Whether you are a professional meeting planner hosting a conference or a local business searching for ways to engage your employees, Albany County offers an array of team building activities. Ranging from creative, to adventurous, to relaxing, these experiences will help your team step up its game! And best of all, these fun activities showcase the unique attributes of Albany County that will inspire pride for locals and adventure for visitors. Scroll on for top team building activities in Albany, New York.
Outdoor Adventures
Plan an outdoor adventure for your team to enjoy the beauty of nature while building valuable relationships. Bring your meeting attendees or employees to WildPlay Thacher to let off some steam! Nestled high above Albany in the scenic John Boyd Thacher State Park, this outdoor adventure course boasts ziplines, rope swings, swinging logs, wobbly bridges and more. It is the ideal spot to get the whole team in on a high-flying adventure. Does your team need a change of perspective? Embark on a paddling adventure with Upstate Kayak Rentals. With the self-serve Kayak Rental Hub at the Corning Preserve Boat Launch, conveniently book and unlock a pair of kayaks with a cell phone. Paddle down the river to the next connecting hub location at the Henry Hudson Park in Bethlehem. The change of scenery will help spark creativity and give your team a chance to experience the historic Hudson River!
Explore Local Attractions on a Tour
Meeting attendees from out-of-town will get a kick out of discovering Albany on a tour. If you are a local company, your employees will love becoming a tourist in their own backyard for an afternoon! Climb aboard the USS Slater DE766, the last Destroyer Escort afloat in the United States, to explore the historic ship deck-by-deck and learn stories about the brave men who lived and fought on board the ship. Many of Albany's historic sites such as Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, the Underground Railroad Education Center, Ten Broeck Mansion and Historic Cherry Hill offer immersive guided tours that give a glimpse into the city's 400 year-old history. Cruise along the scenic Hudson River with Dutch Apple Cruises to admire Albany's stunning skyline views and to uncover the city's historic connection to the waterway. Sightseeing cruises are narrated by a Hudson River Historian who tells tales of Albany and points out landmark sights along the river.
Get Creative
A great way to spark creativity with your employees or meeting attendees is to tap into their artistic side. The Albany Art Room, nestled on New Scotland Ave, is a welcoming space that encourages everyone to embrace their inner artist. Sign your team up for one of the offered classes or reach out to learn about opportunities for private open studio space for groups. The Pottery Place, located in Stuyvesant Plaza, offers reservations for studio time to paint pottery! Reserve a table or two and have your team paint fun pieces of pottery together. The Pottery Place also offers art to-go. Order online and pay for your pottery, then choose your colors and pick up the pieces in the studio. Bring the pottery back to your office for a pottery painting party! Once everyone has finished painting, bring the pieces back to the studio to be fired and glazed. Another option is Painting With A Twist, located on New Loudon Road in Latham, which offers private paint and sip parties or take-home kits. Or to get creative by using your baking skills, book the Nelly's Treats newly renovated event space and learn how to make some delicious treats to take home.
Fun & Games
Sometimes the best team building activities are those where everyone can relax and unwind together! The Yard: Hatchet House and Bar has something for everyone on your team to enjoy. The unique venue, located the heart of downtown Albany, boasts axe-throwing, themed greenhouses, Boozy Moo! ice cream, locally-inspired cocktails, and an indoor lawn for cornhole, ladderball and more. Located on North Pearl Street, Far Shot Albany offers axe throwing, knife throwing and archery. These activities are competitive, but can make for a fun, out-of-the-box team building experience.
Crossgates, the largest shopping, dining and entertainment destination in the Capital Region, is home to many experiences perfect for team building. Dive into deep space, a castle complete with a dragon or an ancient tomb with an immersive, live-action adventure at 5 Wits that will have your team feeling like they just starred in an action-packed movie. Roll into fun with bowling, test puzzle-solving skills in an escape room, play popular arcade games and much more at Apex Entertainment. Bring your employees or meeting attendees to Get Air Trampoline Park to let off some steam on wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits, dodge balls courts and a ninja warrior course.
Volunteer
Build relationships among your team members or meeting attendees by volunteering. The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY has group volunteer opportunities available at its warehouses in Latham and the Patroon Land Farm in Voorheesville. The Food Pantries of the Capital Region are also always looking for more volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks. Group volunteer opportunities are available with the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society to work with the "Empties for Animals" team sorting donated bottles and cans. Searching for a comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities in the Capital Region? The United Way of the Great Capital Region has you covered with United to Volunteer, a website with tons of information on volunteer opportunities.
