A day away from the office, a Slovak theme, activities at our own pace, and many moments that reminded us that a good team is built even outside of projects.
At GoodRequest, GR8 Days are among the moments we look forward to for several months in advance. This year, we gathered in Terchová, at the Vŕšky resort, where we swapped our usual work routine for a day of shared activities, conversations, and time away from the office.
This year, we approached GR8 Days in true Slovak spirit. We designed the program, food, and venue around local flavors, crafts, and small details that kept the whole day steeped in a Slovak atmosphere.
As is our custom, the program was designed so that everyone could set their own pace. We started the day together, spent the afternoon on activities, and wrapped up the evening with good food, music, and a bonfire.
Morning, All Hands, and a Group Activity
We set out for Terchová from Žilina in the morning. Some of us boarded the bus, where a short quiz with a prize of “liquid gold” made the trip more enjoyable. However, a few champions decided to take a more athletic approach and arrived by bike. Since Žilina and Terchová aren’t that far apart, it fit naturally into the day: a little exercise, a little courage, and a classic Slovak cycling route right off the bat.
Upon arriving at the resort, we kicked off the day with our regular June All Hands meeting. It was a great start to GR8 Days, as we first came together as one team to take a look at what’s happening at GoodRequest. Before moving on to the rest of the program, we took a moment to connect with the people around us. Just a few questions were enough to spark conversations even with colleagues we might otherwise just pass by during a typical workday.
The All Hands meeting was followed by a group photo and a company-wide activity we informally called Coordinated Chaos. What at first glance seemed like a simple task prepared for us by Catalyst very quickly turned into a genuine team challenge. We were divided into teams of about six people, with each team having its own table and workspace. The task was to create at least three mechanisms in which one action triggers another reaction.
However, the point wasn’t just to make our own table work. Each team had to connect its solution to the team in front of it and behind it so that, in the end, a single, continuous chain reaction would form from the first table to the last. It wasn’t enough to just solve our own part. We had to think about how it would fit into the whole. This meant a lot of testing, fine-tuning, and communication with the people around us.
When we set the entire chain reaction in motion, you could feel the tension, nervousness, and support. At that moment, no one was concerned with which team anyone was on. Everyone watched their own section, cheered on the others, and hoped that the reaction would reach the very end.
Sports, workshops, or relaxation?
In the afternoon, the program branched out in several directions. Some went for sports, some for food, some for relaxation, and some simply chose the pace that suited them best that day.
The more athletic part of the program featured Pickleball and Survivor Slovakia. Pickleball offered fast-paced rallies, teamwork, and healthy competition. For many, it was a new activity, so the experience involved learning the rules, trying out their first serves, and gradually improving with each match. Survivor Slovakia, on the other hand, tested the teams’ strength, logic, and communication skills. The tasks were designed to let people practice working together in situations that are fun enough but still require concentration and mutual agreement.
Experiential workshops made up a significant part of the program. In the Coffee Craft workshop, we focused on specialty coffee, alternative brewing methods, and flavors that are often lost amid the rush of a quick espresso on a typical workday. It was a more relaxed activity where participants could slow down, ask questions, taste, and view coffee as a craft.
The cheese-strand pulling workshop offered a very tangible connection to local tradition. First came a demonstration, then hands-on attempts, and finally the opportunity to appreciate just how much skill goes into something that many of us know primarily as a finished product. The piroh-making workshop worked in a similar way, where participants went through the entire process from dough to the finished dish. In the context of the whole day, it was one of the most striking returns to our roots: simple ingredients, a familiar flavor, and cooking together.
The program also included a tour of the brewery and a tasting of local brews. This added a local context to the program and offered the chance to take a closer look at a craft that is a natural part of the Vŕšky area. Those who wanted to enjoy a more relaxed pace could choose a yoga class, wellness session, massage, or beer bath. This way, everyone could put together their own slightly different version of GR8 Days.
Slovak-Style Dinner
After an afternoon full of activities, we gathered for a Slovak-style meal: roast pork, goulash cooked in a cauldron with homemade bread, and, of course, vegetarian and vegan options.
This is where the Slovak theme came together perfectly. The meal was hearty, communal, and prepared in a way that allowed us to gather, chat, and catch up on our experiences from the day’s activities. After a full day of activities, it was a moment that combined great food, relaxation, and a sense of togetherness.
Music, a bonfire, and conversations late into the night
We approached the evening a little differently this year. Instead of a DJ, we opted for our own playlist, which better suited the atmosphere of the entire day. Based on previous years, we knew that evenings at GR8 Days are often more about conversations than the dance floor for us. So we wanted to create a space where people could chat naturally, catch up with folks we don’t see very often during the year, and let the evening flow more freely.
Added to this were a bonfire, musicians from Terchová, and toasting bread as the fire slowly died down. The evening remained simple and very pleasant: good music in the background, conversations lasting into the late hours, and the feeling that there was no need to rush anywhere.
The atmosphere was further enhanced by the accommodations in log cabins. From the outside, they had a traditional look and fit right in with the Slovak theme, but inside they offered modern amenities that made the entire stay comfortable. It was a detail that beautifully combined a return to our roots with the comfort that everyone appreciates at an event like this.
What are we taking away from GR8 Days 2026?
Once again, we’re not just taking away the program, activities, and group photos from GR8 Days 2026. Rather, it’s the little moments in between: conversations around the table, cheering each other on during group activities, evenings by the fire, and the feeling that, for a moment, we weren’t just working together on projects, but were simply together.
Thanks to its Slovak theme, this year’s event had its own unique identity. Terchová, local flavors, craft activities, the brewery, the campfire, and the music created an atmosphere that felt intimate and natural—exactly how a good team-building day should feel.
Thank you to everyone who came, got involved, tried new things, relaxed, chatted, or simply spent the day with us. And a huge thank you also goes to everyone who organized GR8 Days 2026 so that the entire day ran smoothly.
See you at the next GR8 Days 💛
