🗺️ Hometown Map

How to Play

Hometown Map is one of the gentlest onboarding icebreakers available. Each person shares a place that matters to them — where they grew up, where they live now, or a place they love. The key principle is that no one needs to share an exact location. 'The Midwest' is just as valid as 'Chicago.' The game creates a natural conversation starter without putting anyone on the spot, and it works especially well for geographically distributed teams where discovering each other's backgrounds builds instant connection.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Invite each person to think of a place that matters to them — where they are from, live now, or love.
2. Emphasize that no exact location is needed. A region, city, or general area is perfectly fine.
3. Go around the group and let each person share their place and one small detail about it.
4. If someone prefers not to share a specific location, they can share a type of place (e.g., 'a small town near the mountains').
5. Thank each person after they share. No follow-up questions are required.
6. Optionally, ask if anyone shares a connection to someone else's place.

Tips for Hosts

• Never press for exact locations. 'Share a place only if you feel comfortable' should be said at the start.
• For remote teams, consider sharing a map view on screen and letting people point to their general area.
• This game works well as a first-day activity because it requires zero preparation from new hires.
• If someone shares a place you know, a quick 'I have been there too!' is warm and connecting.

Best Use Cases

• First-day onboarding: A welcoming way for new hires to introduce themselves without work pressure.
• Distributed teams: Reveals the geographic diversity of remote teams.
• Team retreats: A natural conversation starter when team members meet in person.
• Classroom settings: Helps students appreciate diverse backgrounds.

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