The Nature Class: When Team Building Takes Root in the Earth
For ING France, the goal was clear: to offer nearly 200 employees an authentic break from the intensity of their daily lives—one powerful enough to reignite collective momentum and rekindle a sense of belonging. Acmé designed a full day at the Ferme du Prieuré, a regenerative farm in the Île-de-France region, making the setting itself a central part of the experience.
With a combination of concrete action to support biodiversity, genuine camaraderie, and celebration, this “nature retreat” turned a seminar into a defining moment.
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Even before the event date, the “green class” concept was unveiled to employees with a deliberately evocative promise: a day away from screens, with feet in the dirt, doing something meaningful together. Acmé ensured that internal communications maintained an air of mystery surrounding the workshops assigned to each person, fostering collective curiosity and shared anticipation. Knowing that the group’s efforts would directly benefit a biodiversity conservation organization added a sense of purpose that amplified the desire to participate.
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The highlight of the day took place in the morning, during the biodiversity workshops held in partnership with the Eco-nature association. Seeing 200 employees divided into small groups building dry hedges, assembling birdhouses, or learning how to control Asian hornets is a rare sight in a corporate setting: a real, tangible contribution that extends beyond the confines of the organization. This moment embodied ING’s values with a power that no slide presentation could have matched.
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The event continued to live on in people’s minds long after they returned to the office, precisely because it had left a tangible mark on the world. The birdhouses built, the hedges planted, the seed bombs scattered: these were all actions that employees could look back on with the pride of those who had taken action. The evening—which concluded with a fan zone for the French national team’s first match, karaoke, and a party—cemented a joyful and spontaneous collective memory of a day when, for a few hours, ING became a community rather than just a company.
A community to revitalize, values to embody
After a period of intense activity, ING France wanted to offer its 200 employees a true break: an opportunity to regain momentum, strengthen ties among teams from various business lines, and rekindle a sense of belonging to a committed community.
The brief given to Acmé was as ambitious as it was specific: to create a memorable, surprising, and deeply human experience that would bring the brand’s values to life. Commitment, responsibility, usefulness, and freedom of action: these were the principles the event was meant to embody—not by stating them outright, but by making them felt. In short, a seminar that lived up to what ING claims to be.
The Outdoor Education Program: A Metaphor Turned into a Program
To respond to this brief, Acmé developed a unique concept: the ING “green classroom.” The reference to school field trips of yesteryear is deliberate. It evokes a positive, slightly nostalgic collective memory that encourages people to disconnect and enjoy each other’s company.
But behind the nostalgia, the concept is built on a solid framework: a morning of collective action for biodiversity, in partnership with the Eco-nature association, followed by a relaxing afternoon and a festive evening. Take action first, celebrate later. This sequence is no coincidence: it anchors cohesion in something real, tangible, and useful. Exactly what ING wanted to convey about itself.
Seven workshops, one collective
In partnership with Eco-nature, seven workshops were offered simultaneously: building dry hedges, making hornet traps, building birdhouses, a wildlife walk, a plant walk, an introduction to beekeeping, and a seed bomb workshop.
Each group left with something tangible, intended to remain on the estate. Coordinating this event for 200 people requires behind-the-scenes precision: dividing participants into groups, managing the grounds, and liaising with the facilitators. Acmé ensured everything ran smoothly both in the lead-up to the event and on the day itself. Lunch continued this seamless experience: food cooked over a fire pit, featuring local and seasonal produce from the farm’s fields. The afternoon was left more open, featuring wine tastings, fermentation workshops, floral arrangements, pétanque, and molky.
From the Fields to the Dance Floor: A Day Without a Single Misstep
What stands out about a successful event is its ability to bring together very different elements without losing the thread. The slight incongruity of bank executives being asked to plant hedges or tend to beehives produced the desired effect: laughter, surprise, and a sense of solidarity among those sharing an unusual experience together.
These moments create a shared memory that indoor icebreakers simply can’t generate. The varied afternoon allowed everyone to find their own rhythm. The evening put the finishing touches on the experience: the fan zone for the French national team’s first match turned dinner into an event within an event. Karaoke and the party kept the night going. A day that began in nature ended on the dance floor.
Client information
ING France is the French subsidiary of the Dutch banking group ING, one of Europe’s leading financial institutions. Operating in France primarily through its online retail banking and business services, ING is distinguished by a corporate culture characterized by simplicity, transparency, and a strong commitment to sustainability. The group employs several thousand people in France and is firmly convinced of the role finance plays in the transition to a more responsible economy.
Curious corner
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La Ferme du Prieuré is not just a rural event venue. It is a 100-hectare working farm committed to regenerative agriculture that has now achieved a negative carbon footprint. Choosing this venue allowed us to truly embed ING’s values into the very experience of the day, rather than simply superimposing them on it afterward.
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Eco-nature co-designed and led the seven morning workshops, contributing its hands-on expertise in biodiversity conservation. Its participation lent this part of the day real credibility and impact: the birdhouses, hedges, and seed bombs created by ING employees were incorporated into the association’s program, well beyond the event itself.
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Because the body engages where the mind resists. Planting, building, observing: these simple actions break down professional barriers and create a relational openness that traditional team-building formats struggle to achieve. The hands-on aspect of the workshops wasn’t just a detail—it was at the heart of the program.
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Lunch was provided by a caterer whose approach is based on simple, straightforward cuisine rooted in the local region. Food cooked over a braziers, featuring local and seasonal ingredients—some of which came directly from the farm’s own fields—this menu was a natural extension of the day’s spirit, without trying to impress through sophistication.
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This project reflects what Acmé strives to create for every client: not just a superficial event, but an experience that truly reflects the company organizing it. Every decision—the venue, the partnership with a nonprofit, the structure of the day and the evening—was carefully considered so that ING employees would leave having experienced something consistent with what their company stands for. That is the true measure of a successful seminar.