There is no doubt that in recent years the demand for outdoor team building has grown significantly, following the overall positive trend of the outdoor market. Particularly after the pandemic period, more and more people have felt the need to spend time in Nature.
This trend was also highlighted by the financial newspaper Milano Finanza in a July 2022 article, which reported that already in 2021 the outdoor market in Italy had “grown by +27%, with an overall sell-in increase in Europe of 18.7% compared to 2020 and 7.5% compared to the pre-pandemic period.”
Outdoor Team Building
A trend that has continued to grow over time, increasingly spreading among companies that are now more frequently seeking outdoor team building solutions.
In line with classic market dynamics, as demand increased, so did supply. Today, there are numerous outdoor team building proposals available, many offered by long-established operators in the team building sector who provide a variety of solutions (often supported by external partners).
In October 2021, the Team Building Natura® project was launched—the result of a lifetime of experience and expertise. A unique and innovative Nature-based outdoor team building model dedicated to companies, which we chose to distinguish and enhance by registering the brand.
Why Choose Outdoor
But what makes it so important to organize your next team building outdoors, preferably in Nature (and perhaps in a forest setting)?
Beyond the specific objectives and themes you wish to address in your next corporate team building—which will inevitably influence the choice of location, activities, and overall design—there are several reasons why we encourage you to consider organizing your next team building experience in Nature, regardless of the provider you choose.
Daily Routine
First and foremost, choosing an outdoor team building experience means physically taking your team out of its daily routine, immediately creating the ideal conditions to encourage each team member to step outside their comfort zone and actively engage. This is a fundamental prerequisite for guiding the group through an authentic experience capable of achieving meaningful results.
Immersed in a natural environment, away from the workplace, participants tend to lose sight of the habitual reference points that characterize their everyday professional life. Gradually, they become more inclined to let go of preconceived ideas about themselves and others, setting aside biases and assumptions. Corporate roles and relational dynamics that typically influence interactions temporarily fade into the background, allowing the group to engage in more genuine and authentic dialogue. Team members have the opportunity to rediscover one another, build deeper understanding, and establish new foundations for stronger relationships. All these elements play a decisive role in determining the success and long-term effectiveness of a team building experience.
Curiosity and Discovery
There is another aspect, closely connected to the previous one, that deserves attention. As soon as team members step outside their routine and into a completely new environment, they begin to receive new stimuli. This condition activates the innate sense of curiosity and discovery that resides within each of us—much like when we were children. As a result, participants are immediately more willing to let go, open up to the experience, and experiment.
In such a context, it becomes easier to invite team members to “remove their masks” and engage in a full and authentic experience. Established mental patterns and fixed frameworks begin to dissolve—patterns that often limit creativity and hinder the achievement of desired outcomes.
The Role of Nature
Nature plays the role of co-protagonist in the individual and collective evolutionary process. It acts as an inexhaustible source of inspiration and a powerful facilitator, guiding team members in discovering aspects they often overlook and offering the opportunity to identify new and innovative solutions.
In what way?
Within Team Building Natura®, for example, Nature’s valuable contribution takes shape through an activity we call “Elements Coaching.” Thanks to its flexibility, this approach can be used to address a wide range of topics:
- overcoming challenges and obstacles;
- guiding the group in identifying new strategies, defining goals, long-term plans, and action plans;
- fostering mutual understanding among team members and integration across departments or different business units;
- stimulating lateral thinking;
- strengthening essential business skills such as listening, emotional intelligence, and empathy;
- working on trust and the creation of environments based on trust and psychological safety;
- supporting individuals and teams in their growth journeys through tailor-made transformative team building experiences.
These are only a few examples, demonstrating how Nature can provide concrete support within organizational contexts—support that until recently was difficult even to imagine. Today, it is a tangible reality.
Physical and Mental Well-Being
Finally, we cannot overlook the intrinsic benefits of organizing a team building experience in Nature, which we explored in detail in a dedicated article on our blog.
In that article, we described how immersing oneself in a natural environment immediately generates a widespread sense of physical and mental well-being. We explained how, particularly through the action of phytoncides and Mycobacterium vaccae, Nature promotes stress reduction, helping to prevent burnout and tension, while also strengthening the immune system. Thanks to the presence of negative ions, Nature is also capable of stimulating creativity.
These elements are extremely valuable, as they help activate learning centers and create a state of physical and mental well-being in which team members are more inclined to fully engage with the experience, experiment without constraints or judgment, and maximize the benefits of the process.
Formats Designed Specifically for You
Regardless of your goals and objectives, we encourage you to choose an outdoor setting for your next corporate team building experience, as the benefits are truly extensive. With the wide range of options now available on the market, you will certainly find the solution best suited to your needs.
When making your choice, remember that through the Team Building Natura® formats we can help you achieve any desired outcome. Our projects are always tailor-made and meticulously designed. We support you from the very beginning to the last step, overseeing every phase of your team building experience. Together, we transform each experience into tangible value for your organization. And that ‘s exactly what fulfills us: Crafting Outdoor Team Building Experiences.
