Bringing in a new team of interns each summer can be challenging. Often, companies are so busy thinking about what to teach them and what to have them do that they forget about helping them fit in with the company. With a little planning and effort, you can help interns feel more welcome while also helping your company and its employees to get the most out of their presence.

This doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive to be fun and memorable. Whether you cater a warm breakfast or grab a box of donuts, the important part is to get everybody around a table talking and interacting. It’s a great way to learn more about your interns, get valuable feedback, and create connections that might come in handy someday.

We love the donuts at Colonial Donuts , one of our tour partners on our Grand Lake Cultural Cuisine Food Tour. Its Lakeshore Avenue location is open 24 hours a day so you can pick up a dozen (or more) on your way to the office or at two in the morning.

Not every local charity or nonprofit can accommodate a large group of one-time volunteers, but others rely heavily on exactly those types of groups. For opportunities local to Oakland, check out the organizations below:

When you’re working in an office every day, you tend to see and do a lot of the same kinds of things over and over. A museum outing can be a great way to get out of the office, breathe a little fresh air, and take in some new information and experiences.

If your team spends their days looking at ads and marketing campaigns, why not check out the Oakland Zoo (a Foodie Toddler personal favorite)? If they crunch numbers all day long, how about a bit of art at the Oakland Museum of California ? Intellectual cross-pollination can be good for productivity, and the time outside the office will give interns and employees a chance to chat.

The Bay Area has a multitude of options for being active, with everything from traditional endeavors like softball and volleyball to less athletic options like bowling to extremely unusual activities like flying trapeze or indoor skydiving. You’re only limited by what you think your interns can handle.

Team sports in particular can be great for building relationships and trust. You can also learn a lot about your interns, giving you valuable insights when it comes time to decide if you’d like to offer full-time employment to your top interns.

In our not-so-humble opinion, we’ve saved the best for last. Nothing brings people together quite like food – especially when you combine it with new experiences. At Local Food Adventures, we can put together a private food tour for your group – be it a group of interns, regular employees, or a mix of the two.

Local Food Adventures offers multiple tours to choose from, and we can accommodate most dietary needs if you let us know in advance. Learn more on our Private Tours Page , including special pricing for groups.

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