For Dawson’s annual team building, we wanted more than just a day off—we sought experiences that would weave our team closer while sparking creativity and joy. This year, we found exactly that in a weekend filled with handcrafted pottery, adrenaline-pumping adventures, and serene moments amid nature. By the end, it wasn’t just about the activities; it was about rediscovering the strength of our team—and how that strength translates to better service for our clients.
Our journey began at a cozy workshop nestled in a hillside village, where rows of clay blocks and pottery wheels awaited. The mission? To craft our own purple clay cups, a traditional ceramic known for its porous texture and ability to enhance the flavor of tea. As we donned aprons and gathered around worktables, the initial awkwardness of amateurs handling clay quickly melted into laughter. The master potter demonstrated the basics: centering the clay on the wheel, gently pressing to form the base, and pulling the sides upward to shape the cup. But theory and practice proved worlds apart.
One colleague’s cup collapsed into a lopsided blob; another’s handle detached mid-creation. Yet instead of frustration, there was collaboration. The designer, who’d never touched clay before, used her eye for symmetry to help the sales team refine their cup shapes. The engineers, with their knack for precision, shared tips on balancing the rim so the cups would stand steady. Even the CEO, usually focused on spreadsheets, got into the spirit, proudly showcasing his “rustic” creation—a cup with intentionally uneven edges that he declared “a masterpiece of imperfection.” By afternoon, each of us held a unique purple clay cup, smudged with fingerprints and imperfect in the best way. These weren’t just mugs; they were tangible reminders of how we thrive when we support one another.
Day two kicked off with a dawn drive to the river valley, where our next adventure awaited. Clad in life jackets and armed with waterproof phones, we piled into inflatable rafts, six to a boat. The initial calm of the river belied the excitement ahead. As we hit the first rapid, screams of surprise mingled with laughter as rafts spun, water splashed over the sides, and someone’s paddle went floating downstream (quickly retrieved by a nearby team). What made the experience unforgettable wasn’t the thrill of the rapids—it was the teamwork. When a raft got stuck on a rock, everyone rushed to push it free. When a colleague’s hat blew off, another leaned over to grab it mid-stream. We learned to communicate without shouting, to anticipate each other’s moves, and to celebrate small victories—a smooth pass through a narrow channel, a well-timed paddle stroke—like we do in the office when nailing a project milestone.
After the river adventure, we traded wet rafts for walking shoes and ventured into a vast forest of towering bamboo stalks that swayed gently in the breeze. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows on the path as we wandered. Conversations here were slower, more reflective. The marketing intern shared her dreams of launching a sustainability campaign; the IT specialist opened up about his passion for hiking. We stopped to take group photos, arms slung over each other’s shoulders, with bamboo stalks reaching skyward behind us. In that peaceful setting, it was easy to see beyond job titles and deadlines. We were just people, connected by a shared journey.
By evening, as we gathered for a final dinner, the mood was electric. We swapped stories of the weekend—the funniest pottery fails, the wildest river moments, the quiet beauty of the bamboo forest. One colleague summed it up: “I feel like I know everyone better now. Not just what they do at work, but how they think, how they laugh, how they help.”
That’s the magic of team building at Dawson. It’s not about forced bonding; it’s about creating spaces where we can be ourselves, rely on each other, and remember why we work together. When we craft pottery side by side, we learn to value each other’s unique skills. When we navigate challenges as a team, we strengthen our ability to adapt and collaborate under pressure. When we wander through nature, we reconnect with the joy of shared experiences.
And here’s the thing: these lessons don’t stay in the workshop or by the river. They come back with us to the office. They make us better listeners during client calls, more creative problem-solvers when challenges arise, and more committed to going the extra mile. Because when a team trusts each other, when they enjoy working together, and when they share a sense of purpose, that energy radiates outward—straight to the clients we’re proud to serve.
For Dawson, this weekend wasn’t just a retreat. It was an investment—in our team, in our culture, and in the promise that we’ll always bring our best selves to every project, every partnership, and every client we’re fortunate to work with. Here’s to the next adventure, both in the office and beyond.
