Need ideas for activities at work picnic.

[sunbutter]

I’ve been voluntold to organize an activity at our upcoming work picnic. I know I have asked similar questions in the past but I wanted to mine your brains again if that is ok.
It is held for three hours on a work day. The goals of the activity are 1. Fun, 2. Entice people to come and 3. Foster interaction cross function and with leadership.
It is on a covered patio at a nearby restaurant. There is a grassy area we can use for games.
Have y’all done something fun and new lately at a work event?
Thanks!!

[twinmomma]

Could you keep it casual and do yard games? Cornhole, giant jenga, bocce, etc...

[covergirl82]

I went to a conference a few weeks ago and one of the breakout sessions was about engagement exercises. We did three exercises:
    1. Write a Letter - each person says one word at a time.  This can be done in pairs or if a group is at a table, you could go around the table.

    2. Going on a Picnic - this is done 3 times. Each person makes a suggestion for an item to bring on a picnic. The first time, the partner or group responds negatively ("no, that's a terrible idea!"); the second time, the partner or group responds indifferently ("meh"); the third time, the partner or group responds positively with enthusiasm ("yes, that's the best idea ever!!").

    3. Brainstorming - our activities for this one were to create a new island and create a new sport.  We were asked to respond positively each time someone made a suggestion.

The takeaways were:

    1. It's not about the quality of the idea, it's about how the person feels and openness to creativity and new ideas.  (Is there something about the idea that could work?).

    2. Increasing self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

    3. Disclaimer that sometimes we do have to say "no" to an idea, but thinking about how we say "no."

The person who did this breakout session was Galen Emanuele (he's on LinkedIn) if you want to check out where I got the above. 

[mommyatty]

I like the idea of doing an old fashioned picnic, with twinmomma’s games and sack races, three legged races. Just things with a high degree of opportunity to be silly.

[twinmomma]

mommyatty, That's the direction we're going with our picnic this year. Like, old school "field day" games - eggs on a spoon, sack races, etc... But I work in a super competitive environment, so everyone will have a blast just trying to "win" and not care about how silly they look.

[helenahhandbasket]

If I am being 100% honest, seeing a bunch of activities like the above would have the opposite effect on me personally- but I might be in the small minority.

I would just want a bunch of good food, adult beverages (if permissible) and some background music. I just really want to relax and mingle at these types of things as opposed to compete (even in fun) or be forced to socialize with someone I don't want to. I am probably the exact type of person that corporate event planners hate, lol.

The last work picnic I went to had an instagram station-- a booth with a backdrop that you could have your picture professional snapped at and then upload directly to your insta. It was a big hit.

[2chatter]

What about some minute to win it games? Google and a million come up - the kids do them on play dates and we do some at our parties.

There are also charades apps that are pretty awesome. You divide into teams and the prompt and timer are on the phone, as well as score keeping. No cards to keep track of and you can choose themes. Download app to several phones if it’s a large group and break into teams of 4-6 and four teams compete per phone.

[2chatter]

I also meant to include - this would depend on your work culture - but we did an adult piñata at a party we went to - swinging blindfolded and pulling it away - it was filled with mini nail files, plastic airplane bottles, condoms, candy, nuts and margarita salt.

[twinmomma]

We've also done trivia and that's been a hit. I ordered buzzers on Amazon and just googled a bunch of random questions in different categories. Easy to throw together and gives a good opportunity for people to fade into the background or get competitive.

[covergirl82]

We've also done minute to win it games - the more outgoing people can participate, while less outgoing people can just be the audience. Both participants and audience had fun.

2chatter, I LOL'd at the things in the adult piñata you listed. Never would condoms go over as acceptable in any of the places I've worked in my professional career!

[2chatter]

Oh yeah, no to the specific fillers - for work - but the concept was surprisingly fun! It was hilarious watching people try to nail it and the banter was priceless.

[erinshelley21]

My mom's picnics have always had cornhole and the game where you fling the golf balls that are connected with rope over to a set of pvc pipe looking things. Last year they provided bubbles for kids and did a water balloon toss where you and a partner toss is back and forth, taking a step back each time. The game morphed into a water balloon fight and I don't think a single person was mad.

They also had a dessert contest/bake off. The main meal was catered but the employees and guests made the desserts and they had a contest.

[mommyatty]

helenahhandbasket- Agree if it’s forced participation or something where you have to “pick a partner not in your group” blah blah blah. I hate that kind of crap. But if you can watch your coworkers be silly? I’m great with that.

[186momx]

Rock painting, cake/cookie walk, water balloons are always fun.

We always have fun night at our convention and most of the time it is just groups chatting while a few people be silly. Last year was a karaoke night and potato bar. The best year was when they brought in a group who put on a mini luau the theme that year was Luau. It was a Hawaii club from a local private college, very fun and the group made a fortune between the 200 fee they got for coming and tips. This year theme is state fair and they are doing carnival type games (ring toss for fish, pie eating, etc.).

[k3am]

Flip cup. Done.

This is honestly probably one of very few games I’d want to play with my coworkers. But if I’m being honest, I’d probably have a childcare emergency and not be able to make it.