Arcoiris De Valores: Cinco de Mayo

I was going through some boxes the other day (looking for a can of turquoise spray paint - which I cannot find anywhere!) and came across a box labeled "fiesta!" In it I found: a couple sombreros, a music CD, fake mustaches, colorful tissue flowers, cactus picks, Mexican flags, bright yellow maracas, a couple backdrops (one of a mariachi band and the other a Spanish couple dancing), a stack of signs printed in Spanish, and a few handwritten notes.
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All these items were used a few years ago in a Leadership Training activity for our young women. The activity just happened to fall on Cinco de Mayo, so in my planning I decided to build it around the fiesta theme.
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All the photos and files from the night with the young women were lost when my computer crashed and burned last year. (So many memories- photos and designs - were lost! Makes me want to cry, again.) Luckily, I posted this adorable picture of Robbie (he makes me smile!) from a family Cinco de Mayo celebration on FACEBOOK. The photo, as well as the handwritten notes I found, are helping jog my memory. :)
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PURPOSE

Emphasize good leadership qualities, build and strengthen relationships through fun group activities, and provide a cultural experience.

INVITE

It was a simple invite: "You're invited to a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta! Young Women Leadership Training on ____________."

Note: In case you were wondering, I used the HOT TAMALE font. You can download it here for your own use.

ARRIVAL

As each girl arrived they were given a passport (which could be stamped as they visited each station). But before they got their passport - they had to translate atleast four of the following words into English.

There was also a photo booth opportunity for the girls: sombreros, mustaches, maracas, and a back drop of the mariachi band and Spanish dancers.

Each station was delegated to one of the members of the Young Women Presidency to run. They were asked to spend 5 minutes talking about their assigned trait of a leader (see below). Then they introduced the activity - which reinforced the leadership trait.

1. "A Leader... has vision"

- sets goals, faith

Activity: Tortilla Toss

Supplies needed: corn tortillas, measuring tape or tarp with holes

2. "A Leader... gives direction"
- shares vision, belief, testimony

Activity: Simon Says - in spanish (see actions below)

Supplies needed: signs with instructions english/spanish translations

3. "A Leader... is strong"
- takes charge, is a doer, reaps rewards

Activity: Pinata

Supplies needed: filled pinata, blindfold, stick

4. "A Leader... encourages"
- inspires through example, leadership is defined through action, integrity

Activity: Dance Instruction

Supplies needed: music (Mexican hat dance), sombreros

5. "A Leader... has a good attitude"

Take-A-Way: Charles Swindle: Life is 10% what happens to you 90% how you react to it.

FIESTA! Time

The night ended with food at the "Value Cantina"! We decorated an area to resemble a little mexican cantina. A bowl of tortilla chips and a bowl of salsa was placed at each table. Best part! :)
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