Learning to throw on a pottery wheel is one of the most exciting hands on team building activities in San Francisco and the wider Bay Area. In this two-hour group class, your team or friends get on the wheels at a community clay studio, learn the basics from a ceramic artist, and make pieces that the studio glazes and fires for you.
The class is set up for groups of 4 to 21 guests: up to 11 participants in one room, or up to 21 when the group uses two rooms. It is designed for beginners who have never touched clay before, and guests with experience can be guided toward more intricate techniques.
What's Included
- A two-hour private wheel-throwing class for your group
- Instruction from the studio's ceramic artists,
Learning to throw on a pottery wheel is one of the most exciting hands on team building activities in San Francisco and the wider Bay Area. In this two-hour group class, your team or friends get on the wheels at a community clay studio, learn the basics from a ceramic artist, and make pieces that the studio glazes and fires for you.
The class is set up for groups of 4 to 21 guests: up to 11 participants in one room, or up to 21 when the group uses two rooms. It is designed for beginners who have never touched clay before, and guests with experience can be guided toward more intricate techniques.
What's Included
- A two-hour private wheel-throwing class for your group
- Instruction from the studio's ceramic artists, designed for complete beginners
- Clay, tools, aprons and use of the pottery wheels
- About one to three pieces made by each guest
- A choice of five glazes for every piece
- Glazing and firing by the studio, with an email when pieces are ready for pickup
What to Expect on the Wheel
The studio is honest about it: wheel throwing is the more challenging option, it takes a bit of strength, and it is super exciting. Expect a lot of concentration, a few wobbly first attempts and big reactions when the clay finally rises into a shape. One-time classes at the studio also include a short tour of the space, a talk about the studio's principles and a quick walk through how clay turns into ceramics, so guests understand what happens to their pieces after they leave.
Why It Works for Groups
Everyone starts at the same level, which takes the pressure off and gets people laughing together. The small room sizes keep it personal, which makes this one of the strongest team building activities for small groups, and the wheel gives competitive teams something to measure themselves against. It is a natural fit among fun team building activities for adults who want to try something new instead of another dinner.
For planners comparing corporate team building activities, the format is simple: two hours, a clear headcount range and every material provided. It also stands out among unique team building events because every guest goes home with ceramics they threw themselves, and the studio offers six-week classes for anyone who wants to keep going. As the studio puts it, be warned: it could get addicting.
After the Class
Guests make about one to three pieces during the class. Everyone chooses from five different glazes for each piece, and the studio then glazes the creations and fires them. Finishing takes four to six weeks, and the studio sends an email with pickup information when the pieces are ready to take home.
How to Prepare
- Arrive at least 5 minutes before class starts
- Aprons are provided, but wear comfortable clothing and footwear you do not mind getting clay on; clay washes right off in the washing machine
- Short nails make the techniques easier
- If you have long hair, bring a hair tie
- Remove rings, bracelets and watches before you start and keep them in your bag, not in an apron pocket
- Come with low expectations and for the fun experience first; pottery takes a lot of practice
About the Studio
The host is an artist-owned, women-owned community clay studio in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, with a 4.7-star rating from 54 reviews. It is run by a collective of artists bound by their knowledge and passion for ceramics, with years of practice and higher education in the craft, who want to share those skills and foster creativity in a safe space through clay, art and dialogue. Beyond group events, the studio offers six-week wheel and hand-building classes, memberships and specialty workshops, and it treats clay as a valuable, finite resource from the earth.
Good to Know
- Group events need a minimum of 4 participants
- One-time classes suit ages 15 and up; ages 12 to 14 join with a supervising adult
- Classes are designed for beginners who have never touched clay, and instructors can guide experienced guests toward more intricate techniques
- To request a date, share your company or occasion, headcount, class option and a few possible dates with start times
Plan Your Wheel Class
Send your preferred dates, start times and headcount to check availability. Few team building workshops are as memorable as the first time a group sits down at the pottery wheel together, and the finished pieces keep the memory on everyone's shelf.
