Here is our list of the best team building activities in Chicago, Illinois.
Team building activities in Chicago are ways you can bond and spend quality time with your colleagues in the Windy City. For example, your team can explore Navy Pier or watch a show at The Chicago Theatre. These activities exist to break the ice, improve communication, and motivate employees.
These ideas span indoor team building, outdoor team building, small group team building, and large group icebreakers.
These ideas are similar to Chicago corporate event ideas, group activities in Chicago, and Chicago corporate outings.
This list includes:
- team building activities for small groups in Chicago, IL
- team building activities for large groups in Chicago, Illinois
- team building activities for adults in Chicago
- corporate team building ideas in Chicago
Let’s get started!
List of team building activities in Chicago
A team building activity can be a learning exercise or even a fun experience that helps reduce stress. From touring The Lake Effect Brewing Company to playing Fox in a Box Escape Game, here are activities you can do in Chicago to build your team:
1. Museum Hack
Museum Hack organizes a museum tour for groups in Chicago. The two-hour tour will give your team the best experience in museum galleries. While you gain insight into the exhibitions, you will also play games and do icebreaker activities. For a fun-filled experience, your tour guides will narrate stories to your group. This fully hosted tour is one of the best corporate team building activities in Chicago. Your group can expect a lively and highly engaging experience.
Learn more about Museum Hack.
2. The Art of Storytelling
The Art of Storytelling is a fully hosted training where you learn storytelling principles that can help improve communication within your team. You can run this 90-minute training for a small or large group in your desired location. You and your colleagues will have plenty of fun improving your storytelling skills and weaving a group tale.
Learn more about The Art of Storytelling.
3. Bank Heist
Bank Heist is an exciting team building activity encouraging your team to collaborate and solve a heist case. The hosts will help set up the best detective experience at your desired location. Within 90 minutes, you will try to solve the mystery behind the thieves’ operation and reveal their identities. Your goal is to complete your mission before the criminals escape. You will also use clues to decipher the possible means employed by the criminals to infiltrate the bank.
Learn more about Bank Heist.
4. The Great Guac Off
The Great Guac Off is a food-themed contest that can bring your team together for a fun culinary experience. The contest theme revolves around avocados. Therefore, your team will compete to make and present the best guacamole. You will also play avocado-themed trivia called ‘Trivocado.’ The experience duration is 90 minutes. You can run the contest in your desired location in Chicago.
The host will take care of the necessaries required to make the event successful, from bringing dippers and the guac ingredients to prizes for the winning team.
Learn more about The Great Guac Off.
5. Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is home to the Chicago cubs and a fascinating area to visit, whether to tour the facilities or watch a match. Touring Wrigley Field is among the exciting team building activities for large groups in Chicago. The stadium organizes private and public tours lasting an average of 80 minutes. Larger groups may have to experience the tour in small batches.
If your team has sports fans, then you can also book tickets to watch a baseball game at the stadium. The Wrigley Field’s official site reveals information on promotions and game tickets.
Learn more about Wrigley Field.
6. Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo is an awesome place to visit and examine the exhibits with your team. You can locate the zoo off Lake Shore Drive. The zoo is home to hundreds of animal species from around the world. You can have an up-close view of the animals based on their mood. Admission to the zoo is free. You can also explore the plant garden in the zoo. The zoo management offers a seasonal opportunity to volunteer in planting tomatoes, weeding, and harvesting. Furthermore, the management organizes seasonal activities and animal interactions that last for an average of ten minutes.
You can extend your visit to include eating at the zoo’s dining locations. The Patio at Café Brauer serves cocktails, wines, and burgers while also catering to a vegetarian diet. Also, the Park Place Café offers Mexican and Italian food in outdoor and indoor seating.
Learn more about Lincoln Park Zoo.
7. TILT at 360 CHICAGO
TILT is a thrilling ride experience at 360 CHICAGO, where your team can feed their eyes with the city’s fascinating views from a 1,030-foot distance. The experience is unique and intriguing because guests get a downward-facing view above Chicago. An observation can last for about three minutes.
To enjoy the ride, you must purchase separate tickets for general admissions to 360 CHICAGO and TILT.
Learn more about TILT at 360 CHICAGO.
8. 10pin Bowling Lounge
Bowling and dining at 10pin Bowling Lounge are among the most fun corporate team building activities in Chicago. The lounge is a large bowling alley in downtown Chicago. You will find about 24 bowling lanes and a full-service kitchen.
Aside from bowling, your group can play ping pong, billiards, and shuffleboard. You can turn your experience at the bowling alley into a friendly competition among your team. The lounge also sells items like trophies, shirts, and glassware you can award to the winner.
Learn more about 10pin Bowling Lounge.
9. Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Tours
Chicago has a rich history of gang-related mayhem, and the Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Tour takes visitors to the heart of these locations. This two-hour, one-and-a-half-mile walking tour takes guests around the Chicago Loop Vice District. Walkers can learn more about speakeasies, underground tunnels for bootleggers, and famous gangsters like Al Capone. Notable stops include Congress Hotel, Death Alley, and Palmer House. If your team is more interested in food, then you can also check out the Gangster Food Tour. Hosts will take you around notorious Prohibition-Era locations to try pizzas, prime rib, and Chicago hot dogs. This historical tour will bring both frights and delights to your team.
Learn more about Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Tours.
10. Sakura Karaoke Bar
The Sakura Karaoke Bar provides facilities for your team members to have a blast while singing their favorite tunes.
The lounge features a dance floor with LED lighting, a stage, karaoke rooms in different sizes, and bars where you can watch live sports. The VIP room can accommodate up to 25 guests with additional features like a projection screen, an improved sound system, and HD.
You cannot bring in outside food and beverages. But your team can order from the lounge’s kitchen serving tasty Western and Asian dishes.
Pro tip: You can use the occasion to give funny titles to participants like the best singer, the next Oscar winner, or the best duet.
Learn more about Sakura Karaoke Bar.
11. The Chicago Theatre
Watching a show at The Chicago Theatre is one of the most relaxing team building activities in Chicago. The theater serves as a venue for many comedy and music shows in Chicago. You can get tickets for your desired show at the box office or the Ticketmaster app. You cannot bring outside food to the venue, but your team can stop for a bite around the theater’s premises. Although the theater does not offer cooked food, you will still find a variety of beverages and snacks.
This activity will allow your team to spend quality time together and bond.
Learn more about The Chicago Theatre.
12. The Lincoln Park Farmers Market
Exploring Lincoln Park is an interesting activity to do in Chicago. You can locate the market in the Lincoln Park High School parking lot. Your team can learn about various fruits, vegetables, and flowers. You will also find many areas to grab a bite. The market can run irrespective of the weather condition. It would be best to check the weather forecast before visiting the site. Also, you should ensure that your team members dress appropriately for the weather.
Furthermore, your team can volunteer to help keep the market running smoothly. Volunteering allows your team to work together, help the community and improve communication. Your group can still explore the market after your volunteering shift ends.
Learn more about The Lincoln Park Farmers Market.
13. Emporium Logan Square
The immersive team building activities for adults in Chicago include playing Arcade Games at Emporium Logan Square. The arcade bar offers several games, from Air Hockey and White Water to Godzilla and Galaga. Although the center does not allow outside beverages, you can bring your food. The bar menu features a wide range of cocktails, craft beers, and wine selections.
A fun aspect of visiting Emporium with your team, making your experience worthwhile, is getting to engage in the scheduled game tournaments or dance to a live DJ’s performance.
Learn more about Emporium Logan Square.
14. The Great Escape Room Chicago
The Great Escape Room provides immersive games that allow teams to collaborate and test their problem-solving skills. The games are available in three themes, which are:
- Infirmary: You got locked in an operating room with a patient who needed heart surgery. You will use clues to operate a machine that will perform the surgery and save the patient.
- Escape the Colosseum: This escape room has an ancient Roman theme and a two-hour duration. You will follow clues left by Spartacus to escape prison.
- Poker Night at the President’s Bunker: You got locked in the president’s bunker while touring the White House. You must figure out an escape plan before the time is up.
The rooms can accommodate up to ten players each. Depending on the room you book, your experience will last for one or two hours. Also, the escape room ticket price is around $35 per player.
Learn more about The Great Escape Room Chicago.
15. Museum of Illusions
Your team will not believe their eyes while visiting the Museum of Illusions! Visitors can check out the illusion rooms, installations, and images. The illusion rooms consist of exhibits such as The Tilted Room and The Reversed Room, which trick you into not knowing which way is up. One of the installations is the Beuchet Chair, which forces your sense of perspective. Unusual images like holograms and optical illusions will test your eyesight. Event planners can even book the space to host a private function. This trippy visit is a sure way to get teams laughing!
Learn more about the Museum of Illusions.
16. Redline VR
Playing virtual reality games at Redline VR is among the immersive corporate team building ideas in Chicago. Redline VR is a virtual reality bar located in the heart of Ravenswood, Chicago. You can access all arcade games within your reserved time. Your game will start with safety guidelines and equipment usage explanation. The game duration ranges from 30 minutes to two hours, with the price starting at $30 per headset.
Redline VR also provides virtual reality escape rooms and arcade games. If your group does not wish to play virtual reality games, then you can just stop by the bar to only grab a drink. The bar serves various beers, wines, and creative cocktails.
Learn more about Redline VR.
17. The Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the city’s best museums, located steps away from Lake Michigan. The museum collects thousands of artworks from different parts of the world. You will find works of various artists, including Pablo Picasso, Olowe of Ise, Andy Warhol, Katsushika Hokusai, and Joan Mitchell. Your team will gain insight into art representation worldwide and bond while learning each other’s views on the exhibits.
The admission fee per adult starts at around $20. The museum occasionally offers free admission to Illinois residents. You can also find dining restaurants to share a meal with your colleagues around the museum area.
Learn more about The Art Institute of Chicago.
18. The Catcade
The Catcade is an arcade lounge and a non-profit charity that cares for rescue cats. This lounge is a nice place for your teams to relax and chat while playing with the adorable kittens. You can also access free WiFi and arcade games.
The Catcade organizes a 90-minute yoga experience where you also get to interact with the lovely cats. Before planning your visit, you should ensure that none of your group members has a severe cat allergy.
Learn more about The Catcade.
19. William W. Powers State Recreation Area
William W. Powers State Recreation Area is a lovely area located on Wolf Lake. The site offers many opportunities to do fun activities, except swimming and camping. Your group can find a good spot to fish species like walleye, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and northern pike. You can also find a shaded area under cottonwood trees to enjoy a picnic. If your group has 25 or more members, then you should register with the park office before your visit.
Learn more about William W. Powers State Recreation Area.
20. Big Mini Putt Club
The most fun team building activities for small groups in Chicago include playing indoor Mini golf at the Big Mini Putt Club. You will find a nine-hole golf course in this location. The golf-course owners built the facility to be challenging and deliver a unique player experience. You can reserve a tee time for up to two to four players. Your experience will last for up to 45 minutes.
Learn more about Big Mini Putt Club.
21. Explore Navy Pier
Navy Pier is a fun place to visit in Chicago. The location is famous for many attractions, including the Centennial Wheel. You can climb the wheel to get a 360 degrees view of Lake Michigan and Chicago. The intriguing experience will take your team about 200 feet above the ground. Groups with at least 20 guests will get a special booking rate.
In addition, Navy Pier hosts a series of entertaining activities ranging from lake cruises and golf games to live music and dance performances. These activities are also excellent for bringing your team together and sharing a memorable experience. You can check Navy pier’s event calendar to see the upcoming events and choose the best experience for your group.
Before or after your experience, you can dine in any restaurant like Giordano’s, serving amazing stuffed deep dish pizzas. You can also have the famous ‘Cheezborger’ at Billy Goat Tavern.
Learn more about Navy Pier.
22. Fox in a Box Escape Games
Fox in a Box hosts escape rooms in four unique themes, which include:
- Zodiac: You only have one hour to escape from a serial killer’s lair or become the criminal’s victim.
- The Bank: Your team will work together to steal diamonds in a local bank.
- The Prison: You must take advantage of a riot and escape jail or remain in your cell for life.
The escape rooms can accommodate three to six players, but you can book several rooms if your group is large. Your group size, reserved day, and time will determine the game’s price.
Learn more about Fox in a Box Escape Games.
23. The Lake Effect Brewing Company
Touring The Lake Effect Brewing Company is also one of the exciting team building activities for adults in Chicago. The company offers Saturday tours where interested guests can learn about brewing and get an up-close view of the barrel rooms and bottling area. Your group members will also get a can of their preferred beer each. The tour price starts at $5.
Learn more about The Lake Effect Brewing Company.
Conclusion
Chicago is one of the largest and most populated cities in the US. The city is famous for having fascinating museums, lively neighborhoods, and iconic attractions. With fantastic food, lakeside views, and friendly people occupying the city, Chicago provides a vibrant environment to engage in team building activities. From parks to amusement centers and bars, you will find many places to visit and spend time with your team.
Next, check out these lists of community-building ideas and relationship-building exercises.
Grace He