A camping night is a fun way to bring your company together. It’s a great way to get people out of the office and into nature while also giving them time to bond with their colleagues. If you’re planning a company camping retreat, follow these steps so that it will be successful.
Why Have a Business Camping Night
There are two main reasons why you should have a business camping night. First, it’s an excellent opportunity to bond with your coworkers. You’ll be spending time together in a new environment, away from your usual workplace and routine, which forces you to get to know each other on a more personal level.
This can help team members learn about each other’s skills and interests. It can also teach them more about the company culture, making them feel more comfortable working together as they try new things in their everyday jobs.
Studies have shown such social interactions helpful for business. A study published on the Social Networks website shows that early and continuous communication can have significant benefits.
The second reason is that it allows everyone involved to become more familiar with their coworkers’ hobbies, passions, and personal lives outside work. This may eventually lead them down that ever-elusive path known as “work-life balance.”
A Gallup study shows that employee isolation can reduce productivity by 21%. Going camping together can eliminate isolation as every team member will get to connect and talk about something unrelated to work. Hence, it can ultimately help your business.
Choose a Date
The first step to planning a business camping night is choosing a date. It’s important to pick a date that works for everyone, as well as the venue and weather. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing your dates:
- The more time you give yourself, the better. It can be stressful and overwhelming if you’re trying to plan something within 24 hours of needing it done. So try to give yourself at least two weeks’ notice.
- If possible, avoid holidays or other times when people might want or need off work. Dates like Memorial Day or Labor Day may be popular with other groups going on trips. School breaks like spring and summer vacations are also good options if they work out with everyone’s schedule. Just make sure not too many other companies have chosen those dates first.
Select a Venue
Once you’ve decided on the type of campout you want to host and the date, it’s time to select a venue. As with any event, it’s essential that your team can quickly get to their destination and have access to good facilities.
If you’re planning an outdoor adventure, make sure that there is enough space for all of your employees and equipment. The best option here is usually a local park or campground. The ideal location will also be close enough to both the company headquarters and home base so that employees don’t have too far travel from work.
Whether camping outside or indoors, having access to key amenities like bathrooms and showers make for an even better experience for everyone involved. In addition, if possible, try choosing a venue where you have access during regular business hours and after hours.
You can choose from many sites. There are plenty of locations in the UK for camping. You can refer to this guide from The Guardian that lists the 10 best scenic locations in the UK for camping.
Book a Coach
The easiest way to get everyone from their homes to the event and back again is by booking a coach. This will save you time, effort, and money on petrol, parking, and tolls. You’ll also be able to travel together comfortably instead of having everyone drive separately or take public transport.
Minibusses are a great way to get a group of people from place to place. They can be rented for the day and driven by your driver, or they can be driven by someone else so that you don’t have to worry about driving yourself around. This will help ensure that people don’t have to worry about how they’re going to get there, and it also means that more people are likely to attend because they won’t need a ride from someone else.
When selecting a service provider for booking a coach, try to go with someone local. For instance, Croydon is an excellent place for camping. There are many parks nearby, such as the Lee Valley Campsite, The Oaks, etc., where you can go camping. You can look for coach hire in Croydon and visit these places. Hiring a coach will ensure everyone goes to the place and leaves together.
Plan Activities and Mentorships
Whether you’re planning a small event for your department or a significant event for your company, here are some ideas to keep in mind.
- Plan activities that are fun and educational. A camping night is meant to be enjoyable, but it’s also an opportunity to teach people things they wouldn’t usually learn at work. A team could learn how to pitch ideas or facilitate meetings during their time together. Groups of people can have fun with games like bingo or charades.
- Put together mentorships. Mentorships are another way for teams and individuals to share knowledge and gain insights from others. They should take place before the camping trip, so teams can prepare what they want help with beforehand if possible.
Planning these activities will help with team building. However, select activities that everyone enjoys because if involuntary, the employees might not get all the benefits. According to a study published in the Science Daily Journal, team-building activities’ benefits can be jeopardized if not voluntary.
Bring Along First Aid Kits and Extra Supplies
You’ll want to bring along first aid kits and extra supplies, including:
- Extra food. You never know when you might get stuck on the road or have to wait in line at the gas station. It’s always good to have some extra snacks in your car, just in case.
- Extra water. Your business will be sweating it out all day long, so make sure they don’t go thirsty by bringing bottled water along with them on their trip.
- Clothing that can stay clean during outdoor activities like hiking or canoeing will help keep your employees happy and energized throughout their adventure.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide will have helped you plan a business camping. Camping or other such recreational activities are vital for strong team bonding. If you are worried about the expense, don’t be because it will ultimately benefit your business, as connected teams are more productive.
