Two Teams, One Energy: ShipStation Summer Party

Awkward silence at a first meeting? Not this time! Our annual ShipStation Summer Party turned out to be a perfect opportunity to bring together teams from Zielona Góra and Wrocław. There was plenty of positive energy and great conversations, and questions like “So, what do you do?” quickly turned into dancing and shared fun on the dance floor. Now we know for sure that even though we’re 200 kilometers apart, we’re one team.

In May, we opened another ShipStation office at Maria Skłodowska-Curie 12 in Wrocław, which means our team in Poland continues to grow. We didn’t want our relationships to be built only through Microsoft Teams, and our annual Summer Party was the perfect chance to officially welcome new team members – and maybe even put them to the test (within reason, of course).

To avoid raising suspicion, we kicked things off in a more official way at the open-air museum in Ochla near Zielona Góra. Paweł Przybyła opened the event with a short speech and wished everyone a great time. We took those words seriously…

It wasn’t easy, but it was fun – ShipStation takes on special challenges!

A series of task stations awaited us around the venue, and the entire team was divided into smaller groups. We competed in a set of unusual challenges that tested clever thinking, coordination, strength, and – most importantly – a sense of humor.

Some challenges required muscle and strategy, others involved unexpected tools and devices. There were Strongman-style competitions, a maze, and reverse-steering bicycles that really tested our patience. Laughter was guaranteed during the inflatable tube race, where teamwork and self-distance were put to the test. We spun around in a gyroscope and, moments later, found ourselves changing car tires.

Precision mattered in the shooting challenges, while lumberjack-style competitions proved that we’re just as comfortable using a saw as we are a touchpad. In the end, we crowned the best of the best and awarded medals. Some participants even tried striking athlete-style poses – let’s just be glad it didn’t end with a dentist visit.

From the campfire to the dance floor

As the sun set and the atmosphere became more relaxed, we gathered around a campfire, chatting about all kinds of topics. The DJ made sure the conversations didn’t go on forever (even though some definitely could have) and kept inviting us back to the dance floor with the next tracks.

This wasn’t just a party – it was a ShipStation celebration!

Everything came together perfectly that day. No strict agenda, no big speeches – just that unmistakable ShipStation spirit you can’t plan. For many of us, it was the first time meeting in person, and we made the most of it. We’re already counting down the days until our Winter Party!

Huge thanks to all the organization champions – thanks to you, everything ran smoothly and, of course, the ShipStation way!

See you next time!