Stonework Play© A Team Building Activity in Corporate Settings
A Contemplative Team Building Experience Using Natural Stones to Foster Deeper Connections and Creative Expression.
In a world dominated by screens, deadlines, and digital collaboration tools, finding meaningful ways to connect human-to-human has become both an art and a necessity. Stonework Play©, a creative and contemplative team-building activity, invites participants to slow down, reconnect with nature, and rediscover each other through the simple yet profound act of storytelling with stones.
The Origins of Stonework Play©
Stonework Play© was originally developed by Diana Suskind, Ed.D., as a response to a call for innovative, nature-based learning tools in underserved schools around the world. What began as a creative exercise for children has since evolved into a global practice used with participants of all ages—from toddlers to retirees.
The activity has been adapted for use in hospitals and disaster relief programs, presented in bookshops, temples, libraries, and nursing homes, and even used as an icebreaker for immigrant communities. Its versatility caught the attention of Burc Oral, Ph.D., who recognized its potential in the corporate world. Dr. Oral introduced Stonework Play© as a team-building activity for cross-functional teams at companies such as Staples and Xerox.
The method and philosophy are detailed in Stonework Play: A Guide to Inspire Creativity and Storytelling Through Nature by Suskind and Crandall (2017), a book that captures the spirit of this practice and offers practical guidance for facilitators.
“Stonework Play© is an open invitation to work with stones… Its intent is to respond to nature’s power to enrich the human imagination. Stones are a kinesthetic medium, never fixed in their place or meaning; the ground is an endless canvas, and hands are the brushes that move them.” — Suskind & Crandall, 2017
Purpose: Beyond the Workplace
At its heart, Stonework Play© is more than a creative exercise—it’s an experience in mindfulness, empathy, and connection. In corporate settings, it offers employees a chance to step outside their daily routines and rediscover their colleagues as individuals rather than job titles.
By engaging in a tactile and reflective process, participants find new ways to communicate, listen, and understand one another. The stones become a bridge between the internal and external world—a medium through which stories emerge, relationships deepen, and teams strengthen.
The Process: From Stone to Story
Unlike typical team-building activities that rely on competition or problem-solving, Stonework Play© begins with solitude and reflection. Each participant works independently, using stones to construct a visual representation of a personal story or idea.
The process unfolds in five steps, moving from physical creation to verbal expression:
- Gathering: Participants select stones that speak to them, feeling their textures and shapes, a process that Dr. Suskind calls “Tarry Time.” This intentional silence fosters creativity and presence.
- Constructing: Each person arranges their chosen stones to tell a story or convey a concept. The act of placement—one stone at a time—becomes a meditation on meaning and form.
- Rendering: Participants draw their arrangements, adding shading or color to capture the essence of their creation.
- Narrating: They then write a short narrative inspired by their stonework, giving their creation a title and voice.
- Sharing: Finally, the group engages in what Suskind calls a “Museum Walk-and-Talk.” Participants visit each other’s stations, viewing the stonework and listening to the stories behind them.
What emerges from this process is not just art but revelation. Through stones, drawings, and stories, participants learn something new about themselves—and about each other.
The Power of Nature in Team Connection
Working with natural materials offers unique psychological benefits. Stones, in their simplicity and permanence, invite reflection and patience. They do not fit together like manufactured blocks, and yet it is precisely in their irregularity that imagination thrives.
As teams explore this organic medium, they experience both individuality and unity. The physical act of creating becomes a metaphor for collaboration: each unique piece contributes to a shared experience.
“The benefits of physically engaging with the real, natural world are significant.”
A Space for Awe
When participants share their stonework stories, something remarkable happens. The room grows quiet, yet charged with curiosity and respect. Each story—shaped by personal experience and creative impulse—reveals a layer of humanity often hidden in professional settings.
Dr. Suskind describes this stage as a moment of awe. As participants witness the diversity of expression using the same medium, they experience “a widening exposure to the breadth of creativity.” In these moments, barriers dissolve, empathy grows, and collaboration feels more authentic.
The Lasting Impact
Stonework Play© is deceptively simple—stones, paper, pencils, time—but its outcomes are powerful. It nurtures emotional intelligence, enhances communication, and encourages a sense of belonging within a team.
Whether conducted in a boardroom or outdoors, the activity invites participants to pause, reflect, and connect in ways that transcend the usual team-building routine. By the end of the session, the stones are returned to their source—a symbolic reminder of impermanence—while the stories and drawings remain as lasting artifacts of shared creativity and insight.
Stonework Play© reminds us that even in professional settings, creativity and connection begin with presence—with hands, imagination, and a few simple stones.
To learn more or purchase Stonework Play: A Guide to Inspire Creativity and Storytelling Through Nature, visit www.stoneworkplay.org.
