AltaMed’s Team Building Olympic Family Day

International Cuisines

Entertainment Options

5600

Staff and Family

300

Minutes of Fun

Celebrating Their Team

March in California isn’t winter. It’s the beginning of spring, bringing with it the sun’s renewed warmth and vibrance. The air carries the lively scents of spring; that refreshing sensation that always seems to be most prolific when winter is just ending.

The day we were contacted for this team building themed picnic was no different.

It was warm then, in the seventies, when a local healthcare and human services company contacted us, looking to plan their fall picnic in advance.

We like to book events early, and many of our clients do, too. It works out better for them to have a weekend set aside in advance, and it also gives us plenty of time to prepare on our end.

This event was set to take place in the beginning of October.

An Olympic Family Fun Day

Our client who visited that afternoon was AltaMed, a company dedicated to helping Latino and overlooked communities get the best possible healthcare. They care deeply about helping marginalized communities however they can, and their team is thoughtful as well as diverse. AltaMed wanted a picnic theme to celebrate their multicultural team, and together we decided on an Olympics theme.

The Olympics theme would have an international menu to go alongside it, and decorations from across the globe. The day itself would focus on team building activities and field games, to compliment the sports aspect of the theme. The guests were set to number close to 6000, and we planned for it to be a huge and exciting afternoon.

The Perfect Location

The months passed by for us in a hurry, and October came around. It was definitely a warm month, but with that hint of fall on the breeze. On the day of the event, our team arrived before dawn had even broken. The sky was that mesmerizing pre-dawn, glowing blue, and before too long, we knew it would be punctuated with the ruddy light of the rising sun.

Our location for the day was the beautiful Bonelli Park in San Dimas, a location we love for its gorgeous lawns and plenty of wide, open area. The entrance to this amazing San Dimas party venue sits between two fences, with a long paved section going through it into the center of the park. Here, we began our setup, lining the fences with Olympic rings and statues. Once our guests entered the gate, we wanted the décor to continue. So, we lined the walkway with international flags.

Food Around the World

Our caterers arrived shortly after we did, and we selected the end of the walkway as the perfect place to arrange their stations. We brought in caterers from around the world to hallmark the Olympics theme. Today, the menu consisted of a variety of cuisines: American, Japanese, German, Irish, Greek, French, and Mexican. We also brought in plenty of sweet treats, from kettle corn to Sno-Cones, for guests to enjoy.

Around the main buffets, we set up more decorations, this time in the form of statues representing cultures from around the globe. We set up a Chinese gong beside a panda, a Buckingham Palace guard beside a lion, the bust of a pharaoh, cutouts of a man and woman in traditional German attire, and so much more. In the paved lot at the venue, we arranged Greek pillars with Olympic rings and Olympic flags at their sides. Pretty soon, the entire park began to look festive and beautiful.

Fun in the Sun

On the grassy lots, we set up plenty of entertainment and inflatable games. While the picnic did have a focus on games, we like to have plenty for our guests to take part in between game times. Today, we brought in a rock wall, a zipline, two moon bouncers, a giant maze, an obstacle course, game tables, carnival booths and more. We also arranged a petting zoo featuring goats, alpacas, and other lovable farm animals.

Pumps whirred and the air filled with a beautiful melody of scents from the main buffet as lunch for that day sizzled on the grills. Our morning rushed by in a hurry, as the sun made its ascent then reached its zenith. Before we knew it, everything came together, and noon arrived. As the clock hit twelve, our guests arrived. They filed to the registration booths, and we saw their eyes scanning all of the activities and delicious buffet tables to enjoy. Our guests totaled in at 5600, people of all ages who’d come out to enjoy this sunny afternoon.

Plenty of Games

We had planned a lot for AltaMed’s team to take part in this afternoon, but we made sure to plan each field game competition an hour apart, to give guests time to enjoy everything they wanted to in between. Some guests lined up at the buffet first, where AltaMed managers stood ready to serve their team lunch in person. Others went to the facepainting booth or the caricature station, where our amazing artists created beautiful pieces for them. Some folks took to the rock wall or zip line, while others found their way to the inflatable games.

Guests had a blast trying out our Big Time Sumo Wrestling game, in which inflatable suits are donned and guests try to knock each other down. Some took part in our Zorb Ball Race, where they climbed inside giant hamster balls and raced towards the finish line. Still others tried their hand at an inflatable Whack-a-Peg, or giant cornhole, giant Jenga, or any other of our giant board games.

Prizes Galore

Our first competition of the day started at 1:00. Guests lined up to play a game of Pop Fly, and the prize for this round was movie tickets. Besides the tickets, our guests would receive Olympic medals to take home as a commemoration of this event. Guests seemed to have a blast, coming together as teams of four and giving it their all. We definitely had a blast, too. It’s easy to feel the excitement, and get caught up in the action, and before you know it, you’re cheering along with the crowd.

Next on the agenda was the first of six of that day’s raffles. In total, AltaMed offered 53 prizes in the raffles, with gift cards to just about everywhere, as well as movie tickets. AltaMed wanted to really give back to their whole crew, and it seemed to us that they’d really achieved that.

Field Game Fun

At 2:00, guests came together to compete in a Sprocket Racing game, in which teamwork is the name of the game. Teams of 4 line up inside a fabric sprocket to scoot their way to victory. Teams had a great time doing it, even though there’s always the risk of getting tripped and tumbling down inside your sprocket. When this did happen, upon seeing that everyone was okay, those who tumbled as well as the rest of us had some good laughs. The fun in it was every bit as rewarding as both the medals and the movie tickets they were competing for.

Laughter, chatter, and buzz filled the air from all around our venue. Guests had become decorated with vibrant face paints, or had their arms full carrying prizes they’d won at the carnival booths. Children ran and played, and adults mingled and played themselves. It seemed all of our guests were having an amazing afternoon. We always strive for every single person to have a great time, and it’s rewarding beyond words to see a crowd as big as this one having such a good time together.

A Bustling Crowd

At the next collaboration game, guests lined up in teams of 2 for a water balloon toss. Water balloon tosses are a personal favorite around here, as they’re something everyone can enjoy as well as one of our favorite team building games. The water balloon bursting on a hot day is just an added bonus, and we figure guests can always use being a little cooled off. On the table for this game was a Jamba Juice gift card, which is just as refreshing as being splashed, but definitely tastier than just water.

Our buffet lines, game setups, and artistic booths stayed busy that day. The crowd moved to and fro in a continuous wave, a business we love to watch. We’d made sure that not only were there plenty of activities, but there was a little something for everyone to enjoy. Our roaming photographer took loads of pictures, but we also brought in photo booths for guests to use if they wanted. AltaMed had asked us to give their team a very exciting, very fun day, and we felt as if we’d come through for them.

A Resounding Hit

The final team building game of the day was a Big Foot Racing competition, where guests strap themselves to boards and grab the handles to inch their way across the finish line as a team of 3. It relies on cooperation and communication, and it’s always a hit with our guests. We feel such a bonding game is a great way to wrap up any staff and family day. This one was no different. Guests had a blast and won movie tickets for their efforts.

The day began to wind to a close. Our caricaturists and face painters packed up for the day shortly after the last competition. Our photographer spent some time taking pictures of staff and families with our many decorations, capturing the moment for all who wanted it. As the sun began to drop lower in the sky, the time came for our guests to go home. They were still buzzing, still laughing, and still chatting at 5:00, even as they filed out of the venue. We could tell they’d really enjoyed the day.

All in a Day’s Work

Once the final guest had filed out, our work began again. The park fell still around us. Birdsong filled the air, and the sun, dipping closer and closer to the horizon, cast the park in a warm golden hue. Shadows stretched out, long from the lowered sun, from our inflatables and from the trees as we got to work.

We packed away the prop decorations and helped our caterers pack away their stations. Smiles stayed firmly on our faces, our hearts still full of joy and fulfillment from a job well done. We could tell AltaMed’s teamwork had improved, but more importantly that they enjoyed themselves. We were sure AltaMed was glad to know each team member and their families had a great time.

As we took out the last bag of trash and finished packing up, we looked back at the park. Now, the sky was a deep red as the sun dipped below the horizon. The park was still and every bit as pristine as it had been that morning. It had been a picnic to remember. Our job as team building service providers had been done well. Now, it was time for the next.