Hydraflow’s Sports-Filled Company Picnic

Games

240

Minutes of Fun

600

Staff and Their Families

Amazing Afternoon

Giving Back with a Company Picnic

This picnic, like so many, was planned far ahead of its spring date. We were contacted in January, on a balmy afternoon in the sixties. Here at A Company Picnic’s HQ in California, the January sun was shining on the afternoon we were contacted to book a local company’s annual spring picnic. We always recommend booking in advance for company picnics. Certain locations may be filled up if you wait too long. Likewise, it’s always helpful to us and our clients alike to have plenty of time to prepare.

Our client this afternoon was Hydraflow Manufacturers. They wanted to give back to their team, without whom their goals of meeting clients’ needs wouldn’t be possible. The company wanted to host their picnic this year in an open, grassy lot behind their Fullerton, California headquarters. We love hosting events onsite just as much as we do in a park or other location. In doing so, we find it’s helpful for the company’s team to drive their regular commute, and it offers a sense of company culture to be onsite during any company event. We were more than happy to help them give back to their team.

A Springtime Picnic

Hydraflow wanted a sports-heavy company picnic, with loads of sports games, interactives, and, of course, plenty of field games for their crew. Our Sports Theme offers a wide variety of games and inflatables suitable for all ages, and this being an all-ages picnic, we felt it would be a good fit. We planned this event for a weekend in May, and hoped their team would be looking forward to it as much as we were.

That morning in May was mild as we arrived on site to begin our preparations. The morning light of the sun shone pale in the sky overhead, not yet having its full strength for the day. With sparse but fluffy clouds in the sky, we expected this to be a beautiful afternoon. The picnic attendees were set to arrive at noon, and we had plenty of preparations to keep us busy in the meantime. Clover blossoms filled the grassy lot, a hallmark of spring, and birdsong filled the air, mingling with the sound of our pumps. We’d brought in loads of inflatables for this afternoon, and we were looking forward to seeing the picnic guests enjoy them.

We’d planned loads of wonderful food for today’s event, some of our personal caterers, as well as In-n-Out’s cookout trailer. Our own team arrived around the same time as we did, firing up their grills and getting to work. Hydraflow had asked for our Premier menu, one full of decadent foods we were sure their guests would enjoy. The smell of woodsmoke and barbeque soon filled the lot as we worked. Our mouths may have been watering, but we knew we had plenty to do. Besides, we wouldn’t want to eat before the guests even arrived!

The Guests Arrive!

Before we knew it, the clock struck noon and it was time for the picnic to begin. As our guests made their way in, they filed to the registration booths. We watched as they took in the variety of games and inflatables for their enjoyment. Palpable excitement filled the air, which thrilled us, seeing as how Hydraflow had so wanted their team to have a good time.

Before long, all our guests had arrived, a total of 600. Laughter filled the air as kids ran and played and buzz and chatter rang out as their parents mingled. Individuals as well as groups drifted to and fro, the crowd moving like waves on the ocean. Some found their way to our games, while others grabbed lunch and took it to the picnic tables. We love watching an active crowd and seeing them mingle. We find mingling is a crucial part of a company picnic. Events like this give team members a chance to really get to know one another and bond outside the workplace.

Our lunch that afternoon was a big hit. We’d brought in a wide variety of foods for the team to choose from. Our main courses that day, besides the burgers from In-n-Out, were marinated, grilled tri tip, BBQ chicken, and hotdogs. We’d prepared potato salad, stuffed peppers, garden salad, and baked beans as sides, as well as some ice cream treats, baked cookies, and plenty of drinks for the team.

Fun in the Sun

For this company picnic, we’d brought in a few airbrush tattoo artists. Their booths stayed busy all day, and before long, everyone had a piece of art on them. The artists did an amazing job, and we loved seeing the creative work they came up with. And we’d brought in a photo booth for guests to capture both the memory of the day, as well as the art they’d acquired.

We looked on as staff and their families tried out each of our inflatables. For their entertainment, we’d brought in plenty of variety. Team members tried their hands at our Sports Trio game, which is made up of a soccer kick, a quarterback toss, and a strike zone speed pitch. Some guests played rounds of corn hole on the grassy lawn, a classic picnic activity. Others tried out our basketball Double Hoop Shot game, or our Reaction Attraction arena. Reaction Attraction is a game in which colors light up or sounds play out, signaling teams to push the matching buttons. It’s a speedy game, and players need to have a quick reaction time. It’s always loads of fun to either play or watch, and we love bringing it in to any event.

Picnic Games Galore

Today, we’d also brought in a Firetruck Slide, and a Princess Castle Play Center for the little ones, as well as a Rocky Island Obstacle Course. These were big hits with the kids at the picnic! The Rocky Island course includes a rock-climbing wall as well as a slide and traditional obstacle course. This one in particular stayed busy all day, and we were thrilled to have brought in something so enjoyable.

For the main picnic games, we’d set up a competition zone. Here, guests would play various field games for prizes, of which we’d loaded down a table full. We love watching field game competitions. These games have a way of sweeping you up in their excitement, and cheers filling the air can pump you up more than anything. Teams competed in a variety of games, from Frisbee toss to wet sponge relay, to Capture the Chicken and cup stacking, to our Hot Shot game. In Hot Shot, guests don special vests with a sensor in them, while their teammate aims a water gun to shoot and try to activate the sensor. It’s loads of fun, and a perfect game for a sunny afternoon.

One Amazing Day

Nearing the end of the event, we always like to bring the team together for one final game. Today, we gathered a large group for a water balloon toss. This is a laidback field game, but that’s what makes it perfect for wrapping up an event. It’s relaxed, but serves to bring a group together as a whole, which we find is a perfect way to wrap up any picnic. By now, the sun had begun its midafternoon descent, and we knew the picnic was coming to a close. Once the final field game had been played, we knew this staff picnic was wrapping up.

As our picnic guests filed out, it thrilled us to see the smiles still on their faces and hear their conversation still flowing. The joy we see in picnic attendees makes our day, every time it happens. It’s what we’re here to do; giving team members a rewarding, relaxing afternoon of fun is our purpose. Once the final guests had gone, the lot fell still and silent. It wouldn’t be for long. We soon set to work, deflating our games and packing away tables.

The day had gone well, and we felt we’d given Hydraflow’s team the day their company had so wanted them to have. Everyone had a blast and got a chance to spend time together and enjoy each other’s company. As we took out the final bag of trash, the sun had dipped lower in the sky, cooling off and returning to the pale state that it had been when we arrived. Our job here was done, and we knew we’d done well. Hydraflow’s team had a beautiful day, and so had we. If you’d like to begin planning your own beautiful company picnic, fill out the form below or call 1.800.316.6722 to get started.