Trade the conference room for the coast in this guided clay foraging workshop near Daly City, one of the most memorable outdoor team building activities in the Bay Area. For this experience the ceramic studio is the beach: your group learns how to find wild clay in nature, process it by hand and sculpt it into a small piece to take home.
The private workshop runs four hours and is priced at $75 per guest for groups of 10 to 19 guests. It is beginner friendly, and no pottery experience is needed. Groups of 20 or more qualify for a lower per-guest rate, so ask about it when you inquire.
What's Included
- A short guided hike down to a special stretch of beach containing wild clay
- Instruction on how to identify clay
Trade the conference room for the coast in this guided clay foraging workshop near Daly City, one of the most memorable outdoor team building activities in the Bay Area. For this experience the ceramic studio is the beach: your group learns how to find wild clay in nature, process it by hand and sculpt it into a small piece to take home.
The private workshop runs four hours and is priced at $75 per guest for groups of 10 to 19 guests. It is beginner friendly, and no pottery experience is needed. Groups of 20 or more qualify for a lower per-guest rate, so ask about it when you inquire.
What's Included
- A short guided hike down to a special stretch of beach containing wild clay
- Instruction on how to identify clay deposits and process wild clay
- Sculpting basics, including pinch pots shaped with found tools
- One small un-fired vessel to take home the same day, such as a small mask, a candle holder or a catch-all dish
- A closing circle where everyone shares what they learned
- The option to bring your piece back to the studio to be fired
How the Day Unfolds
The workshop begins with a short hike through local nature preserves, and your teacher guides the group down to the beach and to an area where wild clay can be found. You learn how to recognize the clay, gather it with care and prepare it for sculpting. The rest of the session is spent in the sunshine by the ocean, shaping your clay into a small mask, candle holder or catch-all dish. Along the way, the teacher shares the studio's core values of nature, culture and family, including connecting to and honoring Indigenous cultures and protecting the natural world. Guests are welcome to bring a small offering of food, flowers, a breath or a song to share at a community gratitude space the group creates at the foraging site. The day ends with a closing circle where everyone reflects on the experience.
Why It Works for Groups
Few nature team building activities combine fresh air, a little adventure and a creative project the way this one does. Teammates work side by side on the sand, help each other spot clay and compare their finished pieces, and the slower pace leaves room for real conversation. Past guests describe learning to identify clay deposits, having fun shaping little objects and enjoying a beautiful gratitude session; one group even spotted whales while they worked.
For teams focused on wellbeing, it doubles as one of the more grounding wellness team building activities on the calendar, and as hands on team building activities go, everyone leaves with something they made from the earth itself. The studio's climate-conscious approach also makes it a natural pick for groups looking for sustainable team building activities. It suits team building days, offsite retreats, birthdays, a Christmas party, bachelorette parties and date ideas alike.
About Your Host
Your host is a Latinx-owned pottery studio and community art space in the Mission District of San Francisco, founded in the summer of 2009. The studio is centered on three values: connecting with and honoring Indigenous cultures, protecting and preserving nature, and growing and empowering its community through the arts. It offers hand building and wheel throwing classes, multi-week courses, studio memberships and private pottery experiences for groups, along with climate-conscious projects around handmade, reusable pieces. Guests give the studio a 4.8-star rating across 84 reviews and often mention its welcoming studio vibe and sense of community.
What to Bring
- Clothes you do not mind getting dirty, plus layers, since local beaches can get cold
- A swimsuit, sun hat and sun protection on sunny days
- Water, lunch and snacks for the day
- A picnic or beach blanket, or a yoga mat
- A small reusable container to carry your clay piece home
- A lightly packed backpack, and a spirit of gratitude for the planet
Good to Know
- This activity requires moderate to advanced mobility; the hike to the beach crosses sand and rock and includes a climb down
- For groups that need a more accessible experience, a similar clay foraging experience can be arranged in the studio in San Francisco
- Adults and kids aged 5 and up are welcome; an adult must accompany any attending kids on their own ticket
- The exact meeting point is shared once your date is confirmed
Plan Your Excursion
Share your preferred date and group size to check availability. At $75 per guest with guided instruction and your clay piece included, it is a refreshing way to reconnect a team outdoors.
