Inspiring Team Building & Group Activities

Crystal Springs Resort offers the most comprehensive team building and group activities program in the Northeast. With our curated Inspiration Series, teams can participate in tactile experiences such as guided nature walks, cooking with locally foraged ingredients, restorative yoga, sound bowl healing, meditation and rock climbing in a beautiful bucolic mountain setting.

Please browse featured group experiences below or download the Team Building & Group Activities brochure and Inspiration Series brochure by clicking on the icons.

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Overview of the Solar Field that powers Crystal Springs Resort in NJ

Solar Farm Education

Learn about the Resort’s 25-acre solar farm comprised of 19,000 individual solar panels. Our expert will discuss various aspects of sustainable energy including the history and current state of the solar industry, environmental and economic benefits, plus the science of how solar power works.

Hike On the Appalachian Trail

Stretching more than 2,190 miles across 14 different states, the Appalachian Trail is a marked hiking trail in the Eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. Located approximately five miles from the Resort, our guided hike on this iconic trail offers the option of an easy hike through Pochuck Valley or a strenuous hike up the Stairway to Heaven to the the scenic Pinwheel Vista.

Teambuilding activity at Vernon Valley Farm

Sustainable Farm Tour

Tour nearby Vernon Valley Farm, where young, modern farmers Kirk and Christina Stephens utilize nature’s synergies to run their fully sustainable farm. Guests will enjoy a hay wagon ride tour of the farm, interact with various farm animals and harvest fresh fruit or vegetables in season. Vernon Valley Farm is situated on 270 acres, with exquisite mountain and valley views.

Stargazing

Discover the wonders of the universe with Franklin Astronomy Club founder Zach Lichtmann. View amazing celestial targets with a high-powered telescope while hunting for orbiting satellites soaring overhead. An informed, casual discussion allows time for astronomy questions to be explored.

Bee Hive Box Build

Teams will work with a local beekeeper to build a bee box with supplied materials. The beekeeper will share fun facts about how a bee colony develops, how honey is made, as well as how bees are critical to local agriculture and the food chain. The completed bee boxes will be donated to a local farm and become the new home of a bee colony. As a thank you for supporting the local bee population, your group will receive souvenir jars of sweet honey from your sponsored hive at a future date.

Botanical hiking with forager teambuilding activity

Forage With the Botanical Hiker

Join our Certified Herbalist & Naturalist for a nature hike to discover the edible and medicinal plants which can be found not only throughout the region, but in your very own backyard! She will share helpful hints for proper identification, as well as easy & efficient methods for harvesting and preparing these plants at home.

Grow Your Own Mushrooms

Learn all about mushrooms, such as the ins & outs of how they are cultivated, during an interactive workshop with resort Forager, Sarah Berman. You will prepare your very own oyster mushroom kit that yields delicious results.

Food Preservation

This series will follow the rhythms of mother nature and offers seminars based on the seasonality of available ingredients. Go behind the scenes to learn about methods used in our own kitchen to preserve foods and reduce waste. Then, enjoy a hands-on demonstration of how to preserve nature’s bounty and take home a sampling of the fruits of your labor.

Cooking With Plant Based Protein

For those looking to reduce their intake of animal proteins, plant-based proteins can provide amazing health benefits. Join our Nutritionist for an interactive cooking demonstration with a discussion of these benefits, sharing useful tips and recipes, plus flavorful samples. Add new meals to your diet that not only taste delicious, but are healthy for you!

Animal Experience teambuilding activity at Crystal Springs Resort

An Appalachian Animal Experience

Visit a local farm to meet cows, horses, goats, donkeys, ducks, geese and more. Learn from a local farmer about the animals and leave with the ultimate souvenir to memorialize your event . . . an unforgettable photo of your team with all their newfound farm friends.

Plein Air canvas painting teambuilding activity

Plein Air Painting

Behold the beauty of nature through painting . . . and what better classroom than our stunning grounds. Join our in-house artist for an introduction to Plein Air Painting, which means ‘in the open air’. This outdoor class is designed for beginners, and provides a guided process of painting a scene.

Three people taking photos of the mountains from Crystal Springs Resort

Composition Photography Class

Get inspired by your surroundings while learning techniques from one our Resort photographers in this landscape composition class. Guests are encouraged to bring their DSLR camera if available, but can use a smartphone camera as well.

Sound Bowl Experience

A fun and educational presentation on the science of why sound and vibration affect us physically, mentally and energetically. Participants will experience a meditative crystal sound bath and mini-sessions of Vibrational Sound Therapy through the use of Himalayan singing bowls.

Botanical Plant Dyeing

Explore the science and art of dyeing fabric with intuitive artist Jessica Darling. Learn how to identify seasonal local dye plants accessible and how to transform them in the dye bath onto sustainable and upcycled textiles. Participants will dye their own piece of fabric using dyes found in the region and around the Resort.

Essential Oils Workshop

Wondering about the world of essential oils? In this workshop, you will learn all about the essences of plants, how to use them safely & properly, along with the benefits they can provide as a complement to your current health regime. Participants will create their own essential oil rollerball.

Forest Bathing

Enjoy a guided walk with our resort naturalist while practicing sensory awareness such as scent, sight, sound, breath, to quiet the mind and deepen connection with the inner self and the natural world. The walk culminates in a 10-minute guided meditation with a focus on connecting with the earth.

Goat Yoga

Take part in a goat yoga session followed by a mix & mingle with the animals. There is a calming and therapeutic effect about being in nature with the goats, which brings participants more joy and less stress.

Woman holding a small dog while doing a yoga pose

Rescue Dog Yoga + Meet & Greet

Take a yoga class with rescue puppies or partake in a mix and mingle with the playful canines. This session includes an informative talk with a representative from a local dog rescue, with a discussion of the importance of supporting animal shelters and rescue organizations, as well as the process for adopting a rescued puppy or grown dog.

Wine Educator Series

This series of wine programs will delight both the novice & the astute wine lover, plus all levels in between featuring Wine Tasting, Wine 101, Wine Education and Blind Wine Competitions. All offerings are hosted by our Resort wine sommelier.

Couple doing yoga at a resort close to NYC

Yoga & Meditation

Introduce your team to yoga & mediation with certified instructors in a series of classes including: Intro to Meditation, Mindful Meditation, Morning Yoga, Yin Yoga, Piyo & more!

Adults creating dishes in an Iron Chef teambuilding activity at Crystal Springs Resort

Iron Chef Competition

Our team of chefs will guide your group in this unique culinary experience with hands-on assistance. A selection of fresh high quality ingredients will be used and each team will prepare a meal consisting of an appetizer, entrée and side dish to be judged based on presentation, taste, originality, best name and overall teamwork. Each member of the winning team will receive a bottle of Crystal Springs Resort private label wine. Our kitchen will serve a delicious meal for all guests to enjoy after the competition concludes

Axe Throwing

Bring your group out for popular axe throwing. This modern sport involves throwing an axe at a target attempting to hit the bullseye as close as possible. Get in the competitive spirit and have fun while participating in this outdoor activity.

Archery Tag

Played similar to dodgeball with their bows and patented foam-tipped arrows, Archery Tag® is an action-packed, exciting game with the ultimate family-friendly experience that engages everyone. Don’t miss out on Tag . . . The game you never outgrow!

Corporate Survivor

Compete in a series of thought provoking and entertaining head-to-head competitions to determine which team has what it takes to survive! Teams will rotate through a series of activities, competing against each other yet learning from the previous teams’ mistakes. In between each challenge, teams will have 5 minutes to share best practices with the other teams to create a competitive yet collaborative event. Upon completing each activity, teams will be given a clue with a number on the back. These clues will need to be solved and arranged to determine the correct number sequence to unlock their final challenge. To further incentivize teams, teams will be rewarded with an advantage heading into the final challenge – so the more collective wins a team has, the better the advantage they receive! Does your team have what it takes to outsmart, outplay and outlast the competition?

Minute Mayhems

Our Minute Mayhems challenges are fast and fun activities, guaranteed to get all participants involved and fully entertained! Using standard items found around the house, these non-athletic, yet challenging games are actually quite deceiving as they look much easier than they actually are. Teams will need to determine a strategy and rely on each other to complete each task in 2 minutes or less. There will be a time limit associated with each activity to provide teams with the opportunity to identify problem areas and change direction to continuously improve their final time. The team with the most overall challenge wins will be named as champions!

Glow Golf

Amp up your night on our 18-hole Natural Grass Putting Course by playing after dark with glow-in-the-dark balls and pin flags. Subject to availability.

Adults participating in a Mixology teambuilding competition

Mixology Competition

‘Mix it up’ with mixology! In this contest, teams are challenged to create a signature cocktail using the provided beverages, plus a secret ingredient. Each station will include everything needed, with other ingredients available in the center of the room to share. Teams will be given the instructions and will have 30 minutes to create as well as name their signature cocktail. Each team will be judged on teamwork, taste, creativity and originality.

Bike Build

Engage and motivate your team while giving back to the local community with the charity Bike Build activity. Participants will bond and leave with positive memories for years to come knowing that their creation is donated to a child in need.

David Leadbetter teaching man how to golf at Crystal Springs Resort

Get In The Game

This 2 hour clinic at The Leadbetter Golf Academy will help novice golfers accelerate their ability to effectively conduct business on the golf course. Topics include the basics of the game, golf etiquette, ways golf can help advance your career, and tips for networking on the course.

Laser Clay Shooting

This popular activity is suitable for first time and seasoned clay target shooters. Using a modified shotgun, participants fire an infrared beam at reflective clays. Real, deactivated guns are used with realistic sound effects that inform the shooter when the target has been hit

Cocktail & Mocktail Mixology Class

Learn tips & tricks of the trade from our expert mixologist, including techniques and tools to make a tasty beverage. Discover how different flavorings, garnishes and secret ingredients are used to make your favorite libations. Taste the final unique creations made with locally foraged and produced botanicals from one of the country’s only foraged bar programs.

An Afternoon In the Orchard

Take a good old-fashioned hay ride up Glenwood Mountain to the Pochuck Orchard, home to hundreds of peach, pear and apple trees of multiple varieties. Participants can each pick a basket of fruit and have the option of enjoying a packed picnic in the middle of the orchard with a stunning view of the Pochuck Valley below.

Archery

Located adjacent to the fresh-water quarry at Grand Cascades Lodge, our archery range showcases the finest in guided archery. A unique rustic log construction makes it an ideal place to take pictures and capture memories of your vacation. Bows, arrows and instruction provide. Also available on property at Minerals Hotel.

Brewery, Distillery, Winery & Cidery Tours

If the thought of tasting delicious and local craft beverages inspires you, read on. Luckily, our bucolic area is home to a significant number of small winemakers, distillers and brewers who have been refining their trades for our tasting pleasure. For an exceptional bonding experience, opt for one of these “spirited” local tours on the Crystal Springs Harvest Trail.

Fishing

Discover the beauty of our unique fresh-water 100 ft. deep quarry at Grand Cascades Lodge. Stocked with trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, chain pickerel, perch, rock bass and sunnys. Rods and bait provided. Our expert fishing instructors will teach you how to identify the various fish species.

Glice Skating

Crystal Springs Resort is proud of its eco-friendly Glice skating activity, a fun alternative to traditional ice skating. The Resort’s high performance rink is manufactured by Glice, one of the world’s leading producers of Swiss-engineered synthetic ice rinks

FootGolf

Experience the newest and most exciting crossover sport to hit the United States — FootGolf! FootGolf is 2 sports rolled into 1 and is played by kicking a soccer ball (on a golf course) into an oversized hole to score — with rules similar to golf. FootGolf takes just 2 hours to play 18-holes and the best part is, it can be enjoyed by all ages. FootGolf is perfect for a team Fundraiser Event or End-Of-The-Season Party. FootGolf is offered at Cascades and Minerals golf courses. Check out our website for FootGolf Rules at CrystalFootGolf.com. AMERICAN FOOTGOLF LEAGUE ACCREDITED.

Blind Wine Tasting

Test your knowledge of wine with a blind wine tasting facilitated by our sommelier. Guests will be broken up into groups and will sample two different wines (a red and a white). The wine bottle will be placed in a brown bag to conceal the label and bottle shape. Guests will have 15 minutes to guess the continent, country, region, grape and year of each wine. After the game, enjoy a tour of our awardwinning Wine Cellar, or combine The Wine Educator with Blind Wine Tasting Game for an extra fee. Activity is hosted on property at Grand Cascades Lodge.

Nutritional Coaching

Led by a renowned Health Coach, Functional Nutrition & a Lifestyle Practitioner, you will discover & break the habits and beliefs that are stopping you from feeling your best. Learn new diet and lifestyle modifications, with partnership for guidance & support, to restore balance within and live a healthy & mindful lifestyle.

Golf Darts or Foot Darts

Using our giant dart board, choose either a soccer or golf themed competition, as teams try to rack up the most points by sticking a Velcro ball to the board to score! Golf darts is played with tennis balls and standard golf clubs. Foot darts is played with Velcro soccer balls. Hosted outdoors year round when weather conditions permit. Our giant dart board is also an entertaining addition to your casual outdoor dining event.

Rock Climbing Wall

Offering unsurpassed innovation and safety to guests, introducing an age old explorer sport to mainstream activity enthusiasts. Our wall features a catch-and-hold technology which gives climbers the time they need to rest, recover and finish their favorite route. Additionally, it has a built-in durability, safety & braking that both experts and novices trust.

Woman participating in bungee glow class.

Bungee Fitness

Bungee Fitness is a motion based resistance training class. It uses a combination of fitness training and a full body cardio workout that is high intensity all while you float weightlessly. All levels are welcome.

TreEscape

A unique blend of wooden platforms built high in the trees, connected by exhilarating combinations of rope walks, obstacles, climbing elements and zip lines all located in a beautiful forested setting. Located 5 minutes from the Resort. Shuttle service additional if required.

Curling

Two teams of players slide curling stones down a sheet of specially prepared synthetic ice attempting to get their stones closest to the target's center.

Three people hiking at Wild Turkey Nature Trail

Guided Mountain Hike

Take an invigorating hike with one of our certified personal trainers up to the top of the 1,500 ft. Hamburg Mountain and back down. You will be rewarded with a beautiful view of the Vernon Valley. This hike is of moderate intensity. Please dress appropriately and bring a bottle of water. Weather permitting. Offsite hiking on the Appalachian Trail also available.

Aerial Yoga

This form of yoga allows students to perform postures that they may not be able to attempt on a mat. Aerial yoga incorporates moves inspired by pilates, dance and acrobatics.

Hiking with Goats

Our goats feel safest with humans, considering people are a part of their herd. Hiking with them is a natural way to bond with both the goats and your peers, while enjoying the 3 mile Nature Trail on property at Grand Cascades Lodge. We'll stop along the way to get priceless pics of your team with the goats!

Pickleball

NEW! Now available at Minerals Hotel. Pickleball is a cross between tennis & ping-pong. Group competitions or professional clinics available.

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