Summer Onboarding – Make it Fun Outdoors!

Are you onboarding employees or interns for summer? If so, take advantage of being outside for social events!

Who needs workplace fun? We all do! Social events are great for workplace culture and morale which are critically important for employee engagement and retention. Welcome new staff with fun outdoor activities that everyone can enjoy.

Summer Onboarding Ideas

Casual Picnic

Social engagement is especially important for new employees. Make your summer onboarding event easy by hosting an outside breakfast, lunch, happy hour, snack break or full picnic spread. If you don’t have the right outdoor space where you work, rent out a local outdoor park space.

Don’t want to get involved in the food? Schedule a food truck to cater your outdoor event. Play outdoor games and let colleagues reconnect and welcome new faces.

Ice Cream Social

What a sweet way to embrace new people! The beauty of this onboarding event is it can be done both in-person and remotely for teams of all shapes and sizes.

If you can, do your ice cream social outside. Provide ice cream, bowls, cones, toppings (and spoons and napkins!) and let people revert to the childlike wonder of wandering into a novel ice cream shop. Be sure to offer a dairy-free option such as sherbet in your spread.

Send remote team members a gThankYou Certificate for Ice Cream which can be redeemed for any brand and flavor of ice cream at major grocery stores across the U.S.! If you’d like to take it up a notch, provide remote workers with an “ice cream sundae gift” and send along non-perishable treats with your ice cream gift certificate such as sprinkles, chocolate, caramel, fruit sauce or cones.

It’s a fun summertime indulgence and excuse to be outside with your team.

Yappy Hour

If your dog-friendly workplace hasn’t hosted a yappy hour, you’ve been barking up the wrong tree! Invite your new employees or interns to introduce their furry friends to the workplace. Think summertime happy hour… but invite the dogs! If outside, be sure to vet the location and provide guidelines. Plan to provide water and dog treats too. Distribute smaller flexible freebees as party gifts that owners and dogs can share. Some dog parks have picnic tables if you’d like to go off-site.

This is also easy as a remote event, where more people can bring their home pets on screen and their furry friends can show off without a leash. Bandanas, treats, and toys are all good pet and owner gifts if you wish to send a little something for your event.

Art or Craft Party

Similar to games, an art or craft project can provide an easy way for workers to connect. Provide a range of activities that allow people to engage and tap into their creativity.

Arts and crafting are perfect summertime reboarding activities for outside. Consider painting a picture, a planter, a birdhouse, rocks, etc. Maybe tie-dye socks or t-shirts! Create a collage center with magazines, various paper, scissors and glue.

Seasons, holidays, milestones, and onboarding are perfect excuses to host an employee engagement event. There are simple ways to show appreciation all year-round. Check out our free eBook on celebrating employees.