Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Zach Hartman, founder of Forever Field Day, who highlights his Nashville, Tennessee-based business that brings creative activations and nostalgic field day games to groups and gatherings of all ages for corporate events, team building, and personal celebrations. Zach explains how the concept originated from playing flag football with friends and realizing adults miss the impact-driven games from childhood that build community, communication, and teamwork skills. He describes the business’s flexibility to scale from 10 to 3,000 people, with services including custom game creation, referees, DJs, and setup for events within a 3-4 hour radius of Nashville. Zach shares a moving story about a recent event with the nonprofit, From Your Father Foundation, where children without fathers experienced joy through activities like parachute games, and he emphasizes his company’s approach of incorporating philanthropy into for-profit events. The interview concludes with examples of creative games like “Plunger Pass” and information about how to learn more about Forever Field Day through their social media channels and website, https://www.foreverfieldday.com.
Summary
Nostalgic Team Building Activities – Zach discusses the concept of bringing back nostalgic childhood experiences like field day to enhance team building and corporate engagement. He explains how these activities foster communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills while being accessible to all participants regardless of fitness level. Zach emphasizes the relevance of these playful experiences in addressing modern workplace challenges, such as miscommunication and underperformance, particularly in post-COVID office environments.
Custom Solutions for Forever Field Day – Zach discusses his approach to creating custom solutions for Forever Field Day, emphasizing that his target audience spans all age groups, from 5 to 67 years old. He explains that the first question he asks clients, whether for a birthday party, church event, or corporate function, is about their specific goals and pain points. Zach notes that understanding what clients want to achieve helps him tailor the activities and games to address their particular needs, whether it’s improving interdepartmental communication in a corporate setting or engaging reluctant children at a birthday party.
Field Day Event Scaling Overview – Zach explains that Field Day events can be scaled from small groups of 10 people to large events with 3,000 attendees, with the same modular approach adapting to different group sizes. He emphasizes that Field Day involves more than just setting up cones, requiring teams of referees, setup personnel, MCs, and DJs to create a comprehensive experience. The format can be adjusted between tournament-style or carnival-style events, with the number of games varying based on group size and desired engagement level.
Geographic Scope and Event Impact – Zach discusses the geographic scope of his events, explaining that while they could technically travel further, a 3-4 hour radius around Nashville is ideal for keeping costs affordable. He shares a recent impactful experience working with From Your Father Foundation, where they organized an event for the nonprofit that had a significant emotional impact on the children and their mothers who participated. The event featured unique activities like using a large parachute, with participants expressing how much they needed the experience.
Combining Philanthropy with For-Profit Events – Zach discusses how his work has allowed him to combine his passions for helping people, events, and sports while incorporating philanthropy into his for-profit events. He explains that his team is motivated by the meaningful impact they make in the community, often volunteering to organize events, including free community events, without expecting additional compensation. Zach emphasizes the importance of creating custom experiences that are both enjoyable and beneficial, highlighting how his approach has fostered team loyalty and a strong sense of purpose.
Creative Team-Building Activities Discussion – Zach discusses creative team-building activities and games he creates for clients, including a Mario Kart-inspired game using pool noodles and solo cups, and a Plunger Pass relay race. He emphasizes the importance of combining strategy, communication, and collaboration in his activities. Zach also highlights the gap between theoretical learning about teamwork and its practical application, suggesting a need for immediate activation of these concepts. The conversation concludes with information on how to learn more about Forever Field Day, including their website, social media, and contact details.
Visit https://www.foreverfieldday.com to learn more and connect with Forever Field Day.
