Surrey is British Columbia’s second most highly populated city (after Vancouver), known for its thriving south Asian community, chill beachside neigbourhoods, and vibrant cultural festivals. With 6,000 acres of natural green spaces, beautiful tidal beaches, and a prominent metropolitan scene, Surrey offers a little something for everyone if you know where to look.
While the smaller city can be overshadowed by all that downtown Vancouver has to offer, Surrey is home to many hidden gems that offer event organizers a world of team building activity opportunities. In this list, we’ve gathered 11 must-try Surrey team building destinations that your team will actually enjoy.
Table of Contents
- 1. Mainland Whiskey Tour
- 2. Corporate Castaways
- 3. Aggarwal Sweets Tasting
- 4. Team Pursuit
- 5. Crescent Beach Day Trip
- 6. Group Beeswax Candle Making Class
- 7. Cardboard Boat Building Challenge
- 8. Inspired Journaling at Surrey Art Gallery
- 9. Picnic Party Games
- 10. 1001 Steps Challenge
- 11. Ambush Paintball
- Conclusion
1. Mainland Whiskey Tour
If you’re looking for a sophisticated way to unwind with your team, a local whiskey tasting could be perfect for your next team building event. Mainland Whiskey, while not affiliated with Outback Team Building, is a well-known American-style whiskey distillery celebrated for its award-winning tasting lounge and engaging guided tours. Whether your team is curious about the history and science of distilling or simply eager to sip some top-notch whiskey, this spot will be a hit for a wide range of teams.
Not into Whiskey? The lounge also offers a diverse array of unique and delicious cocktails that cater to every palate. Make the event even more memorable with a post-visit quiz that will test your team’s newfound whiskey knowledge and spark some friendly competition.
2. Corporate Castaways
If your team is ready to tap into their adventurous side and put their survival skills to the test, Corporate Castaways is the ultimate Outback Team Building experience. Inspired by survival-style competitions, participants will break into “tribes” and face a series of physical and mental challenges that require collaboration, creativity, and communication to emerge victorious.
From creating a unique team name to tackling physical and mental challenges, your team will bond, strategize, and thrive off some friendly rivalry. Head to Bear Creek Park, Tynehead Regional Park, or one of Surrey’s other urban parks and transform an open green space into your teams personal arena for this fun, high-energy team building activity.
3. Aggarwal Sweets Tasting
Got a few sweet tooths on your team? Aggarwal Sweets is the perfect stop. This 100% vegetarian, upscale Indian restaurant offers visitors a menu rich with authentic desserts as well as mouth-watering savoury dishes. Whether your team is familiar with Indian cuisine or trying it for the first time, this team building activity will bond your team through a fun, flavorful experience. To spark lively conversation, lead your team in an icebreaker question relevant to the dishes, such as “what was your childhood comfort food?” or “if you could only eat one cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be?”. These prompts are fantastic for connection, culture sharing, and a few laughs over a yummy dessert.
4. Team Pursuit
If you’re looking for an energizing team building activity that you can do anytime, anywhere, Team Pursuit is one of our signature Outback Team Building activities designed to get everyone involved. Led by one of our experienced Outback hosts, your group will be divided into smaller teams and race against the clock to complete over 80 challenges that are designed to test a wide range of skill sets—from problem solving and communication to creativity and athleticism. Every team member becomes an asset in this fun competition.
After downloading a mobile app, teams will strategize to tackle each exciting task, strengthening their collaboration and connection with every challenge conquered. Team Pursuit is perfect for all group sizes and abilities, with a focus on inclusion and diversity in its challenges. The best part? Team Pursuit can be hosted anywhere in Surrey with a network connection—whether it be hosted in one of the city’s many urban parks or right in the office.
5. Crescent Beach Day Trip
Sometimes, all it takes to create lasting team memories is an ice cream cone, sunshine, and a sandy beach. Crescent Beach, located in South Surrey, offers teams the ultimate summer day trip. With its bustling pier, scenic walking trails, and stunning coastline, Crescent Beach is a fantastic spot to unwind, reconnect, and soak up Surrey’s most valued coastal gem.
Start your day at Martino’s Cappuccino & Coffee Bar, a local hotspot for traditional gelato and sorbetto that offers visitors nothing short of 110 flavors to choose from. Once everyone has their scoop, head to the shoreline and set up camp with gorgeous views of Boundary Bay and North Shore mountains. Whether you organize a group swim, volleyball match, or sandcastle competition, your team leave the day closer, calmer, and a little tanner.
6. Group Beeswax Candle Making Class
Honeybee Centre is a farm, educational facility, and beloved Surrey attraction dedicated to sharing the vital role bees play in our ecosystem and promoting sustainable farming practices. From private tours and engaging workshops to hands-on beekeeping courses, Honeybee Centre is the perfect escape into the fascinating world of the bee.
For a creative and relaxing team building activity, book your team for a Beeswax Candle Making session. Your group will come together in a workshop to learn the art of creating gorgeous, homemade beeswax candles. Take the activity a step further by hosting a friendly candle-making competition, with the winning prize being a fresh jar of the farm’s honey. As the activity wraps, your team will leave feeling rejuvenated, connected, and buzzing with a newfound appreciation for our little pollinator friends.
7. Cardboard Boat Building Challenge
Have you ever made a functional boat using only cardboard and basic supplies? Now is your chance! The Cardboard Boat Building activity is a facilitator-led Outback Team Building activity that challenges your team to design, build, and launch a seaworthy cardboard vessel—all in the name of victory (or a hilarious wipeout).
Teams will work together to brainstorm their boat’s design, turn cardboard into a seaworthy masterpiece, and race their vessels in a dramatic on-the-water competition. An ideal activity for a warm sunny day, this outdoor team building activity is perfect at Crescent Beach, Blackie Spit Park, or any of Surrey’s indoor pools. Throughout this fun, splashy activity, your team will have a blast collaborating, problem-solving, and thinking outside of the box!
8. Inspired Journaling at Surrey Art Gallery
If you have art lovers on your team, Surrey Art Gallery is guaranteed to leave your group feeling reflective and inspired. Surrey Art Gallery is an internationally renowned contemporary art gallery, offering visitors regular guided tours, courses, and regularly changing exhibitions.
Begin your visit by providing your team with journals and pens, asking them to jot down which artworks resonate with them, what emotions the pieces evoke, and what specific artworks can connect to your organizations core values (eg, creativity, collaboration, innovation, etc). End the activity with a sharing circle, where team members can share their ideas. Not only will this team building activity spark creativity and reflection, but it also works to reinforce your company’s values through art.
9. Picnic Party Games
Bring your team together for some spirited, lighthearted outdoor fun with Picnic Party Games—an official Outback Team Building activity featuring a vibrant collection of timeless picnic game classics. Guided by a lively event host, participants will divide into smaller teams and tackle a series of exciting challenges presented to them through our Outback web app—from sack races to tug-of-war and more. These fun, dynamic challenges encourage connection, collaboration, and plenty of laughter.
Perfect for any outdoor green space, Picnic Party Games is guaranteed to boost morale, strengthen connections, and leave your team energized at your next team building event.
10. 1001 Steps Challenge
Located in South Surrey, 1001 Steps Trail offers athletically inclined teams a 40-meter winding stairway down to stunning ocean views, local wildlife, and tree-lined coastal trails. After enjoying all the beach has to offer, challenge your team to a spirited (and safe) race back up the stairs, where designated event organizers can record each hiker’s time. The fastest climbers can celebrate their victory with a small trophy, or even just a spirited, well-earned high-five from their peers.
If your team isn’t feeling competitive, opt for a leisurely walk back up the stairs and take in the trails’ native birds, tall trees, and peaceful natural surroundings at everyone’s own pace.
Whether your group is eager for a fitness-based challenge or a calming outdoor retreat, this outdoor team building allows your team a break from their computer screens and an opportunity to enjoy one of Surrey’s most beautiful green spaces. Your team will bond through motivation, movement, and shared appreciation for natural beauty.
11. Ambush Paintball
Looking for a fun, exhilarating team building activity that’s sure to spark laughter, competition, and collaboration? Ambush Paintball is waiting for you. Home to one of British Columbia’s few paintball tournament fields, Ambush Paintball has made a name for itself, ranking as one of the province’s top paintball facilities. While this is not an Outback Team Building activity, it is a fantastic option for teams who seek a high-energy thrill and some out-of-office action.
Kick off the activity by dividing into squads, then bring each group together for pre-game huddles, where squad leaders can rally their groups and strategize a winning game plan. Then, get suited up and enjoy a series of high-energy matches that will leave your team fired up and connected. Finish off the day by crowning the winning paintball squad, exchanging sportsmanlike handshakes, and of course, capturing a legendary victory squad photo.
Conclusion
From independent adventures like paintball to Outback’s wide range of professionally hosted team building experiences, Surrey offers event planners a world of exciting team building adventures to bring teams together. Whether your group is ready to challenge their survival skills, craft their own beeswax candle, or become a cardboard shipwright for the day, there are endless ways to connect, collaborate, and try something new in this vibrant city.
At Outback Team Building, we’re dedicated to inspiring meaningful events for every team dynamic. While organizing a successful team building activity can be daunting, we’re here to make it simple, fun, and effective. Check out our wide range of in-person, self-hosted, and virtual team building activities, or get in touch with us today.
