds.

Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club

At the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, immerse your team in a world of retro charm and modern bar energy. Engage in shuffleboard games, oversized board games, and savor offerings from food trucks. The laid-back yet vibrant atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for team bonding.

Able to host up to 700 people, this versatile space suits gatherings of all sizes. Join seasonal shuffleboard leagues or enjoy a casual game to foster social interaction and team engagement at the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club.

WhirlyBall Chicago

WhirlyBall Chicago offers a unique blend of bumper cars, lacrosse, hockey, and basketball, creating a thrilling and competitive experience for team outings. Riding in bumper cars while aiming to score promotes teamwork and camaraderie like no other.

Besides WhirlyBall, the venue offers bowling, laser tag, and pop-up games, ensuring a variety of activities for everyone. Located at 1825 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL, it is wheelchair accessible, making it inclusive for all.

WhirlyBall can host up to 200 participants, making it suitable for any team outing. Small teams or large gatherings will find WhirlyBall Chicago an excellent choice for fostering team spirit and breaking down barriers.

AceBounce

AceBounce provides a stylish setting for friendly competition in ping pong tournaments, beer pong, and shuffleboard. The full-service bar with craft cocktails, gourmet bites, and DJ music creates a lively atmosphere ideal for team bonding.

Offering team-building packages and a capacity for up to 550 guests, AceBounce is suited for large corporate events or intimate team outings. Its engaging activities and vibrant atmosphere make it a standout choice for team-building adventures.

The Escape Game Chicago

At The Escape Game Chicago, teams can immerse themselves in themed challenges such as:

• The Heist
• Prison Break
• Gold Rush. 

Solving puzzles, deciphering codes, and unraveling mysteries together strengthens team bonds and helps them break free, creating memorable experiences.

Designed for a 60-minute mission, the escape rooms require teams to collaborate to ‘escape’, creating a thrilling adventure team-building activity. Lighthearted and family-friendly themes ensure participation and enjoyment for everyone.

Conveniently located near popular Chicago attractions, The Escape Game Chicago is easily accessible for team outings and can handle large groups with the help of a dedicated event coordinator.

Backyard Axe Throwing League

The Backyard Axe Throwing League (BATL) provides a unique and exhilarating team-building experience with the following features:

• Participants can learn axe throwing from dedicated coaches in a safe and fun environment.
• It accommodates up to 200 participants.
• It’s a versatile choice for team outings.

Besides axe throwing, BATL offers:

• A hangout area for socializing
• Food and drink services, including local beers and customized food platters
• Trophies and branded merchandise for competitions, adding extra excitement to the event.

Punch Bowl Social Chicago

Located in the lively Fulton Market District, Punch Bowl Social Chicago offers a comfortable and fun environment for team gatherings. The venue features shuffleboard, ping pong, and bowling, fostering friendly competition.

Industrial-chic aesthetics and vintage decor create a vibrant atmosphere, ideal for team-building activities. Comfort food options like chicken and waffles, along with shareable plates, ensure a delightful dining experience.

Flight Club

Flight Club provides a modern darts experience in a stylish venue, blending socializing with friendly competition. Customizable events and dedicated hosts ensure a tailored experience for each team.

Food and drink packages for sharing, an interactive leaderboard, and awards for winners make Flight Club an engaging and memorable team-building adventure.

Pinstripes Chicago

Pinstripes Chicago offers a fun mix of upscale bowling lanes and bocce ball, creating a memorable team-building experience. A cozy fireplace and scenic patio views provide an elegant setting for team events.

Able to accommodate group events from 1 to 1,000 people, Pinstripes suits various team sizes. After the games, enjoy an Italian-American dinner, combining delicious food with a charming dining experience.

KOVAL Distillery

KOVAL Distillery, Chicago’s first distillery since the mid-1800s, offers tailored corporate experiences like private tours, cocktail classes, and whiskey workshops. Participants enjoy guided spirit tastings and hands-on cocktail mixing, enhancing team learning and bonding.

Interactive experiences at KOVAL Distillery foster bonding while exploring the craft of fine spirits. The rich distilling heritage and organic craftsmanship of KOVAL’s spirits make it a unique and engaging venue for team-building activities.

Chicago Dine-Around

Chicago Dine-Around provides interactive dining experiences, including murder mystery scavenger hunts and escape room dining. These culinary events foster teamwork through collaborative activities that enhance communication and problem-solving skills.

The Progressive Dining Tour lets participants enjoy appetizers at one restaurant, a main course at another, and dessert at a third, offering a diverse dining experience. The Architectural Dining Experience combines a scenic cruise along the Chicago River with a meal, showcasing stunning views of the city’s architecture.

Teams can engage in interactive culinary experiences, working with ingredients and competing, making Chicago Dine-Around a versatile and enjoyable team-building option.

Wateriders Kayak Tour

Wateriders Kayak Tour offers guided tours with unique views of downtown Chicago’s architecture and waterways. Designed for all skill levels, the tours ensure a welcoming environment for beginners.

With various kayak tours like Sunset Paddle and Moonlight Paddle, teams can choose their preferred adventure. Wateriders also offers free on-water training for those needing extra help, making it ideal for team-building activities.

Chicago Scavenger Hunt

The Chicago Scavenger Hunt provides customizable activities tailored to specific team goals, enhancing engagement and collaboration. Participants explore neighborhoods and landmarks while solving puzzles, promoting creativity and teamwork.

The scavenger hunt can include photo challenges that promote creativity, making it a fun and educational way to learn about Chicago’s history and culture.

The Chopping Block

With nearly 30 years of culinary education experience, The Chopping Block offers hands-on cooking classes for all skill levels. Participants engage in practical techniques in a supportive environment, enhancing their cooking confidence.

Cooking together develops important skills like communication and time management, fostering team bonding and problem-solving on a culinary journey. Afterward, teams can enjoy the meal together, creating a shared and memorable experience by joining cooking classes, bringing the team closer.

Absolutely Chicago Segway Tours

Absolutely Chicago Segway Tours offer informative and entertaining explorations of the city’s landmarks and scenic areas. The Segway city tours provide a fun and unique way to see Chicago, including haunted and architecture-focused themes.

The Segway is a self-balancing vehicle, easy to learn for anyone who can stand. The tours suit all skill levels, requiring no prior experience, and provide memorable photo opportunities.

360 Chicago Observation Deck

The 360 Chicago Observation Deck offers panoramic views from the John Hancock Center, making it ideal for small group events. Teams can celebrate accomplishments while enjoying breathtaking views of the city skyline and Lake Michigan.

The TILT ride offers a unique thrill, tilting visitors over the edge of the observation deck at over 1,000 feet high, adding excitement to the experience. Imagine standing afterward, teams can gather at CloudBar to enjoy cocktails and unwind.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo offers top team building activities that:

• Encourage collaboration and problem-solving without technology
• Involve participants in hands-on challenges
• Enhance creativity
• Foster teamwork

The natural setting of Lincoln Park Zoo provides an ideal backdrop for outdoor team-building exercises focused on wildlife education and communication. These activities help teams communicate and make collective decisions under time pressure.

Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry, the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, offers interactive experiences perfect for team building. Hands-on exhibits encourage active participation, enhancing learning and fostering engagement among team members.

Teams can work together to solve challenges and explore scientific concepts through interactive installations. The museum offers unique educational programs designed to foster scientific curiosity and promote collaboration, making it an ideal venue for corporate groups.

The Second City

Improv workshops at The Second City aim to improve communication, creativity, and trust among co-workers. Participants are encouraged to engage and support each other, fostering camaraderie and enhancing team collaboration.

Besides workshops, The Second City offers entertaining sketch and improv comedy shows for a light-hearted team outing. Located at 230 W North Ave, Chicago, IL, the venue can accommodate groups of 1-100 people, making it a versatile team-building option.

Millennium Park

Buzzing with energy and reflecting Chicago’s culture, Millennium Park is perfect for team-building activities in Chicago. Teams can engage in free events and explore public art installations that promote creativity and collaboration, making it an ideal spot for Chicago team building activities.

The park’s vibrant atmosphere and iconic landmarks make it ideal for the next team outing, providing numerous opportunities for team bonding inside and shared experiences, including outdoor adventures that strengthen the team bond.

Murder Mystery Party

The Murder Mystery Co. offers interactive murder mystery dinner parties that encourage team collaboration and problem-solving. Participants enhance their skills in a thrilling and engaging team-building event.

Themes like A Dance With Death, Death of a Gangster, and The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year ensure a unique experience each time for murder mystery parties.

Events can be held in offices, colleagues’ homes, or rented private parties venues, providing flexibility for any team outing, no matter the occasion.

Wendella's Tours and Cruises

Operating for over 90 years, Wendella’s Tours and Cruises offer architecture and history cruises that showcase stunning views of Chicago. The tours provide a unique perspective on the city’s skyline and architectural styles, highlighting over 50 skyscrapers, bascule bridges, and historic sites.

The architecture tour features both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, providing diverse views of the city’s landmarks. With climate-controlled cabins and outdoor seating, Wendella ensures comfort during tours regardless of the weather, making it a reliable option for team-building activities.

Get a Grip Trapeze

Get a Grip Trapeze is Chicago’s only flying trapeze school, offering various circus arts classes for all ages. Classes include:

• Flying trapeze
• Silks
• Aerial sling
• Trampoline training 

These classes provide a challenging and fun activity that enhances team spirit.

Team members learn the basics of flying trapeze, promoting teamwork and personal growth through shared challenges. The venue also hosts unique events such as corporate outings and birthday parties, making it a versatile space for team building.

Music Box Theater

The Music Box Theater offers the following:

• Accommodates groups of 1-150 people
• Provides group discounts for parties of 20 or more for various screenings and events
• Offers private rentals for corporate events and team outings, providing a unique cinematic experience

Groups can enjoy a variety of films, including classic and independent movies, enhancing the group experience with a charming and nostalgic atmosphere. The Music Box Theater is ideal for team-building events that require a more relaxed and entertaining environment.

Chinatown Adventure Food Tour

The Chinatown Adventure Food Tour focuses on exploring Chinese cuisine, customs, and history, providing a rich cultural experience for teams. Participants can enjoy a variety of Chinese dishes, including dim sum, Szechuan meals, and milk egg tarts at five different restaurants.

Guides share stories about the historical and cultural significance of both Old and New Chinatown, helping participants appreciate diversity while bonding over mouthwatering food. The tour offers insights into traditional Chinese etiquette and customs, making it both an educational and enjoyable team-building adventure.

Sky High Cinema: Rooftop Cinemas

Rooftop cinemas offer an enjoyable outdoor movie experience while allowing teams to watch films beneath the stars with stunning city views. The seating arrangement includes comfortable lounge seats or love seats for two, enhancing the relaxation factor during movie nights.

Food and drink options include classic cinema snacks, as well as alcoholic beverages for guests over 21, making it an excellent choice for summer team-building events. The venue can be rented for private events, offering complete packages for corporate gatherings or special occasions.

Pete's Dueling Piano Bar

Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar is known for its high-energy musical shows that feature a mix of current hits and classic songs, creating an engaging environment for team events. Audience participation is a key feature of the experience, making it a memorable outing for everyone involved.

Group reservations are encouraged to secure the best seating and ensure a great experience for team events. The vibrant atmosphere and live performances at Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar make it an ideal venue for team celebrations and corporate outings.

Chicago Gangster and Ghosts Tour

The Chicago Gangster and Ghosts Tour focuses on the historical era of the 1920s-30s, highlighting the era’s significance in organized crime and governance during Prohibition. The tour includes:

• Starting at the Chicago Riverwalk
• Covering approximately two miles over two hours
• Combining stories of notorious gangsters
• Visiting haunted locations

Participants often express a sense of excitement and engagement due to the guide’s storytelling approach, which brings the history to life. The private tour is a thrilling destination and educational way for teams to bond over shared experiences and learn about Chicago’s rich history.

Goose Island Taproom

Goose Island Taproom offers a vibrant atmosphere perfect for team bonding, featuring:

• Brewery tours
• Live entertainment
• Food
• Beer tasting

The taproom can accommodate events for 1-100 people, making it suitable for both small and large groups.

Private event inquiries can be made via email to the taproom’s event coordinator, ensuring a personalized experience for corporate events and team outings. The combination of craft beer and a lively environment makes Goose Island Taproom a standout choice for team-building activities.

Virtual Reality at Redline VR

Redline VR offers high-octane adventures, mind-bending puzzles, and creative exploration, making it an exciting venue for team-building activities. The multiplayer options encourage teamwork and strategic planning, fostering collaboration among team members.

The facility offers:

• State-of-the-art VR technology for an immersive experience
• Opportunities for teams to engage in thrilling combat scenarios or cooperative challenges
• A spacious lounge area for teams to debrief and socialize after their VR experience, enhancing the overall bonding experience.

Wrigley Field Tour

Wrigley Field, an iconic landmark and historic stadium in Chicago, offers a unique team-building experience with a rich baseball history. Tours last approximately 75 to 90 minutes and provide behind-the-scenes access, allowing teams to walk on the field, visit dugouts, and learn about the ballpark’s history.

Located at 1060 W Addison St, Chicago, IL, Wrigley Field is easily accessible from downtown, making it a convenient option for team outings.

Whether you’re a baseball fan or just looking for a unique team-building activity, the Wrigley Field Tour is a memorable experience for everyone.

Summary

In summary, Chicago offers a diverse range of team-building activities that cater to various interests and group sizes. From competitive games like WhirlyBall and axe throwing to immersive experiences like escape rooms and culinary tours, there’s something for every team in the Windy City.

These activities not only foster collaboration and problem-solving skills but also create memorable experiences that strengthen team bonds. So, whether you’re planning a small team outing or a large corporate event, Chicago has the perfect activity to boost your team spirit and create lasting memories.