THE BEST TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES FOR TEENAGERS IN CHICAGO

Teen-friendly group activities that’ll instill values like team spirit, collaboration, and quick thinking.

Searching for Chicago team building activities that your teenage children and their friends will like?

Looking for cool team activities for teenagers near you?

Want to teach your teens about teamwork and team spirit hands-on but don’t know where to start?

Don’t worry - we got you!

Amazing team building activities in Chicago that teens will love

Having a team temperament is becoming increasingly crucial, given our interconnected world.

Indeed most roles at workplaces need you to be a good team player.

This is why taking part in team building activities is crucial for teenagers - they can imbibe critical team values from an early age.

In Chicago, there is a wide variety of team building activities suitable for teenagers, ranging from outdoor adventures to indoor challenges.

Here are the top 8 from among them to help you plan an amazing team building event for your teenage kids.

The Forge

Looking for an outdoor adventure that’ll take your teens out of their comfort zone? Head to The Forge!

A sprawling adventure park spread out over 300 acres, The Forge offers opportunities for everything from ziplining to hiking, kayaking, and even fishing!

Organized in a professional setting and gamified to include team elements, group events at the forge are a great way to teach teens how to overcome difficulties by working with one another.

They'll also encourage the more spirited ones to look out for the entire group, thus emerging as budding leaders.

And once you’re done with the group event, they have different dining options for you to choose from.

Pro tip: You might have guessed this, but their outdoor activities remain vastly curtailed during the winter season.

Website: Visit their website

Location: Check address/Plan route on Google Maps

Email: responses@theforgeparks.com

Incidentally, riding a zipline at The Forge is also one of the top outdoor activities in Chicago in winter.

Fox in a Box Escape Room

A movie-like adventure…only instead of passively watching it from a living room couch or a theater seat your teenagers are living it in real life.

Sounds like something they’d approve of?

Book an escape room event for them with Chicago’s premier escape room (yeah, that’s us)!

The players must team up to take on exciting missions inside specially designed and themed rooms.

They have 60 minutes to crack codes, solve puzzles, open secret locks, and spot clues revealing the way forward.

Can they accomplish their mission before time runs out?

Our games are designed to nudge players into working with one another, communicating findings and problems to the others on their team, and thinking on their feet.

Indeed, research suggests that escape rooms are great for team building!

From masterminding a prison escape to escaping a psychopath's hidden lair, there are numerous escape room adventures catering to different tastes to choose from.

Ready to organize a team event your teens will never forget?

Website: Visit their website

Location: Check address/Plan route on Google Maps

Email: info@foxinaboxchicago.com

Phone: (312) 878-7899

Redine VR

While VR can make for some pretty hilarious situations (like videoing your friends swing around wildly as they engage in hand-to-hand combat in the virtual world),...

It can also make for some pretty amazing team experiences as well.

Especially for teenagers, many of whom are hooked on the latest games and experiences.

Enter Redline VR.

A dedicated virtual reality venue, it offers various options ranging from VR escape rooms to multi-player arcade games.

If you’re looking for team building, we’d recommend going for the VR escape rooms.

It’s the same as in a brick-and-mortar escape room facility (like ours), but the entire experience takes place in the virtual world.

And Redline does offer a range of virtual escape adventures - from cyberpunk adventures set in the future to a truly exhilarating journey into an abandoned monastery - for your group to choose from.

Website: Visit their website

Location: Check address/Plan route on Google Maps

Inquiry form: Visit their contact page

Phone: (773) 236-6868

Let’s Roam Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts by Let’s Roam are a fun and interactive way for teenagers to explore and learn about a new place.

And Chicago has a rich history and many interesting landmarks to discover.

By participating, teenagers can learn about the city's storied buildings and historic sculptures while bonding with their teammates. 

These hunts are a great combination of city tour, history lesson, and game, making them a perfect recipe for team building and bonding.

Website: Visit their website

Contact page: Here’s the link

Email: support@letsroam.com

Explore Chicago on Segways

Exploring Chicago on Segways can be a unique and exciting way for teenagers to bond and build team spirit. 

Segway tours offer the opportunity to see the city from a different perspective while also providing an opportunity for physical activity. 

As teenagers navigate through the city on Segways, they will need to communicate and work together to follow the tour guide and stay safe. 

Segway tours can also be customized to include stops at specific landmarks or points of interest, making them a personalized and engaging team building activity for teenagers.

Additionally, the shared experience of exploring a new place together can help to strengthen relationships and foster teamwork among the group.

If you’re searching for options, we can suggest Chicago Segway Tours and Absolutely Chicago Tours.

Chicago food tour

Did you know that our famous cuisine can be a great inspiration for coming together as a group?

Here's how: Food tours!

Sharing a meal can be a great way to build connections and break down differences, and a food tour allows your teens to try out a variety of dishes from different cuisines.

From discovering shared tastes to giving new things a go, there are many ways a Chicago food tour can enrich your teen.

There are numerous foodie tour options, from Iconic Foods of Chicago to Chinatown Adventure, to choose from.

And aside from making fond memories of perhaps tasting a new flavor of Italian meatballs with their friends, your kids can also learn a lot about Chicago as the food tour guides are knowledgeable and will regale you with interesting stories and anecdotes throughout your tour!

Speaking of Chicago cuisine, here are some must-have Chicago foods.

Touring the Riverwalk

Here’s another team activity that takes on the spirit of discovering shared interests and new curiosities: touring our Riverwalk.

Running from Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan to Lake Street, the Riverwalk has plenty to explore and discover.

Stroll by the river (an enjoyable activity by itself) and take in public art installations, watch out for birds, and stop every now and then for a bite at the various restaurants.

If you have time, consider dropping in at some of the museums that lie on your path.

Volunteering

Here's a vastly overused phrase: making a difference.

Are you looking for a teenage-friendly activity in Chicago that gives them a chance to not only work as part of a team, but also do their bit to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate?

Then you should sign them up for volunteering activities in and around Chicago.

When teenagers work together to complete a volunteer project, they learn to communicate effectively, delegate tasks, and problem-solve in order to accomplish their goals.

Volunteering also helps to foster a sense of purpose and meaning, as teenagers can see the direct impact of their efforts on their community. It’s also one of the best activities for families to bond and reconnect with one another.

Furthermore, volunteering can be a great way for teenagers to learn new skills and explore different career paths. 

There are many opportunities for teenagers to volunteer in Chicago, from helping out at a local food bank or animal shelter to participating in a beach clean-up or park restoration project.

Teenage team building options in Chicago - a final word

So there you have it! The best team building activities for teenagers in Chicago. 

No matter your budget or group size, there’s an activity on this list that will be perfect for you. 

And who knows, maybe your children will thank you for delivering an unforgettable experience that helped them reconnect and find shared interests with their friends!