Playing games at a back-to-school picnic fosters participation among students, teachers and parents. One game idea can be to organize a student backpack toss. Fill backpacks with school supplies, including pens, pencils, paper, folders and books. The student contestant who throws their backpack the furthest wins. The winner gets to keep the backpack and its contents. You can also organize a relay race that puts teams of teachers against teams of parents. You can award the winning teams with T-shirts and trophies.
Because some of the parents and teachers could be meeting each other for the first time, the picnic could serve as a good opportunity to introduce everyone. Using a microphone so everyone can hear, introduce all of the teachers and administrators who work at the school. Also, introduce members of the PTA, including the officers and volunteers. After the introductions, distribute contact sheets for parents and teachers to complete. The contact sheets should ask for names, work and home phone numbers. Collect the contact sheets after the picnic.
The food and drinks that you serve at a PTA back-to-school picnic can be inspired by school spirit. Use food coloring to dye the food and drink in the colors of your school. If your school colors are green and white, you can serve green hot dogs, green grilled chicken, potato salad and green beans. Mix green food coloring in pitchers of lemon-lime soda or punch to create "school spirit juice."
The decorations and atmosphere at a PTA back-to-school picnic can be similar to a pep rally. Decorate the picnic tables with tablecloths in your school's colors and use plates, cups, napkins and forks and spoons in these colors also. Use the school cheerleaders' pom poms as centerpieces. Attach balloons in the school colors to the picnic tables. Create signs using poster board and yardsticks. Write the name of your school on the poster board and add designs. Nail the yardsticks to the backs of the poster boards. Place the signs around the picnic site.