Things to Do With Kids in Buena Vista, Colorado: The Complete Family Guide
Quick Answer: Best Things to Do With Kids in Buena Vista, CO The top family-friendly activities in Buena Vista, Colorado include whitewater rafting, soaking at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, exploring Buena Vista River Park, hiking family trails near Browns Canyon National Monument, camping under the stars near the Collegiate Peaks, and visiting the Jumpin’ Good Goat Dairy. Buena Vista is one of Colorado’s best family vacation destinations, with activities suited for kids as young as 2 and teens alike. If you’re searching for the perfect Colorado family vacation, look no further than Buena Vista. Nestled between the Collegiate Peaks and the Arkansas River in central Colorado, “BV” is a mountain town that punches far above its weight when it comes to things to do with kids. Whether your crew is full of toddlers or teenagers, thrill-seekers or nature lovers, Buena Vista delivers an adventure for everyone. Here at Wilderness Aware Rafting, we’ve been guiding families down the Arkansas River for decades. We know this area inside and out — so we put together this comprehensive guide to the best things to do with kids in Buena Vista, Colorado, covering everything from world-class whitewater rafting to goat farms and hot springs. 1. Family Whitewater Rafting on the Arkansas River TOP PICK FOR FAMILIES More than 250,000 people visit Buena Vista each year specifically to raft the Arkansas River — and for good reason. The Arkansas is consistently ranked among the top whitewater rivers in the United States, and it has stretches perfectly suited for every age and experience level. For families with young children ages 4 and up, our Family Rafting Trip on the Milk Run or Lower Browns Canyon (Class I–II) is a dream introduction to river life. Kids giggle through gentle splashes, spot wildlife along the canyon walls, and come away with big grins and bigger stories. For families with kids ages 6 and up, the iconic Browns Canyon rafting trip through Browns Canyon National Monument delivers Class III whitewater that’s exciting without being overwhelming. Named rapids like Zoom Flume, Pinball, and the Staircase will have the whole family cheering. Trip Min. Age Difficulty Duration Starting Price Milk Run (Family Float) Ages 4+ Class I–II Quarter-day Starting at $62/person Lower Browns Canyon Ages 4+ Class I–II Half-day Starting at $62/person Browns Canyon Ages 6+ Class III Half-day or full-day Youth from $89/person 💡 Pro Tip: Rafting season runs May through Labor Day. June and July bring the most exciting flows after snowmelt from the Collegiate Peaks. Book early — summer dates fill up fast, especially on weekends. 2. Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort PERFECT AFTER A BIG ADVENTURE DAY Just nine miles south of downtown Buena Vista, Mt. Princeton Hot Springs is a must-do for any family visiting the area. These geothermal waters have drawn visitors for nearly 150 years — and for good reason. The resort features multiple pool areas ranging from relaxing soaking pools and exercise pools to the wildly popular natural creekside pools along Chalk Creek, where kids can move rocks around to mix warm spring water with cool creek water and find their perfect temperature. The biggest draw for kids? A water slide that descends the hillside into a warm pool — a highlight the whole family will be talking about long after the trip is over. It’s open seasonally during summer months, with an additional fee to ride. 💡 Pro Tip: Mt. Princeton is open 365 days a year, making it an excellent choice even if you’re visiting Buena Vista outside of summer. Pair it with a morning rafting trip for a perfect full-day family itinerary. 3. Buena Vista River Park & the BV Boulder Garden FREE FAMILY FUN The Buena Vista River Park is the heart of outdoor life in BV, and it’s completely free to visit. Running along more than half a mile of the Arkansas River in the South Main neighborhood, this world-class park packs in an incredible amount for families: BV Boulder Garden — hand-sculpted concrete bouldering structures designed for all skill levels; a fantastic intro to climbing for kids Skate park for the older kids and teens Ball fields, disc golf, and running/walking tracks Picnic tables with front-row views of kayakers tackling the whitewater park A dog-friendly area for the family pup The adjacent South Main neighborhood is also worth exploring on foot, with local shops, food trucks, and the popular LAWN event space where the Surf Hotel hosts live summer concerts perfect for families. 💡 Pro Tip: There’s also a splash park near the corner of Railroad and Main Street — a great way to cool off with little ones on a warm afternoon. 4. Hiking Family-Friendly Trails Near Buena Vista GREAT FOR ALL AGES Buena Vista sits at the base of the Sawatch Mountain Range — home to more 14,000-foot peaks (14ers) than any other range in Colorado. You don’t need to summit a 14er to experience this dramatic landscape, though. The area has excellent family hiking for every ability level. Barbara Whipple Trail — A gentle, accessible path that’s great for younger kids and strollers; runs along the river with beautiful views. Midland Hill Trail / Bridge to Bridge Loop — Moderate trails near South Main offering sweeping panoramic views of the Collegiate Peaks. Perfect for families with older kids. Browns Canyon National Monument Trails — Hike into the canyon and see the same granite walls and wildlife — bighorn sheep, prairie falcons, and elk — that rafters float past. A short 10-minute drive from downtown BV. Cottonwood Lake Trail — A 3.3-mile round trip at nearly 12,000 feet elevation. Manageable for kids with only 423 feet of elevation gain, and the alpine views are breathtaking. 💡 Pro Tip: Colorado’s high altitude sun is intense. Pack sunscreen, hats, and plenty of water no matter how short the hike — and start early to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, which are common in summer. 5. Camping & Staying Overnight Near the River CLASSIC COLORADO FAMILY EXPERIENCE Few things
Bachelor & Bachelorette Party Rafting Trips in Colorado
Before taking on one of life’s biggest adventures, why not plan a bachelor or bachelorette party rafting trip in Colorado? It’s an unforgettable experience. Whitewater rafting offers a fun alternative to the traditional booze-fueled weekend in Vegas. Our trips cater to everyone—from Class V adrenaline junkies to those seeking a laid-back float. Plus, we handle ALL the planning. All we need from you is a date! Why Take Your Bachelor or Bachelorette Party Rafting? 1) Make It a Party to Remember Be the friend whose bachelor or bachelorette party everyone still talks about years later. Whitewater rafting is a one-of-a-kind adventure. Once you step into the raft, it’s you, your crew, and the journey ahead. Whether it’s a one-time celebration or the start of a new tradition, this is a party no one will forget. 2) Trips Are Highly Customizable at an Affordable Price Our guides love hosting bachelor and bachelorette parties and will accommodate special requests to make your trip unforgettable. Want to surprise the bride or groom with their favorite Colorado microbrews at camp? Or perhaps have a spread of cupcakes and champagne waiting at the take-out? We can make it happen! With over 48 years of experience, we’ve hosted countless parties and always have fresh ideas. If you need inspiration, ask one of our reservations specialists—they love party planning! With trips starting at just $79, you can create an unforgettable experience without the hefty price tag. 3) Easy Peasy Planning, Let Us Handle It To pull off the perfect Colorado whitewater rafting bachelor or bachelorette party, all we need from you is a date. The moment your group arrives at our Buena Vista headquarters, we take care of everything. We provide all the gear you’ll need, plus fun souvenirs like waterproof disposable cameras or necklace koozies. We also handle shuttle logistics, meals, and any special requests to make this the best party ever. 4) Trips for Everyone From Beginners to Experts As one of the first whitewater rafting outfitters in Buena Vista and the Arkansas Valley, we’ve hosted countless bachelor and bachelorette parties. Over the years, we’ve expanded our selection of trips. You can choose from easygoing float trips to ultra-extreme Class V adventures. We offer half-day to five-day rafting and camping trips. Want more excitement? Add horseback riding or zip-lining to your adventure. We’ll handle all the planning so you can focus on the fun! What Our Customers Saying There’s no better way to trust an epic trip than hearing from those who’ve been there. Our bachelor and bachelorette groups come for the thrill but leave with memories to last a lifetime. From adrenaline-pumping rapids to laughter-filled nights around the campfire, our guests rave about the unique experience rafting offers for any pre-wedding celebration. Here’s what some of our past guests had to say: “We just finished a three day rafting and camping trip with Wilderness Aware out of Buena Vista, Co. Our Guides, Ashley and Gomez were great. They did a great job explaining the river and keeping us informed of what rapids were coming up. Wilderness Aware guides work extremely hard to ensure you have a great experience. They offer a ton of different trip options so if camping is not your jam you can stay in your choice of accommodations. We will definitely be back. – Brian Detherage, via a 5-Star Google Review “Amazing time rafting different parts of the Arkansas River! We did the 4- day Inn to Inn trip and felt like VIP’s! 5-Stars all around from accommodations, food and fun! Our guide Ashlynn was a true professional! Enjoyed every minute! – Shar Carson, via a 5-Star Google Review “Great trip, Ashley was a great guide. Would highly recommend WAR to anyone looking for a great experience.” – John Randels, via a 5-Star Google Review
Family Rafting Day Trips in Colorado and Arizona
Take your Family on a White Water Rafting Adventure Vacation Rafting is an activity that all ages can enjoy! On a family adventure trip, parents shouldn’t have to choose between making the adults or making the kids happy. Young kids can ride in the raft with parents without the responsibility or the “rules” of paddling a raft. Teens can paddle as an equal with Mom and Dad and can share in the excitement of navigating the rapids. Wilderness Aware guides are kids at heart and enjoy creating fun for families. Our most popular Colorado family rafting trips are on the Arkansas River due to the wide variety of trip difficulties and trips lengths available. All trips on the Arkansas River are conveniently located near Denver, Aspen, Breckenridge and Colorado Springs. Our season on the Arkansas River runs through the heart of the summer season from May 1 through Labor Day in early September. Trips for families with young kids (ages 4-6): Mild water trips – great for the whole family! Mellow and relaxing, our mild float trips are a great way to grandparents and grandkids to bond or as a first adventure for a young family. The follow trip is on the Arkansas River. Lower Browns Canyon Trip Milk Run Trip Trips for active families (ages 7+): Each of the following Arkansas River are excellent for first timers or seasoned professionals. Exciting whitewater that doesn’t compromise on fun for adults or kids. Browns Canyon Rafting Half Day (ages 7+) Browns Canyon Rafting Full Day (ages 7+) Advanced trips for families (ages 14+): These Arkansas River trips are great for all adult adventure seeking families looking for adrenaline-charged whitewater. Numbers Rafting Half Day Numbers Rafting Full Day Royal Gorge Rafting Full Day We offer more day trips on rivers throughout Colorado and Arizona. Springtime rafting trips for families looking for a desert getaway with exciting fast-paced white water can join us Arizona’s Salt River. Conveniently located 2.5 hours east of Phoenix and north of Tucson. In Colorado, if you have a good size family group you can tackle the exciting whitewater on the North Platte or Gunnison River. If your family is in the mood for more mellow rapids or with families with young kids, you can join us on a scenic float on the Upper Colorado River.
Featured Trip: The Arkansas River Dinner Float
Published: May 19, 2017 | Updated: February 2026 Looking to sneak in a little time on the Arkansas River that everyone from your preschooler to Grandma can enjoy? If you’re searching for a gentle introduction to the water without the intensity of big rapids, our exclusive Arkansas River Dinner Float Trip is the perfect solution. Known among local “River Rats” as the Milk Run, this trip takes you on a mellow, easygoing portion of the river. Showcasing some of the best views of Mt. Princeton and Mt. Yale, this float features Colorado mountain scenery at its finest. A Beginner-Friendly Experience This 3.5-mile journey is perfect for wrapping up a summer day or easing into Arkansas River rafting if you are new to the scene. With its laid-back pace compared to more aggressive sections like The Numbers, the Milk Run is extremely beginner-friendly. It is perfectly suited for those who would rather take in the 14,000-foot peaks of the Sawatch Range than charge through adrenaline-inducing rapids. To make it even more relaxing, we mount the boats with oars—this means our professional guides take care of all the paddling while you focus on the views and your family. Dinner with a View in Buena Vista The trip wraps up perfectly at the Riverside Bar & Grill, home to the best fish tacos and margaritas in Buena Vista. You can relax and leisurely enjoy dinner as the sun sets over the mountains. This experience is unlike any other and is sure to be one of the most memorable meals of your Colorado vacation. Is the Arkansas River Dinner Float safe for small children? Yes, the “Milk Run” section of the Arkansas River is classified as Class I-II (mellow water), making it safe for children as young as 3 or 4 years old. Because the guide handles the rowing, parents can focus entirely on their children while enjoying the scenery. What should I wear for a scenic dinner float? Since this is a splash-free scenic float, you don’t necessarily need a wetsuit. We recommend comfortable outdoor clothing, a light jacket for when the sun goes down, and sandals or shoes you don’t mind getting a little damp. Where does the Arkansas River Milk Run start and end? The Milk Run starts just south of Buena Vista and winds through the valley for 3.5 miles. Our dinner float specifically concludes at the Riverside Bar & Grill, allowing for a seamless transition from the boat to your dinner table. Yes, the “Milk Run” section of the Arkansas River is classified as Class I-II (mellow water), making it safe for children as young as 3 or 4 years old. Because the guide handles the rowing, parents can focus entirely on their children while enjoying the scenery. Since this is a splash-free scenic float, you don’t necessarily need a wetsuit. We recommend comfortable outdoor clothing, a light jacket for when the sun goes down, and sandals or shoes you don’t mind getting a little damp. The Milk Run starts just south of Buena Vista and winds through the valley for 3.5 miles. Our dinner float specifically concludes at the Riverside Bar & Grill, allowing for a seamless transition from the boat to your dinner table.
Easiest Summer Trip Ever: Family Vacation Wilderness Aware Style
There are some people out there who are planners; they get a thrill mapping out road trip stops (“we can stop for gas and see the UFO watch tower in Hooper since we’ll be 304 miles in and it’ll be approximately 7:36pm which means we can do dinner too”) and then those who prefer more of a laissez faire approach to planning. I definitely fall in the second category, which is why I am a huge advocate for a Colorado white water rafting trip for the entire family to enjoy. Hang on— you say that sounds like a lot of work? Not at all! Our multi-day rafting trips are pretty much like an all-inclusive family vacation with way more excitement than any coastal resort or theme park can offer. The moment you arrive at our office, our friendly staff is taking care of you. In the morning we offer all our guests a complimentary continental breakfast. After your family has gotten their fill, we suit you up in your rental gear (wetsuits, splash jackets, and booties), provide you with a dry bag for your personal items, and you’re good to hit the river. We cover all the details so you can relax and focus on the important things: family, fun, and whitewater rafting! We bring all the gear so you won’t have any headaches over how to load the car and keep everyone with enough space. Your camp is guaranteed to have a beautiful view of the water since we raft right up to it. Our guides take care of all the shopping and cooking (they really outdo themselves here serving delicacies like pesto bread bowl appetizers, freshly made lasagna, garden salads, and even baking cakes at camp in a Dutch oven!). Best of all, you get nonstop entertainment all day as you take on the rapids. Bonus perk—there won’t be any additional costs on the river so you don’t need to take on any unnecessary expenses for “irresistible” touristy trinkets. On top of all this, you’ll also be introducing your family to some of the best nature out there. Our rivers are home to big horn sheep, bald eagles, otters, moose, and many other exotic animals. Since the Arkansas River where we do the majority of our overnight rafting trips is along the continental fault line, you’ll be exposed to stunning rock formations throughout your whitewater rafting trip. Browns Canyon, for example, just recently was declared a national monument because of its beauty. In short, you could put a lot of effort into planning and carrying out your family’s next vacation or you can pretend you did and really just book one of our overnight adventures and have the best time ever—we won’t reveal your secret 😉
Spend Your Honeymoon in the Wilderness
If you’re planning your honeymoon and not really interested in a typical one on the beach, then consider a week in the wilderness instead. An unconventional honeymoon is memorable and unique compared to the traditional trip to paradise. It’s actually more like a fairy tale waking up in the woods and exploring the outdoors like our Once Upon a Time friends. After all the work spent planning a wedding, take it easy while an outdoor adventure company organizes the trips for you. Not only is it budget-friendly but wilderness honeymoons provide personal experiences you’ll never forget. Multi-Day White Water Rafting If you and your beau are thrill seekers, a multi-day rafting trip is for you. We offer tent camping or inn-to-inn trips. Imagine having a continental breakfast in the mountains, spending a half day on the river and taking in the beautiful scenery around you, then going horseback riding or mountain biking afterwards. If you are staying inn-to-inn, dinner will be at a local restaurant and if you are in a tent, our guides will cook gourmet meals for you. The next couple days will be full days on the river and evenings walking in downtown Salida or under the stars around a campfire. We provide professional photography during your trip so you don’t miss those special moments. Just can pick up your picture cd on your last day with us. Rafting Packages Interested in spending more time away from people and more time together? We have one and two day rafting packages for people to do a half day of rafting and another activity. Paddle-N-Saddle tours offer half or full day rafting and a horseback trip. Raft-N- Zip is for those wanting more adrenaline rushes with our zip lining tour. Love mountain biking? Then the Paddle-N-Peddle is just for you and your love. These shorter packages offer a day of fun during your honeymoon with the freedom to spend the rest of your week with hikes, fishing, camping, and more. Let us help you start planning your honeymoon in the wilderness today. Contact us or Request a Brochure for more information on white water rafting and our other adventures.
Plan Your Bachelorette Party with Whitewater Rafting
If you’re planning a bachelorette party for a friend that is more interested in a less than traditional party to celebrate her last days as a single woman, then a whitewater rafting trip could be right up your alley. For the woman who loves to explore the great outdoors, planning a trip to the mountains with some camping, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, or Colorado zip line tours would be much more memorable and unique for this bride instead of a night on the town. Whitewater rafting is an exciting option that takes your friends on a fun getaway to celebrate the upcoming marriage, which you can easily customize this with another outdoor trip. Many of our trips are budget-friendly and the rivers a rush. We offer great discounts for groups of 10 or more. Plan an Easy and Fun Bachelorette Party Your Maid of Honor duties will be a lot easier when organizing a whitewater rafting bachelorette party since we do all the planning, packing, and cooking. If you’re worried about the camp food, Wilderness Aware provides delicious gourmet meals prepared by our experienced guides. No matter how experienced your guest list is, we can help you choose the right trip that will keep all the girls comfortable while experiencing exciting adrenaline rushes and plenty of laughs. All you have to worry about is bringing the basics: swimsuit, shoes, sunscreen, and water for a day on the river. Don’t worry about taking pictures either, we can capture the best rafting moments for you with professional photography that you get to keep. They would also make a great wedding present. Continue the Party in Buena Vista Buena Vista is a beautiful mountain town to spend the weekend with the Bride and friends. There are plenty of lodging options, hiking trails, good food, shopping, and a hot springs nearby. Start a day off by climbing Mount Princeton, one of the more popular 14ers in the area with beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains and wrap it up with a relaxing soak in a hot spring pool. Whether you decide to do a multi-day camping rafting trip or a half day Browns Canyon rafting trip paired with a couple nights at a rustic inn, you can be sure that the whitewater rafting bachelorette party that you plan will be exciting for everyone involved and there will be plenty of stories to share at the wedding. Need some inspiration to get your party planning going? Adobe just launched their free Adobe Express Invitation Templates so that you can create the perfect party invites free of cost. Happy planning! At Wilderness Aware Rafting our passion is whitewater rafting. If you’re interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip bachelorette party or a multi-day rafting trip, browse our whitewater rafting trips here or call us at 1-800-462-7238 to plan your trip today.
Rafting as Team Building Exercises
Whitewater rafting is an excellent way to encourage camaraderie and strengthen workplace relationships. Team building exercises don’t have to be at a nearby park or in a meeting room of the workplace to be effective. Most employees enjoy team building a lot more when it takes place in a new environment and involves participating in sports and fitness activities together. You don’t have to sit around telling your deepest fears and walking on hot coal in order to build up your team spirit (unless you really want to). Let’s take a look at the top reasons people organize team building activities and how you can carry out those exercises using rafting. Some of these you may prefer to choose a calmer river to use. Improving Communication Each person in the raft will spend 5-10 minutes as the “guide” and direct the group which way to paddle in order to avoid obstacles or make turns along river bends. Work together to reach different markers and rotate among every employee in the boat without falling behind the other rafters. Employees learn to react to the environment and flow of the river while having the ability to foresee upcoming obstacles and quickly respond. Learn Personal Backgrounds Starting with the person in front right side going clockwise, the first person will tell a story from when they were a small child. The next tells a story from their childhood, then preteen, then teenager, then young adult, etc. In this manner, each person gets to share a part of their background from a different stage while remaining part of the team paddling together. The other members practice listening skills and have the ability to engage with the story-teller on a more personal level too. Trust Everyone in each raft except one person is blind folded and the one with sight has to guide everyone to paddle across a river. Teams will race back and forth across the river and rotate guides until each person has guided the raft to shore. This exercise encourages employees to trust the guidance of each other while the person guiding must adjust their instructions and communication to get their team to paddle effectively as they depend on their advice. Collaboration Set up a worse-case scenario such as: the bus forgot to pick up the rafters and they have to stop on a shore and spend the night next to the river. Ask the team to work together to decide what indicators of the river shore would make them choose to stop there, how they would set up a fire, get fresh water, find food to eat, and set up a shelter based on things they see along the river. Have them come up with a list of 10 things they must do in order to survive the night. Using rafting for team building helps to provide a fun and engaging environment for employees to work on their interpersonal and communication skills together while also valuing their individual skill sets. It helps teams to learn in practice instead of in theory alone while experiencing immediate consequences and requiring creativity and critical thinking to respond with. Plan your team building river rafting trip with us at Wilderness Aware Rafting today. Our Browns Canyon Half Day Trip is our most popular on the Arkansas River. Contact us online or call us for more information 1-800-462-7238.
Colorado Outdoor Adventures
I come from a city where one rarely sees all the generosities of the weather, so to see snow or the leaves change colors on trees would imply a drive for several miles away from the city. Moving along the roads of Colorado, heading to the small town of Buena Vista, I drove almost nonstop with one of the best visual experiences that nature could offer—beautiful snow-capped mountains, or just completely green. Sometimes I passed full paths of trees with red leaves, then the next with yellow leaves, some orange, some green and so on. I also passed by beautiful rivers that accompanied me for a couple of minutes. It was so gorgeous! I had to stop a few times to record it with my camera. White Water Rafting & More Finally, I made it to my destination. If you are looking for excitement, Wilderness Aware Rafting in Buena Vista is an outfitter providing access and tours to exceptional adventures such as as horseback riding, zip lines, mountain bikes and rapids. To start, you can try whitewater rafting down America’s most popular rafting river, the Arkansas River, as well as four other stunning Colorado waterways. Witness glorious canyon walls and grand views of the largest concentration of mountain peaks that are over 14,000 feet high in the lower 48 states. They offer exciting trips for all levels of ability including gentle floats for children as young as 4 years old. The wildly popular Browns Canyon tour is perfect for adventurous first-timers (like me) and experienced rafters alike. Activities Out of the Water And for the experienced rafters looking for a more intense adventure, consider the extreme Colorado white water rafting trips in the Royal Gorge or the even more challenging Numbers section of the Arkansas River, known for big, powerful drops and continuous rapids. If getting wet is not your thing, Wilderness Aware Rafting has more fun land-based options to choose from. I rode a good-looking 4-legged horse named Boston and together we promenaded among some of Colorado’s most beautiful passages on a horseback riding tour. I rode until a meadow where my beautiful white horse stopped by the river and where Mount Princeton could look down on us with curiosity. I later said goodbye to my fuzzy partner and continued my adventure towards Leadville. The moment I feared the most had arrived: high-altitude zip line between the towering snow-capped mountains and stately pine trees! Thankfully, their zip lines use some of the latest braking technology, which means you can fly hands-free without worry. At first, I was nervous, but by the second circuit I was already a pro; by the fifth one I wanted to do it all over again. Whether by water, land or sky, outdoor excitement awaits in Colorado! Bring your sense of adventure and let Colorado’s white water rafting experts at Wilderness Aware Rafting organize your next best experience!
The Lessons of Rafting: How Rafting Can Be Used as a Business Team Building Exercise
To me, teamwork is the beauty of our sport, where you have five acting as one. You become selfless. -Mike Krzyzewski Good businesses know that team work is important, whereas great businesses know the importance of team building. If you’re looking for a fun and creative way to improve your workplace atmosphere, energy, and synergy, taking your employees for a day of whitewater rafting is it. A 2012 Wakefield Research Study shows that almost 31% of employees dislike team-building activities so skip the typical trust exercises. Let’s take a look at all the reasons why whitewater rafting is great for team building. 1. We Offer Food One of the best ways to improve workplace relationships is to have them share a meal together. If you think about it, anytime there’s a celebration, it involves gathering together for a meal. At Wilderness Aware, we offer deli-style lunches on our full-day trips and free continental breakfasts. There’s even a shaded meeting area and riverside picnic site for groups to gather and reminisce about their day on the river. 2. Team Work at its Best Another effective team-building activity is to have employees participate in fitness or sports activities together. When each person has a critical role in the raft to paddle through eddies and challenging obstacles, it sets up an open environment for bonding and encouragement. Looking back at our roots not 50 years ago when office jobs were uncommon and people physically interacted on a daily basis, you see a huge improvements in relationships. A change of scenery with a common goal gives people a fresh outlook. 3. Nature Therapy is Awesome Being outdoors and working together in Mother Nature spurs nature therapy and an experience that they’ll never forget. Nature therapy can have regenerative powers that diminishes stress, anxiety, and depression. It is a great way for people to relax together and unwind. Being outdoors also improves physical health and mental clarity. People talk and bond more when they are moving, and in this case, paddling their oars through whitewater! 4. Fun is an Option Setting up a getaway that allows employees to enjoy themselves and have fun taps into the most basic way that humans and animals improve their social skills: learning through play. It also lowers blood pressure and increases friendly pats on the back. When co-workers feel more comfortable interacting with one another, workflow and quality improves because people aren’t hesitant about approaching one another for advice or suggestions. When employees can connect to one another, it improves their happiness with their workplace. The workplace culture is taking two directions: companies that care about employee retention and a quality workplace, and companies that have high-turnover, which is usually their best employees leaving for something better. A team-building activity that is actually fun and exciting will spur innovation while also showing your employees that you do care about their overall well-beings and happiness at work. Whitewater rafting is an exciting outdoor activity that encourages team-building in an exciting and unique way. If you’re interested in planning a day on the river for your company, contact us at Wilderness Aware Rafting and we’ll be happy to help you get started.