12 Ideas for Alcohol-Free Team Builders in Vancouver
You may have noticed more non-alcoholic beverages have been added to the shelves as you have shopped in your local grocery store. This category is growing and, in fact, “the Non-Alcoholic Drinks market is expected to show a volume growth of 6.1% in 2023”. 1
This trend isn’t just about personal preferences; it is also the preferred option for some businesses. For a range of reasons, many employees and employers are choosing to move away from alcohol-focused team-building experiences. A few reasons include liability, misalignment with corporate values, governance compliance, lack of interest/lifestyle choices of the employees and cost.
Just because you can’t have alcohol at work doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time together. Here are some ideas to bring teams together without having to hit a local pub or partake in alcoholic beverages.
Bike Around Stanley Park & The Seawall
Rent some bikes and bike around Stanley Park and the seawall. Vancouver has amazing bike paths around the seawall that could take a team on an adventure from Stanley Park to Granville Island. Pop into the Granville Island market and grab some food from the food court for an outdoor picnic. If the team is up for more, ride to Spanish Banks to eat your food there.
· Physical activity - moderate
Play Some Lawn Bowling
Lawn bowling is a great outdoor activity for a team-building afternoon. Stanley Park has a lawn bowling facility that can be booked for team outings. It’s a fun, at times competitive, way to spend time together as a team.
· Physical activity - low
Soak up the Arts at the Vancouver Art Gallery
The Vancouver Art Gallery is a stunning place to get some inspiration. With new exhibits cycling in and out of the art gallery, there’s bound to be an exhibit to inspire your team.
· Arts & Culture focused
· Wheelchair accessible
Go Axe Throwing
Looking for a bold, competitive and fun activity for your teams? Book an axe throwing session. Forged Axe Throwing in Whistler makes for a great day excursion. Consider booking a conference room for the day for corporate strategic planning and then end your day with axe throwing. It will be a blast and you’ll have lots of stories to share over dinner.
· Physical activity - moderate
· Day-trip excursion (transportation required)
Book an Escape Room
Who doesn’t love a puzzle? Challenge your team to solve riddles, crack the codes and break themselves out of a local escape room. Escape rooms are a great way to work together as a team and no alcohol is required, in fact, you might be grateful you haven’t had any as you work to solve complex puzzles.
· Mental activity
· Physical activity - low
Visit the Museum of Anthropology
The MOA (Museum of Anthropology), located on the University of BC’s campus, is a stunning building to explore. The MOA is a place of world arts and cultures with a special emphasis on the First Nations peoples and other cultural communities of British Columbia, Canada. It’s a great way to appreciate our Indigenous community and to learn more about the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest.
· Arts & Culture focused
· Indigenous culture
· Wheelchair accessible
Hit the Trails
Take a break and get out into nature. Walk UBC’s Endowment Lands for a moderate to easy trail or hit North Van for a range of more challenging hikes. For a team looking for a challenge, try out the Grouse Grind. If you’re looking to explore nature but not work up a big sweat, visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Note that you will be required to pay to walk the bridge.
· Physical activity - moderate to hard
Take a Cooking Class
Sign your team up to take a cooking class and learn how to make anything from pasta, and dumplings through to deserts. Partner with the Dirty Apron or for remote teams try out a virtual cooking class.
· Culinary experience
· Physical activity - low
Hit the Rec Room
Brentwood Mall has added the Rec Room which has 43,000 square feet of games, food and entertainment. Feel like a kid again playing ping pong, arcade-style games or check out their state-of-the-art virtual reality. It’s a great activity for teams looking to have some fun.
· Physical activity - low
· Food onsite
Go Bowling
Take the team for an afternoon of bowling. Visit Commodore Lanes downtown or Grandview Lanes on Commercial Drive near the Commercial Broadway SkyTrain station. This classic activity is fun while being a bit competitive.
· Physical activity - low
Play Pitch & Putt
Visit Queen Elizabeth Park and play some Pitch & Putt. It offers beautiful views of the city as well as a playful way to enjoy the natural beauty of the park. You don’t need to be a golf expert to enjoy this activity.
· Physical Activity - Moderate
Get Artsy
Bring in a painting expert or work with Luminous Elephant to create the perfect, crafty, team-building activity. Get those creative juices going and challenge your team to do something new with an art workshop.
· Physical activity - low
Vancouver has a lot to offer from cultural experiences to stunning outdoor activities. If you are planning a non-drinking team builder try out one of these suggestions. The team is bound to have a great time.
If you want help planning your team-building activity, we’d be happy to chat.
1 - Statista
About KindCo
KindCo is a Vancouver-based brand engagement consultancy that specializes in employee engagement and corporate events. We bring people together through the art of gathering.
Founder, Nikki Hedstrom, has over 15 years experience as a brand engagement and event specialist.
