Autumn is one of our busiest seasons filled with pumpkin fun, and we absolutely love helping companies find unique ways to treat their teams. We were delighted to get an enquiry from Erin, who is based with Longfellow in the US. She was coordinating a special autumn treat for a team of employees at CamLIFE, luckily closer by in Cambridge, and had landed on one of our favourite team building activities: pumpkin carving!
Planning The Perfect Pumpkin Workshop
The planning phase is crucial for making any team event feel special. We chatted with Erin about all the important details to make sure the session was a perfect fit.
- Timings: How long did they have for the activity?
- Participants: How many people would be attending?
- Style: What was the general skill level, and what types of carving did they want to try?
We discussed everything from traditional, spooky faces to more intricate and technical stencil work. With all this information, we designed a bespoke 1.5-hour workshop package tailored specifically to the CamLIFE team’s needs.
From Setup to Success
On the day of the event, two of our top pumpkin carvers Jamie and Peter, loaded up the van and headed over to CamLIFE. They arrived armed with a whole patch’s worth of pumpkins, heaps of specialist carving tools, and their carefully crafted lesson plan.
A great workshop always starts with a smooth setup, and they were met by the wonderful Peter, Front of House at CamLIFE. He was incredibly helpful, greeting them warmly and assisting them in getting the room prepped and ready for the creative session. A big thank you to him!
Soon, the participants began to arrive. We learned that the team was comprised of dedicated NHS workers who provide crucial support to GPs—a group that undoubtedly deserved a fun and relaxing break.
It was clear from the start that everyone was ready for a bit of something different. The atmosphere in the room was fantastic. There was a buzz of excitement as Jamie and Peter introduced the tools and techniques. The team fully embraced the challenge, and it was brilliant to see them chatting, laughing, and getting stuck into a hands-on activity completely different from their demanding day-to-day duties. It was the very definition of a “refreshing break.”
Creativity Unleashed
What we love most about these workshops is seeing everyone’s individual creativity come to life. And the CamLIFE team did not disappoint! As the session progressed, the pumpkins began to take on unique personalities.
- Classic Jack-o’-Lanterns: Some went for the timeless classic: spooky ghoulish face and scary cats.
- Single-Layer Stencils: Others were keen to try a more technical approach, using our single-layer stencils to create clean, sharp designs like ghosts and haunted houses.
- Multi-Layer Stencils: A few ambitious participants even took on the challenge of multi-layer stencils. This advanced technique involves shaving—not just cutting—the pumpkin skin to create multi tonal effects.
The best part? The look of pleasant surprise on their faces. Many mentioned they were amazed at what they could design and carve in just 90 minutes. They all left with a fantastic, hand-carved creation to take home.
We had a brilliant time with the team at CamLIFE, and we want to thank Erin and Longfellow for organising it, and Peter at CamLIFE for all his help at the location itself.
Book a Creative Boost for Your Team
A workshop like this is more than just a ‘fun afternoon.’ It’s a chance for colleagues to connect in a different way, switch off from work pressures, and unlock a creative side they might not even know they have.
Would you like to give your team a bit of time to enjoy something different this autumn? If you fancy organising a creative workshop, just contact us to find the right package for your needs.
