  Eboyer Member Username: Eboyer Post Number: 75 Registered: 01-2007 |
I'm looking for ideas for team outings within the city limits. Our company will be relocating to Detroit in the near future and we would like to show our team members the many wondrous and unique activities that are available to them. I've thought of a few so far, but I know you all have some solid ideas. So, any suggestions? | ||
Detroit_pride Member Username: Detroit_pride Post Number: 4 Registered: 02-2008 |
Happy Hour at any local establishment is always good for Team building! | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 771 Registered: 08-2007 |
what exactly is a team? how many team members? age? male/female ratio? How much do you want to spend? Are these Team Members employees or contractors? Weekends or week days? A little info will get better results. | ||
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal Post Number: 1283 Registered: 09-2004 |
Belle Isle Driving Range - When the weather gets better. | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 3523 Registered: 06-2004 |
Are you relocating from the suburbs, outstate Michigan, or outside of Michigan? What do you think is the average level of familiarity with the city among your team members? What do you think their current perceptions of the city are? | ||
Eboyer Member Username: Eboyer Post Number: 76 Registered: 01-2007 |
Sorry, here are some answers to your questions. Team: Roughly 30 people Ages: 22 - 45, however the 45 is an outlier. Average age is roughly 27. Male/Female: Roughly 50/50 Cost: Affordable, maybe $20/person but that is negotiable. Team Members are employees, and we are most likely looking for Friday - Sunday activities. We are relocating from Livonia. The average level of familiarity with the city is low. Perceptions are mixed. | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 3524 Registered: 06-2004 |
There are all the various tourist attractions, especially the museums, and sporting events, but there are volunteer opportunities as well, if you aren't adverse to that. With a group size of around 30 many organizations will work with you if you want to make special arrangements - guided tours, etc. The Friends of Belle Isle clean up draws scouting groups, school classes, etc. and is a way to really become intimate with the island, as well as feel like one is making at least a small contribution. I don't see a date scheduled yet - www.fobi.org Another volunteer opportunity that might be neat is for the marathon in October, manning water tables, etc. http://www.detroitfreepressmar athon.com Board member Plymouthres works with the Friends of Fort Wayne. This thread from a while back has some suggestions and contact info for tours, etc. | ||
Jfried Member Username: Jfried Post Number: 1112 Registered: 11-2003 |
feather bowling at cadeiux cafe. http://www.cadieuxcafe.com/ | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 774 Registered: 08-2007 |
hmmm, getting folks to feel good about leaving their families on a weekend is a tough nut. If their off-the-clock, it is even tougher. but ... a savanger hunt is always fun. Break your team into groups of 5. Encourage them with some sort of inducement ... day off for the winning team or tickets to a show for them and their spouses ... something which will encourage them to activity particpate and not just go to a bar and drink. Drop off the teams at Campus martius; each team has with a map torn in 5 pieces. On the seperate pieces are clues that can't be read until the map pieces are reassembled. They will have to have their pictures taken at the various locations. Make the clues little riddles like: - Mad as a hatter Jack Dempsey is when he buys his chapeau from this little biz. = Henry the Hatter - Circle the city from inside of this, doing the dance they call it the Twist = Dancing inside the People Mover - "Two on one!" they do call while wearing all white, some say they're best after a long night. = Layfeyette Coney Island etc. ... the idea is to build cooperation and loyality while having some fun exploring the city's CBD. Keep the location tight, so folks aren't driving. Keep them on foot. Also, as part of the competion the teams will have to present their pictures in a slideshow at the end of the event. Laptop required. A trip to the DIA could work in the same way with the teams running around the museum doing goofy poses ... but being inside the DIA doesn't expose them to the interesting nooks found downtown. | ||
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess Post Number: 590 Registered: 08-2006 |
Take one or more of Preservation Wayne's wonderful walking tours http://preservationwayne.org/t ours.php | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 3525 Registered: 06-2004 |
There's Detroit Bikes!, too They have a ride scheduled this coming Saturday the 23rd if you want to check them out The Tootsie Roll (Message edited by lilpup on February 20, 2008) | ||
Mdoyle Member Username: Mdoyle Post Number: 347 Registered: 10-2006 |
So the idea is to get people excited about the city, You need to do something that is going to be enjoyable to the majority of the 30 people. While walking tours and museums are amazing gems in our city you really need to wow your employees and make them feel welcome, museums and tours can be boring negative experiences as they are not accessible to all people which makes them feel dumb or left out. I would suggest a tigers day game. The common goal, for the tigers to win the game, is something all employees can get behind together, this would make them feel they can all relate to each other and to a piece of the city. After take them out to experience the night life a little. Evenings after games generally means busy bars and restaurants. This shows them that something is actually going on down here to like. Within walking distance you have Cliff Bell's a classy Jazz bar, Town pump, Park Bar, and Centaur all within 1 block. You dont need to show them the whole city in one day. Give them a taste of one area and have a good time. This can be like a tease and perhaps the will want more. | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 1217 Registered: 07-2007 |
Team Quicken, yeah. Power rafting on the Detroit river.  | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 3526 Registered: 06-2004 |
Some people don't like sports, either. I'm sure Eboyer knows the team better than we do. S/He just needs to know all the various experiences available in the city from which to choose. | ||
Motorcitydave Member Username: Motorcitydave Post Number: 122 Registered: 11-2004 |
Mdoyle, good suggestion! ... I'll add another. Bowling party at the Garden Bowl.... "America's oldest active bowling center".  ... and the party packages are relatively cheap for all it includes. http://www.majesticdetroit.com /garden.asp Plus the Majestic Cafe next door, and the Magic Stick upstairs are both a great place to grab a drink... Union Street across the street. It also shows everyone that is not familiar with the city, that there is life beyond 'downtown' proper... (Message edited by motorcitydave on February 20, 2008) | ||
Neilr Member Username: Neilr Post Number: 660 Registered: 06-2005 |
You might consider having an event at the Boll Family YMCA downtown on Broadway. You could have an afternoon of basketball, swimming, yoga, rock wall climbing, and strength training. If it's a family affair, they can also arrange creative activities for the kids. Then have lunch catered or visit one of the nearby restaurants. | ||
Raptor56 Member Username: Raptor56 Post Number: 269 Registered: 05-2007 |
The company I work for does an annual Tigers game outing. They either rent the Dew Deck (which includes pop and food) or they buy up a bunch of tickets in one section for a nice discount. A bunch of us generally get together before and after the game for some "ginger ales" at various beverage dispensing establishments downtown. Even the non-sports fans seem to enjoy the game and the afterglow. Campus Martius Park also has a monthly Friday concert series during the summer. Info is usually posted on the park website in the spring http://www.campusmartiuspark.o rg | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 2324 Registered: 10-2006 |
Suggestion that you stick to downtown for warming up the suburbanites to the city. No need to push it for many folks 'first' impression... |
