It's the most dreaded part of any company retreat. But you can survive.
Every company does it because every other company does it.
The events have a common dynamic. Everyone feels self-conscious. People find their sucking-up comfort levels and get down with the boss or refrain from getting down with the boss. People applaud themselves at the end, get a tacky souvenir, and go gratefully home to indulge in cleansing selfish and useless behaviors. But times are tough now.