Boosting Morale & Productivity: 10 Free Summer Team Building Activities for Remote Teams

Summer is a great time to boost team morale and productivity with fun and engaging activities. Here are some free ideas specifically tailored for remote teams:

1. Virtual Scavenger Hunt: Organise a scavenger hunt where team members search for items around their homes or online based on a list of clues. Use tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams to share the list and give clues. Participants can share photos or videos of their finds.

2. Online Trivia Quiz: Host a trivia quiz covering a range of topics or specific themes such as company history, pop culture, or general knowledge. Use platforms like Kahoot! or your internal communication app to create and distribute the quiz. Schedule a video call for live interaction.

3. Virtual Escape Room: Engage your team with a virtual escape room challenge where they solve puzzles and riddles to "escape" a themed room. There are free online escape room options available. Host a Zoom meeting where teams can discuss and solve puzzles together.

4. Online Game Tournaments: Organise tournaments for popular online games such as Among Us, Skribbl.io, or Pictionary. Set up a tournament bracket and use screen sharing to watch real-time games. Award virtual trophies or bragging rights.

5. Virtual Coffee Breaks: Schedule regular virtual coffee breaks where team members can casually chat and catch up without discussing work. Use Zoom or Google Meet and encourage everyone to bring their favourite beverage. Introduce themes or topics to keep conversations lively.

6. Book Club: Start a book club where team members read and discuss a book together. Choose a book and set a reading schedule. Use Slack channels or Zoom meetings for discussions. Consider a mix of professional development and leisure reading.

7. Show and Tell: Have a show-and-tell session where team members share something interesting about their lives, hobbies, or recent experiences. Schedule a time during your regular team meetings for a brief show-and-tell segment. This helps team members learn more about each other.

8. Wellness Challenges: Encourage wellness by organising challenges such as step counts, hydration tracking, or mindfulness practices. Use a shared Google Sheet to track progress and celebrate achievements in team meetings. Consider short daily check-ins to share tips and experiences.

9. Creative Workshops: Host virtual workshops where team members can learn new skills such as cooking, drawing, or photography. Find team members willing to share their expertise or use free online resources. Schedule sessions during lunch hours or after work.

10. Remote Volunteer Activities: Participate in virtual volunteer opportunities, such as writing letters to seniors, creating educational materials, or supporting online fundraising events. Research free virtual volunteer opportunities and coordinate participation. Share experiences and impacts in a dedicated Slack channel or meeting.

11. Can you hear me now?:  This remote team-building activity involves all participants joining the same virtual meeting. One person is designated as the ‘speaker’ and the others as ‘artists’. The speaker describes a random image using only geometric shapes, and the artists attempt to draw it based on the description. The challenge is to convey and interpret the geometric descriptions accurately, emphasising clear communication and attentive listening.


Tips for Success with Team Building Activities for Remote Teams

Ensure activities are accessible and enjoyable for all team members to promote inclusivity. Schedule activities at convenient times to maximise participation. Gather feedback to improve future activities, and acknowledge and celebrate participation and achievements to keep the team motivated and engaged. These activities enhance team spirit and foster a sense of community and shared purpose, contributing to a more engaged and productive remote workforce.