11 Fun Team Building Ideas in Indianapolis

According to the Matador Network, Indianapolis is “the new cultural hotspot of the Midwest.” Not only is its culinary scene more affordable than bigger cities like Chicago, but its independent art galleries, craft beer scene, and pedestrian-friendly initiatives are all on the rise. Whether you’re admiring hot air balloons at the Indiana State Fair or checking out a book at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, this city will keep you busy year-round. Take a look at our list of 11 fun team building ideas in Indianapolis to see how you can explore a new corner of the city with your team.

1. Get creative at the Indianapolis Art Center

The Indianpolis Art Center has been around since 1934, and was originally part of a Depression-era program to help working artists. Now, it offers art classes on its 9.5-acre campus, and has six galleries displaying rotating exhibits. Your team can be a part of this storied history by attending a class at the Art Center, with creative team building experiences led by the on-site faculty. And you aren’t limited to painting on canvas: the Art Center offers instruction in sculpting, glass arts, textile arts, woodworking, and more, for teams of all skill levels and sizes.

2. Host a workshop at a Peerspace venue

Create your own team building event from the ground up by renting a Peerspace venue from a local host. From this 1898 Victorian mansion in Shelbyville, to an industrial performance space in downtown Indianapolis, you’ll find a range of memorable venues all over the region. Stay in the city, or head out of town to host your event at a rural retreat space or a spot in a nearby town.

Whichever venue you choose, you can turn to the Concierge service for support lining up any additional items or amenities you need. From A/V rentals to catering or photography services, Peerspace venues come with a range of optional add-ons from trusted local vendors.

3. Pedal around town on the HandleBar

The HandleBar is a crowd-pleasing team building idea in Indianapolis that can accommodate up to 128 guests. You’ll break up into groups to ride 16-seat pedal pubs around the city, stopping at local brewpubs along the way. You can bring your own food, drink, and music for a fun night out on the town. But you’ll have to work together to pedal your pub to get to the next destination!

4. Climb through the trees with Edge Adventures

For a fun outdoor activity, book a team building experience with Edge Adventures, which offers group packages at its three Indiana locations, the closest being in Koteewi, 40 minutes outside of Indianapolis. With a treetop adventure course, zip lines, and on-the-ground activities to choose from, you’ll put your teamwork to the test in a scenic forest setting. Brave teams can even try the Night Climb at Kotweewi Park to ride a zip line through the forest canopy after dark.

5. Take a group fitness class at NIFS

Getting out of the office for some exercise is a great way to bond as a team, and at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, you can have your pick of several different fitness routines. This 65,000-sq.ft. facility offers a Corporate Team Building Program with activities like Human Bingo, Inner Tube Pass, Scramball, and more. You can also hire them to bring the program your office or Peerspace venue, with events designed for groups of five to 120 people.

6. Strap on your skates at Roller City

Take your team to Roller City for a nostalgic trip back to the days of roller skating, mini golf, and arcade games. This venue can accommodate groups of 100+ people, with private party options available for team building events and other corporate outings. If you haven’t been to a skating rink before, don’t worry: lessons are available for new skaters. And for those who prefer not to try their luck on skates, there’s a glow-in-the-dark mini golf course to enjoy instead!

7. Learn bouldering skills at the CRUX

For another action-packed team building idea in Indianapolis, head to The Crux at Camptown for a private climbing lesson at an indoor rock gum. You can book the entire climbing area and the party or meeting room for anywhere from two to eight hours. Your group of up to 20 participants will get personalized instruction as they race to climb the speed wall or work together to help each other improve their bouldering techniques. This event is suitable for beginner climbers, as well as supports the outdoor adventure programs at Camptown designed for at-risk youth.

8. Paint your own ceramics at Half Baked Pottery

Not every team building idea in Indianapolis has to involve adrenaline. Half Baked Pottery offers a more laid-back option with their DIY pottery painting workshops. These events last around a couple to a few hours, and are suitable for teams of up to 55 people. You can bring your own food and drink, but everything else — paint, stencils, brushes, and sponges — will be provided. You can select your pieces in advance, and will be able to pick them up about a week after your event.

9. Have a table tennis tournament at Smash Social

Competitive teams will have a field day at Smash Social, a coffee shop and beer/wine bar that offers all-you-can-play ping-pong. Book the entire venue for $200 per hour, which includes six ping pong tables, a projector, a microphone, and a sound system, for up to 170 guests. Or, book the conference room and loft for a private space on days when the venue is open to the public. Participate in the monthly Tournament Tuesday, or host your own competition.

10. Make scented candles at Penn & Beech Candle Co.

For another hands-on creative experience, visit Penn & Beach for a DIY candlemaking session. Each of your colleagues can create their own scent combination, from a choice of over 100 oils, which is then used to make a candle, room spray, diffuser, or another scented product. Enjoy a beverage while waiting for your candle to cure, which can take up to 90 minutes. This event is available to book at two Penn & Beech locations, in Carmel and central Indianapolis.

11. Practice your aim at Ragnarok Axe Throwing

Finally, take out your frustrations at Ragnarok, Indianapolis’s local axe-throwing venue. A team building experience at Ragnarok includes a training session with an “Axepert,” an axe throwing contest between two teams, and a 7.5-inch stamp that’s awarded to the winner. Sessions last for 1.5 hours, and each competition includes a maximum of 12 players, with up to 48 people on site at at time. You can bring your own catering, as well as order drinks from the bar.

Indianapolis has all of the team building options you could ask for in a city. From classic ideas like pottery painting to an after-work outing on a pedal pub, you’ll find plenty of fun events that your team will look forward to attending. And remember, you can always create your own team building ideas in Indianapolis by booking a local Peerspace venue and hosting it yourself!

Find unique team building ideas in Indianapolis on Peerspace

Get together somewhere better

Book thousands of unique spaces directly from local hosts.

Explore Spaces

Share your space and start earning

Join thousands of hosts renting their space for meetings, events, and photo shoots.

List Your Space