What is CourseHorse?

CourseHorse has been in business since 2011, operating the world's largest local-first public educational experiences marketplace.

In 2019 we launched our private group events & team-building activities, where we've serviced first class private virtual & in person group experiences for thousands of corporate teams, families, and friends. Below, find frequently asked questions related to our private group events!

What are your most popular events?

We've hosted a huge array of successful events and have hundreds of events we think will go over well with your group.

That being said, some of the things that our clients rave about:

White Elephant
Private Trivia
Terrarium Workshop
Wine & Cheese Workshop
Brick Building Challenge
Escape the Room: Murder Mystery

Pizza from Scratch
Watercolor Workshop
Clay Hand Building
Truffle Making Workshop
Mixology Workshop (Mocktail Options Available)
Virtual Scavenger Hunt

You can browse all our most popular events here.

Which events come with materials included?

Many of our events require specific materials, and for the most part we will ship all or most of the materials required. For certain culinary events you may need to have common household items, and for perishables we ship a gift card for your participants so that the perishables do not arrive bad.

To see a list of events where all materials are included, you can click here.

To see a list of events where some materials are included, you can click here.

We also do allow you to bring your own materials, which can sometimes be a way to save on event costs with the tradeoff of you handling the ordering and shipping logistics. All events with materials can technically be "bring your own", but we do have a list of common "bring your own" events here.

Is there a minimum/maximum number of participants for each event?

All events have a minimum payment required which is correlated to a participant count that payment gets you. However, you are welcome to book for less than people and still pay the minimum. For example, if an event is $400 for up to 10 people but you only have 4 people, you can still book that event for the $400.

Most events do have a maximum participant count. Our virtual events generally are restricted to a certain maximum only to ensure we offer you a great experience, and our in person events are typically restricted due to venue space.

We have virtual events that can work with up to 500+ people, and in person events which can accommodate 50+, so if you're curious please ask a concierge and they'd be happy to help you.

I have a large group (50+), how does it work?

Our virtual events are meant to be very hands on and interactive. Assuming the event you chose is a good fit for a group of 50+ people, we'll staff your event with multiple hosts depending on the total group size and the event will otherwise run as normal.

For virtual events that are maybe a better fit for groups smaller than your group size, we can split the group into multiple different events, or with certain events such as our culinary & art events we can run it more "observation" style where it will be less participative but your whole group will get to follow along with our expert hosts.

For in person events, if your group is too large for the venue space, the only way to accommodate you would be to set up separate events.

Can I book a demo for an event?

Yes, we're happy to coordinate a demo with one of our hosts for you at your convenience. There is a small charge at the time of booking to cover the host's time, which if you book will be 100% applied towards your event price. Let our concierge know you'd like a demo and they'll get you set up!

Are there any taxes or hidden fees?

We pride ourselves on having no hidden fees. For each event, what you see on the event pages and in our booking tool is what you'll pay with the only exception of international (non-US) shipping on events with materials. These need to be handled on a case by case basis.

What payment methods are accepted?

Currently we accept secure credit card payments via Stripe on our website. If you'd like to pay another way, just let our team know and we'll make it happen! We can accept ACH, Purchase Orders, checks, or other payment methods.

Do you accept deposits to reserve a date?

When you book your event, you will make a deposit at the time of booking which allows us to lock in your date. We understand head counts can fluctuate, so you are only required to pay the minimum up front.

For non-materials oriented events, we'll charge you the remainder after the event based on your final head count.

For materials oriented events, you'll need to lock in your participant list at least 2 weeks prior to the event, sometimes more during busy seasons, in order to guarantee materials can arrive on time.

What happens if I don't know my participant count yet?

Not a problem! As with deposits for securing a date, when you book you're only required to pay for the minimum number of participants.

For non-materials oriented events, we'll charge you the remainder after the event based on your final head count.

For materials oriented events, you'll need to lock in your participant list at least 2 weeks prior to the event, sometimes more during busy seasons, in order to guarantee materials can arrive on time.

For virtual events, what conferencing platforms do you use?

While we always prefer Zoom, we have hosted tons of successful events on Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Webex, and others. Feel free to let us know if you have a non-Zoom preference and we'll work to accommodate you and your group.

Do in person events come with hosts?

Yes, every in person event will have a live host (or several, depending on the event and/or group size) to lead your group through the event in its entirety. You’ll also get access to our events team who will guide you through the process leading up to the event day.

What is your group events cancellation & rescheduling policy?

We know things come up and so we do our best to make room for your group to make a date change as needed! Our cancellation policy the same for all events:

  • If you cancel 30 days or more before your event, you'll be eligible for a reschedule or an 85% refund
  • If you cancel 8-29 days before your event, you can reschedule at no cost, but will no longer be eligible for a refund
  • If you cancel 4-7 days before your event, you'll be able to reschedule for a $150 fee but will not be eligible for a refund
  • If you cancel 4-7 days before your event, you'll be able to reschedule for a $150 fee but will not be eligible for a refund
  • If you cancel 3 days or less before an event, we will not be able to reschedule or refund you as by this point all costs will have been committed.

Please note that for events which include materials shipments, if the shipments have already been placed and you choose to reschedule you will need to let your participants know to hang on to their packages. We do not ship perishable items, so the materials should be fine to wait!

Do you offer any discounts?

If you're operating within a strict budget, let us know and we're happy to try to find an event that works within your budget! For volume based discounts or enterprise plans, please contact us and we'd be happy to work with you.

Do you ship materials kits outside of the US?

We are able to ship internationally for most events. International shipments do incur additional shipping & processing charges, and we can not guarantee any shipments make it through customs or other government package screening processes.

Another often more cost efficient option is to have your international participants source materials locally. We're happy to provide a materials list if this is your preference.

When do I provide shipping addresses?

After you book, if you’ve booked an event which requires materials be shipped to you and/or participants, our events team will reach out with a template to provide us with shipping addresses.

We require addresses in most cases at least 2 weeks prior to the event to give the best chances at a successful delivery. This also gives us some time to troubleshoot in case something goes wrong with your delivery carrier.

How do the events work?

Once you book, our team will be reaching out with any necessary information or to collect critical things such as shipping addresses. They'll be in touch along the way leading up to your event, and once we have your hosts book will send you some information about them as well.

For virtual games, we utilize a combination of breakout rooms and team-wide conferencing in conjunction with our proprietary games app interface to create a fun & interactive experience. Participants only need to show up and let our hosts work their magic!

For virtual art, cooking events, and other materials oriented events, assuming you've purchased the event with materials, our events team will collect shipping addresses from you & track your packages closely to make sure participants get their materials on time. While we can't control carrier (UPS, USPS, etc.) delays, we will do everything in our power to ensure a smoothe experience. When the event arrives, your participants will only need to show up with their materials kits ready, and our host will take it from there.

For in person events, you'll be given all the details necessary about your event & the partner who we're hosting with, and will be connected with the partner after booking. The partner will ensure a wonderful experience once you arrive at their venue. We only work with premium quality event providers and each experience will be a memorable one!

What if part of my group is together and part of them are remote/distributed?

We've run plenty of successful events with "hybrid" groups! While not every event is a fit for this, most events can be run in a hybrid working environment. Specifically, arts & culinary (those which don't require a kitchen) events can work very well this way. Games often do require teams being "split up", but depending on how many people you'll have in one physical location it may still be feasible to run some games.

Here are a handful of popular events which can work well this way:

Terrarium Workshop
Wine & Cheese Workshop
Brick Building Challenge
Watercolor Workshop
Clay Hand Building
Truffle Making Workshop
Mixology Workshop (Mocktail Options Available)

Ask a concierge and we'd be happy to make some recommendations for you!

Can you bring the event to my office or home?

Yes, we are typically able to bring the event to your office or home space and you'll see many events on our site specifically indicated as "at your office". For some event types, your space may need certain equipment for an event to be held there. Additionally, booking an event at your office or home may incur additional costs (If an event already states it is "at your office", then there will be no additional costs required). If you’re interested in booking for your office or home, you can indicate this during checkout or simply contact us and we can help you organize the event.

Why should I book a group event with CourseHorse?

We are constantly working to go above and beyond in creating an easy event experience for you, from finding the event, to booking, to the event itself. Our expert concierge & event operations crew will provide you with white glove service at no additional cost, and we'll be there for you for whatever you need. Our events are fun, encourage incredible bonding moments, and are led by a wonderful staff of knowledgable and charismatic hosts.

While many of our events are unique to CourseHorse, we know you have options, and we'll work hard to bring you a memorable experience.