Boardrooms don’t usually involve helmets, carabiners, and tree-top crossings .... but maybe they should.
At Edith Macy Center, corporate teams trade fluorescent lights for forest canopies and conference chairs for climbing harnesses.
With guidance from expert facilitators at Outward Bound, teams push past their comfort zones and into something far more productive: connection, trust, and shared accountability.
This isn’t just a corporate field trip.
It’s a strategic reset.
And in today’s world of remote work, cross-functional teams, and burnout, it couldn’t come at a better time.
From Cubicle Comfort to Tree-Top Trust
Routine can be a silent team-killer. It numbs creativity, cements hierarchy, and makes communication transactional.
But when your marketing manager is dangling midair while the intern helps anchor her rope, hierarchy goes out the window fast.
That’s precisely the point.
The outdoor setting strips away office dynamics and replaces them with a shared experience that levels the playing field. In this new space, people stop performing roles and start showing up as teammates.
With Outward Bound’s facilitation, teams experience the challenge together: climbing, guiding, spotting, and supporting.
The result?
Colleagues see each other in ways they never could back at their desks. They rediscover empathy, patience, and adaptability. Those are muscles every high-performing team needs to keep flexing.
Safety First, Then Vulnerability
Yes, there’s gear. Yes, there are safety checks. But the real risk, the one that actually matters back at the office, is emotional.
And this is where Outward Bound’s structure shines.
Participants don’t just climb. They learn to support, to belay, and to check their partners’ gear before any foot leaves the ground. It’s a system that demands communication, attention, and follow-through. And the parallels to the workplace are impossible to ignore.
Once the physical safety net is in place, something deeper happens: people begin to let their guard down. They tune in to each other’s non-verbal cues. They offer help without being asked. They learn to trust before fully understanding. That trust doesn’t evaporate when the harness comes off—it’s the seed of stronger collaboration back at the office.
Celebrate Small, Win Big
Team wins often get buried under deadlines and deliverables. But in the woods, every little win gets noticed and celebrated.
Whether it’s a successful rope crossing, a supportive shout from below, or even a laugh after a nervous moment, these micro-celebrations add up fast.
Outward Bound intentionally builds these moments into the experience. They know that high-performing teams don’t just work hard together—they find ways to mark progress, share pride, and encourage each other out loud.
It’s these mini-milestones—cheers, air-fives, storytelling around a campfire—that grease the gears of real performance. Especially for remote teams, the chance to feel seen and supported is powerful.
Where the Real Work Happens
The real transformation doesn’t peak on the platform. It happens after everyone’s back on solid ground.
Outward Bound facilitators guide structured debriefs where teams connect the dots between what happened on the ropes and what’s happening in their workplace. That’s where insight turns into action. Leaders realize how they show up under pressure. Teammates recognize how they instinctively support (or hesitate). Communication gaps get named, and trust wins get acknowledged.
This part matters most. Because the goal isn’t just a fun retreat, it’s a better team dynamic that sticks long after the forest fades from view.
Designed for What Comes Next
At Edith Macy, the experience is fully customizable. The planning starts with a simple but critical question: What do you want to walk away with?
Whether it’s stronger communication, increased trust, or cross-team cohesion, Outward Bound helps translate those goals into activities that actually move the needle. From intimate retreats to large-scale events like the “Summer Olympics” program, where over 100 employees rotated through indoor and outdoor challenges, each day is built for connection, reflection, and results.
This isn’t just another team-building checkbox. It’s a chance to test and strengthen the very things that make teams work: vulnerability, support, accountability, and presence.
Curious about the team building at Edith Macy? Reach out to us here >>
Huge thank you to Kim, Bill, and Ken from Outward Bound for contributing to this month’s content.