Grass Stain - St Paul United Methodist Church

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GRASS S TA I N outside youth ministry games Tested in the trenches with proven results: download a dynamic resource for easy OUTDOOR youth group games. GRASS STAIN: OUTDOOR YOUTH MINISTRY GAMES will enhance your ministry and build community. Get your free eBook today from the team at YouthMinistry.com. Activities for every occasion: creative youth group game ideas for you to adapt to your ministry setting. Getting Started This resource is for your ministry! Feel free to adapt this as your think is best for your students. Take the headers off, fix the typos, correct the theology (DOH!); do what ever it takes to make it great for your students. We ask that you don’t sell these games or distribute it to other ministries, send them to www.youthministry.com. We would love to hear from you! If you have a way to make this better, email Matt McGill at [email protected]. Blessings, The Simply Youth Ministry Team Doug Fields, Andy Brazelton, Rick Lawrence, Sherri Smith, Debbie Pflieger, Nadim Najm, Chris Davis, Jeff Storm, Kami Gilmour, Riley Hall, Scott Firestone, Veronica Lucas, Justin Boling, Matt McGill, Stephanie Caro, Matt McCage Contact Us 1-866-9-SIMPLY www.youthministry.com www.twitter.com/youthministry | www.simplyyouthministry.com www.facebook.com/simplyyouthministry Terms of Use Some rights reserved. You are free to adapt and share this work with your ministry. You may not use this work for commercial purposes or distribute it beyond your ministry. If you know of another ministry who would benefit from this, send them to www.youthministry.com. Content in this eBook is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. For the details, check http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/legalcode 2 Table of Contents Introduction .....................................................................................................................................4 Outdoor Game #1 – Everybody’s IT Tag .........................................................................................5 Outdoor Game #2 – Trash Can Dodge .......................................................................................6 Outdoor Game #3 – Blow Cup Relay .........................................................................................7 Outdoor Game #4 – Amoeba Tag ...............................................................................................8 Outdoor Game #5 – Knots .........................................................................................................9 Outdoor Game #6 – Pool Noodle Joust ......................................................................................10 Outdoor Game #7 – Egg on Your Face .......................................................................................11 Outdoor Game #8 – Steal the Bacon ..........................................................................................12 Outdoor Game #9 – Bodybuilder Relay ......................................................................................13 Outdoor Game #10 – Body Part Matchup ..................................................................................14 Outdoor Game #11 – Iced Marble Relay (with Jello variation) .........................................................15 Outdoor Game #12 – Mummy Wrap Relay ....................................................................................16 Outdoor Game #13 – Balloon Stomp .............................................................................................17 Outdoor Game #14 – Thread the Frozen Spoon ............................................................................18 Outdoor Game #15 – Frozen T-Shirt Relay .....................................................................................19 Outdoor Game #16 – Peanut Butter Plexiglas ...............................................................................21 Outdoor Game #17 – Sumo Wrestling ...........................................................................................22 Outdoor Game #18 – Swat ............................................................................................................23 Outdoor Game #19 – Turkey Bowling ............................................................................................24 Outdoor Game #20 – Run the Gantlet ...........................................................................................25 3 Introduction Ever since I started in youth ministry in 1991, I have had the opportunity to talk to a lot of youth pastors around the country and around the world. When asking them about their biggest challenge in programming for youth ministry, the answer that I get most often is coming up with creative and fun games for students to play week after week. Many of the youth workers I’ve talked to shared that they have about four or five games in their arsenal that they play over and over again all year long. They are often begging for new games and activities that they can utilize within their youth ministry. This desire for access to more games and activities was the reason I birthed the website pastor2youth.com in 1995. It was my desire to provide youth workers with access to hundreds of games, activities, resources, and ideas—and to do so for free. It was also my desire for youth workers to be able to share their own ideas and resources with everyone else—and made a way for everyone to do so. It is amazing that in 19 years of youth ministry, the number one challenge in programming that I hear from most youth workers has not changed—coming up with creative and fun games to play week after week. Therefore, I have created the resource that you now have before you. Included here are 20 outdoor games and activities that have been tried and tested by many youth pastors and have been considered some of the most fun and most popular on my site. Each game includes clear instructions as to how to play the game, the supplies needed, and additional notes, ideas, and suggestions. I hope that this resource will help you to have a new arsenal of games and activities to play within your youth ministry. God bless you in your ministry and may you have all kinds of new fun— enough to last you close to one entire year. Dr. Ryan Nielsen www.pastor2youth.com Ryan Nielsen currently serves as the Youth Director at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Boerne, Texas. He has worked in youth ministry since 1991, serving in churches in Colorado, Canada, Denmark, Oklahoma, California, and Texas. Ryan earned an M.A. in Youth and Family Ministry in 1998 and an M.Div. Degree in 2002, and will graduate in June 2010 with his Doctorate from Fuller Seminary. Ryan is the owner and president of pastor2youth.com. He married Christianna in 2005 and has two foster-daughters. 4 Outdoor Game #1 – Everybody’s IT Tag This is an incredibly fun and active youth group game. It will get all of the students running and is an easy youth group game to use when you don’t want to buy any supplies or have time to set anything up. This youth group game has been one of the favorites of my teenagers in many different locations. How to Play: This youth group game is basically a “last person standing” game. The winner is the very last person still in. You can play the game in any area that is large enough for your group to run around and play tag. Make sure to set up clear boundaries that they cannot go out of, or the game will last for eternity! It is a basic game of “tag.” However, rather than having a single person who is “it” and trying to tag everyone else, every single person is “it.” Therefore, everyone is trying to tag everyone else, without getting tagged. If you get tagged by anyone, you are out and must sit down. If two people tag one another at the exact same time, and it is a “tie,” then both players remain in. Often, as you get down to fewer and fewer people still in, they tend to avoid one another and this game can become too drawn out. Some ideas for how to expedite the ending of this youth group game are: 1) You can make the game area smaller for those still in; 2) You can allow those who are already out to not move, but be able to tag those who are still in while seated. Supplies Needed: None 5 Outdoor Game #2 – Trash Can Dodge This is another very active youth ministry game that is a “last person standing” style game. It can get quite wild, so beware. You simply need a space with enough room for your students to form a circle around the trash can, holding hands, and be able to rotate around right and left. How to Play: • Place the large, empty trash can in the middle of your playing area. • Have the students form a circle around the trash can. • Have the teenagers join hands with those on both sides of them. • The leader will start each round by yelling out a direction (“right” or “left”) and the youth will begin rotating around the trash can in that direction. • The leader can yell out a new direction at any time and as often as desired, thus making the students switch the direction. • The object of the game is to cause a student to run into the trash can. • A student who bumps into the trash can is out and must sit down to the side. • Also, if two students let go of each another’s hands during an active round, both of those students are out—therefore, it is important to hang on tight. In addition, this prevents a student who is about to hit the trash can from letting go of the other person in order to avoid being “out.” • You continue to eliminate students until you have a single person who is the winner. Supplies Needed: • An empty trash can—preferably a large (30-gallon) trash can 6 Outdoor Game #3 – Blow Cup Relay This youth group game can be played simply for fun or could be used in a variety of different ways to be a youth group game with a point. It is a simple relay race that can be very entertaining to watch and has multiple levels of application that could be added to it. It is best played on a day with good weather and no wind. How to Play: • Divide your group into teams. The number of teams will depend on how long you want the game to last, how much room you have to play the game, and how large you want your teams to be. • Give each team a 15-foot piece of string and a paper (or plastic) cup with a hole in the bottom-center of it. It is recommended that the leader makes the holes before the game begins to make sure all of the cups have the same size hole (or close), and thus keeps the competition fair between teams. • Have each team put its cup onto its string, and then tie each end of the string to a chair. The students can decide which direction they want to put their cup (either facing toward the team or away from the team). • Then move the chairs as far apart as possible so that the string is pulled tight. Be careful not to break the string when moving the chairs apart. • Have the teams line up single-file behind the chair where their cup is to begin (make sure all of the teams line up on the same side, even if their cups are facing different directions). • At the signal, one player from each team must blow the cup to the other end of the string until it hits the other chair (or designated ending point). They must do this with their hands behind their backs and are not allowed to touch the cup with anything at all—they can blow on the cup to move it. • When they reach the ending point, each player then pushes the cup back (with their hands) to the beginning point for the next player to go. • The team whose players are the first to all complete the task is the winning team. (You can continue play to get a second place or third place team as well, if you would like.) Supplies Needed: • One 15-foot piece of string for each team (you should have a few extras in case the students break theirs during setup or play) • One paper or plastic cup for each team • A pencil (or pen) to put a hole in the middle of the cup • Two chairs per team to tie the ends of the string to 7 Outdoor Game #4 – Amoeba Tag This youth group game is a tag game that requires a lot of coordination and cooperation in order to win. It can be very funny to watch, challenging to play, and can also be used as a youth ministry game with a point. How to Play: • Have students spread out throughout the game area. You must set up very clear boundaries in order for the game to work. • Choose one person who is “It.” • The person who is “It” runs around trying to tag other individuals. • When a person gets tagged, they must link arms (at the elbow) with the person who tagged them, thus becoming part of the “Amoeba.” • Then those two must run arm in arm around trying to tag others. • As each individual is tagged, they will link arms with the person who tagged them as well. • The only people who are allowed to tag others are those at the ends of the Amoeba line. • If the Amoeba line, in chasing others, breaks arms, they must freeze and cannot tag anyone until joined back together. If they tag anyone during the time they are not joined together, the person tagged does not become part of the Amoeba, but is still free. • Continue this game until you have only one person left; this person is the winner. • One variation you could use: Whenever you get to groups of eight students, they can be required to break off into two Amoebas of four students each—continuing to chase everyone. This is best if you have a very large playing area where you need to cover more ground than you can with only one Amoeba. • NOTE: One point that can be made with this game is the importance of working together. If you don’t work together, you could be running in opposite directions, not accomplishing anything, and even possibly hurting others in the process. Supplies Needed: None 8 Outdoor Game #5 – Knots This youth group game is a bit of a puzzle game that can be done as an entire group or as a competition. It is also a youth group game with a point that can be used in conjunction with a couple of themes. How to Play: • Depending on the size of your group and the purpose you would like to accomplish, you can either play this game as one entire group or split into teams for a competition. • Have each team/group get into a circle, with students standing up and standing shoulder to shoulder facing the inside of the circle. • Have each person reach out his/her right-hand and grab the hand of someone else in the circle. They cannot, however, grab the hand of the person standing next to them on the right or left. • Then have each person reach out his/her left hand and grab the hand of another person in the circle. They cannot grab the hand of the person standing next to them, and they cannot the grab the hand of the same person they are joined with using their right hand. • Once everyone is joined as described above, instruct students that they are not allowed to ever release hands or their team loses. • Instruct them that the object is for them to get “untangled” from the “knot” so that they are standing in a large circle hand in hand. (Note: Depending on their situation, when they get untangled, not everyone will be facing inside the circle, and that is OK. It is most important that they get untangled, as that is the ultimate goal.) • The first team to get completely untangled is the winning team. • Theme ideas: This game can be used to illustrate several themes. One would be the importance of communicating with one another. Another is the importance of listening when it comes to communication. Another would be how our lives are all tied up in knots, but when we listen to God he helps untangle our lives. Another would be the importance of working together with one another. I’m sure you can come up with more—but those are a few to get you started. Supplies Needed: None 9 Outdoor Game #6 – Pool Noodle Joust This youth group game can get pretty wild at times, but it is also crazy fun. This youth group activity can be played either with the entire group, as teams, as an icebreaker with just a few students, or any combination of the above. How to Play: • Choose your contestants for this game (this can be two teams made up of the entire group or only a few individuals). • Give a blindfold, pool noodle, balloon, and piece of tape to each contestant. • Each contestant will blow up their balloon and tie it off. Then they will tape the balloon to any place on their arm between the shoulder and the elbow. • After they have their balloon taped to their arm, have every contestant put on their blindfold—making sure they cannot see at all. • When you say “GO,” the contestants will swing their pool noodles and attempt to knock the balloon off of the other contestant(s). • When a contestant’s balloon is knocked off, that individual is out and must sit down to the side. • The winner is the last person standing with their balloon still intact. • If a person’s balloon falls off their arm during the game, they are still out. So they will want to make sure to tape it where it is least likely to fall off on its own. • Also, make sure that you give each student their tape to prevent one person from using only one piece of tape while another student uses a dozen. Also make sure that there is plenty of room that students can move and swing the pool noodles without breaking anything or falling over anything and getting hurt. Supplies Needed: • Pool noodles • Balloons • Tape • Blindfolds 10 Outdoor Game #7 – Egg on Your Face This youth group game is best as an activity that is an icebreaker or done with only a few students. It can make a mess and if you decide to do it with the entire youth group, be prepared for a huge mess to clean up. In addition, it is important that your students know ahead of time that they will get messy playing this game, so they can dress accordingly, or you can have a set of clothes they can put on over their own clothes to get messy in. How to Play: • Form pairs of contestants. Give each pair one raw egg and a piece of rubber tubing. (NOTE: It is more fun for those watching if you get the clear rubber tubing, because then the audience can see the action and watch what is about to happen.) • Have the contestants crack the raw egg and deposit its contents into the middle of the rubber tubing. • Have each contestant put his or her mouth on one end of the rubber tube. (NOTE: instruct students ahead of time to NOT blow into the tube or they will immediately be disqualified. In act, I told my students that if they blew into the tube before I said “GO,” their opponent would get to crack a raw egg on the top of their head—this deterred my junior high students from blowing egg in their opponent’s face with a stronger consequence than just being disqualified.) • When you say “GO,” have the students on the two ends of the rubber tubing begin to blow into it. They continue to blow until one of the students ends with egg on their face (or body). (NOTE: I do not do a countdown, such as 1-2-3-Go, because students may jump the gun. I simply ask if they are ready, and then wait a moment and then say, “GO.” Also, I state the rule that if they are about to lose and they move the tubing away from their body so that they avoid getting any egg on them at all, then their opponent gets to crack a raw egg on their head. This helps prevents students who know they are losing from establishing a plan to not get messy at all.) • You can play this game as a “king/queen of the egg” game—and let the winner keep going. You can play it with just a few students as an up-front, icebreaker game, or go all out and play it with the entire youth group. Supplies Needed: • One raw egg for each team of two • Rubber tubing • Wet cloths or something to help the students clean up 11 Outdoor Game #8 – Steal the Bacon This youth group game is quite active and can become even more active as you add more people attempting to “steal the bacon.” How to Play: • Divide your group into two even teams. • Have the group number off (1 through however many there are on each team). Instruct them that they must remember their number. • In the middle of the play area, place one pool noodle and one “bacon.” (Note: The “bacon” can be a stuffed animal, a pillow, an actual package of bacon, or anything else you would like to use.) • Separate the two teams and have them sit in a straight line with both teams an even distance from the pool noodle and the “bacon.” • When the game begins, you will yell a number (within the range of your groups’ numbers). The two individuals with that number (one person from each team) will run toward the center of the room. • The goal is for a student to grab the “bacon” and run back to their team. • However, when one student grabs the “bacon” the other student attempts to grab the pool noodle and hit the person with the “bacon” before they get back to their team. • If the student who grabs the “bacon” gets back to their team without getting hit, their team gets a point. • If the student with the pool noodle hits the student with the “bacon” before they make it back to their team, their team gets a point. • Extra Rule: If a student touches the pool noodle before the “bacon” has been touched, then the opposing team gets a point (this is to avoid student just running up and grabbing the pool noodle to try and be the swatter). • To make things even crazier, begin to call more than one number per round (such as: 1 and 4), where all four students (two from each team), attempt to do the same thing. You can also add more pool noodles or “bacons” to be stolen. All of these options just make the game even more crazy and active. • Play the game until you decide to end it. Supplies Needed: • Chairs for every student (or have everyone sit down on the ground) • One pool noodle • One “bacon” (can be a stuffed animal, an actual package of bacon, or anything else you want to use) 12 Outdoor Game #9 – Bodybuilder Relay This youth group game is great because the students think the competition is one thing, when the winning competition is actually something else, which comes as a surprise at the end. How to Play: • Divide your group into two teams. • Have each team choose one individual who will be the “bodybuilder” for this game. • Give the “bodybuilder” on each team a large (or extra large) sweatshirt and sweatpants. • Have the “bodybuilder” put on the sweatshirt and sweatpants over their clothes. • Hand each team a pile of balloons. • When you say “GO” each team will have a set amount of time (I recommend about five minutes) to blow up their balloons and stuff them inside the sweatshirt and sweatpants to make their team’s “bodybuilder” look like the “best” and most “pumped up” bodybuilder they can. (NOTE: The “bodybuilder” can be the one actually stuffing the balloons into the sweatshirt and sweatpants to avoid awkward situations. However, stuffing into the arms and legs may not cause any awkwardness. Use your discretion.) • At the end of the time, say “STOP.” The students must stop immediately. • You will then have the two “bodybuilders” show off their “pumped up” status. • The students will think that this is how the winner will be determined—by which student is the best “bodybuilder.” However, this is not the real competition. • You will now (after the bodybuilding is complete) explain that the real competition and the real winning team will be the one whose “bodybuilder” can pop every single balloon in their sweatshirt/pants. However, no one from the team can assist them AND they are not allowed to use their hands at all. • Thus, they must be creative in popping their balloons, such as bouncing off the ground, pushing against a wall or tree, and so on. • If a student uses their hands, or gets any help from their team (other than verbal advice), their team automatically loses. • The person who pops all of their balloons first wins for their entire team. Supplies Needed: • Lots of balloons • Two sets of large (or extra large) sweatshirts and sweatpants (one set for each team) 13 Outdoor Game #10 – Body Part Matchup This youth group game is a variation of a “musical chairs” style game. It is a lot of fun, and you can make it more challenging as you go along. It also tends to bring about a lot of laughter. How to Play: • Have everyone in your group find a partner and choose who is number 1 and who is number 2. • Once they have found a partner, have all of the number 1s form a circle facing outward from the center. Then have all of the number 2s form a larger circle around the number 1s facing inward—right across from their partner. • When you say “GO” all of the students will walk counterclockwise within their own circle. (This will mean that both circles are actually walking in opposite directions because one is facing outward and one is facing inward.) • Inform the students that you will be yelling out two different body parts. The first body part is for all who are number 1s and the second is for all the number 2s. • When you yell out the two body parts, the students must hurry (they may break the circle here) to their partner and have the number 1s put their called out body part against number 2’s called out body part. o For example, you might call out “elbow to knee”—and the number 1s must put their elbow on number 2’s knee. • The last group to make the proper match is out of the game. • Have the number 1s and number 2s get back into their proper circles and repeat. • Continue the game until you have one winning pair. • To make this more challenging, you can call out things such as: “Biceps to Triceps.” • Warn the students to be careful not to rush too quickly to match up with their partner so they don’t smash body parts together—hurting one or both partners. Supplies Needed: None 14 Outdoor Game #11 – Iced Marble Relay (with Jello variation) This youth group game is a very fun game that causes a lot of squeals from the students as they play it. It is a unique relay race and has a variation for play—depending on what you prefer and what your group might enjoy more. How to Play: • Divide your group into two teams. • Have the students line up single file, sitting on the ground facing one direction. • Have a chair in the front of each team’s line—facing the team. • Below the chair, have a bowl that is filled with marbles that you (a couple days prior) have soaked in water and placed in the freezer. (A variation on this is to have the bowl filled with Jello and mix the marbles into the Jello so they are well mixed in.) • Have another smaller bowl sitting to the side of the large bowl with iced marbles (or Jello and marbles) • Now have all of the students take off their shoes and socks. • When you say “GO” the first student on each team must come to the front, turn around and sit in the chair. They must then attempt to get a marble out of the larger bowl with only their toes and drop it into the smaller bowl. (NOTE: I encourage you to make the rule that there is no scooping the marbles out, because this is quick and easy and the students miss out on the fun of either frozen toes or squishy Jello around their toes.) • If the marble does not land in the smaller bowl, they must try to get another marble out of the larger bowl. They cannot pick up the marble that just fell. • You can play this game until every person has gone and the winning team is the first team to successfully have every individual complete the task. Or you can play this game for a specified length of time, and the winning team is the team that has the most marbles in the smaller bowl. Supplies Needed: • Marbles that have been soaked in water and put in the freezer until frozen • Option: marbles that are spread out into a bowl of Jello for each team • One chair for each team • A bowl in which to put the marbles (this is true if you use the iced marbles or the marbles with Jello) 15 Outdoor Game #12 – Mummy Wrap Relay This youth group game is a fun relay race that includes quickness of running, and rolling. But what makes this youth group activity even more fun is part of the running is much more difficult when the students are “mummified.” How to Play: • Divide into two or more teams (depending on how long you want the game to last). • Have each team divide into two groups, which are at opposite ends of your space from each other. • The first person on each team begins by wrapping themselves into a sheet by lying down and rolling themselves up into the sheet. (NOTE: They must have their arms inside of sheet.) • Once wrapped in the sheet, the student then stands up (they can get help from team members to stand up, if needed) and runs to their teammate at the other end. • Once at the other end, they must unroll themselves. • Then that team member at the other end must do the same—lie down, roll into the sheet, stand up, run to the teammates at the other end, and unroll. • The first team to have all of its players “mummified” and run to the other end of their team wins. Supplies Needed: • One bedsheet for each team • Cones or other markers to indicate the starting and ending spots for each team 16 Outdoor Game #13 – Balloon Stomp This youth group game is a fairly active game that is a lot of fun to both play and to watch. It is a youth group activity that gets a lot of energy out and also is a great challenge to try and win. How to Play: • Hand a balloon and a piece of string (or yarn) that is about 18 inches long to every student. • Have the students blow up their balloons and tie the balloons off. (NOTE: Instruct them that the balloons must be blown up most of the way. They may not make an itty-bitty balloon.) • Have the students tie one end of their string to the balloon and the other end of the string around their ankle. • When you say “GO,” have the students run around attempting to pop each other’s balloons by stepping on them. • Instruct the students that they cannot use their hands at all. • Once a student’s balloon is popped, they are out of the game and must sit down. • Also, if a student’s balloon comes off of their string, or their string comes off of their leg, they are out. Instruct them to make sure they tie both ends well. • Continue the game until you have only one winner—the student with a balloon that remained unpopped. • NOTE: When the number of students gets fewer and fewer, they tend to stay far away from each other. A way to help finish the game is to continue to shrink the playing area, forcing them to get closer and closer. Supplies Needed: • One balloon for every student • One piece of string (strong string) or yarn for each person (about 18 inches long) 17 Outdoor Game #14 – Thread the Frozen Spoon This youth group game is a relay race of sorts and can be extremely funny to watch and to play. It takes some good coordination, and it also can cause a lot of shivers. It’s lots of fun. How to Play: • Divide your group into two or more teams. • Have the teams stand in a straight line facing the front of the room, one person behind the other. • Give the last person in each line a frozen spoon that is attached to a very long piece of yarn. • Explain that the last person in each team must thread the spoon down through their shirt and pants/shorts until it comes out their pant leg. • They must then hand the spoon to the person in front of them (who must remain facing forward) who must thread the spoon from the bottom of their pant leg upward through their shirt. • Then they hand it to the person in front of them who threads it down, then the person in front of them who threads it up, and so on. • Begin the competition when you say “GO.” • The first team to reach the front with the spoon threaded properly the entire way is the winning team. • NOTE: This game can be funny because of how cold the spoon is and the challenge of trying to thread it, especially when threading it upward. • NOTE: Instruct the students when they thread down through their pants/shorts to keep it on the outside of undergarments. Supplies Needed: • One frozen spoon for each team (soak it in water and put it in the freezer a few days before this game) • A piece of yarn taped to the spoon—long enough to “thread” the entire team (you will determine this length based on how many people you expect to be on each team) 18 Outdoor Game #15 – Frozen T-Shirt Relay This youth group game is designed to be an icebreaker competition, with only a few students playing the game, but is still a lot of fun to watch. It seems quite simple when explaining the game, but it is not nearly as easy as it sounds. How to Play: • Advance setup: - Buy some T-shirts. Medium or large size shirts work best for this game (regardless of the size - T-shirts your students wear). - Open them carefully so they remain folded tightly like they come in the package. - Make sure to remove all packaging contents, such as the piece of cardboard that may be inside or between the T-shirts. - Soak the T-shirts in water, again making sure they do not become unfolded. - Place the water-soaked T-shirts into gallon-size Ziploc or generic baggies. Do not ring the shirts out, but place them in the baggies fully soaked. - Place the t-shirts, which are inside the baggies, into the freezer for a couple of days. - When this is complete, you will have frozen solid T-shirts that will feel almost like solid rocks. - NOTE: If you put the T-shirts into the freezer without putting them into the baggies, they will freeze to whatever they are sitting next to (or on top of), and you will not be able to remove them from your freezer easily. • Ask for some volunteers to participate in this competition. The number of volunteers can be as many as you would like. You will need to have a frozen T-shirt for each of the participants. • Have the volunteers come to the front of your space. • Explain to them that this competition is very simple—not easy, but simple. The winner will be the person who can put the T-shirt on the fastest. (NOTE: I normally don’t reveal yet that they are frozen T-shirts, just to make students think this is going to be an easy and fast competition and have them wondering what the catch is.) • Hand each student a frozen T-shirt, but don’t let the contestants begin yet. • Explain the rules as follows: - You must put the T-shirt on completely to win. - You can use anything in the area to try and unfreeze your T-shirt; however you must be touching it at all times. (Thus, they can’t go inside and put it in a microwave or oven.) - They are allowed to pass the T-shirt off to one (and only one) other person to help out. But only one person can work on the T-shirt at a time. If that person wishes to pass the T-shirt off, they must pass it back to the original person. (The reason I allow the T-shirts to be passed off is because the fingers can become a little numb from the cold of the frozen T-shirt and it is helpful to let them warm them up again.) 19 • When a student gets the T-shirt on completely, award the winner a prize; be sure to give an additional prize if the student received assistance from one person. • NOTE: By the time you are done with this competition, the T-shirts will be very stretched out and won’t be of much use for anything other than rags or other miscellaneous uses. Supplies Needed: • Two or more frozen T-shirts (the number depends on how many students you want to compete) 20 Outdoor Game #16 – Peanut Butter Plexiglas This youth group game is another activity that works best as an icebreaker competition with only some students participating. It is very funny to watch. I would encourage you to get volunteers who are outgoing and secure and self-confident, as this can be a little embarrassing for shy students. How to Play: • Advance setup: - Figure out how many students you want to compete. You will need two people for each piece of Plexiglas. I recommend it be one boy and one girl on each piece—this makes things less awkward than having the same gender on a piece. - Take each piece of Plexiglas and spread a thin layer of peanut butter using a spatula on both sides of it in a circle shape, about the size of one’s head. (NOTE: Make sure the layer is thin, because if you make it too thick, then this game won’t work or will take forever to finish and might make students sick before they can finish it.) • After your students arrive, ask for some brave volunteers. Instruct them that you will need an even number of boys and girls. (NOTE: You will want to make sure that none of your volunteers have peanut allergies. This is absolutely essential. You can even ask this without giving away the game at this point.) • Pair the contestants up, one boy and one girl. • Have them stand on opposite sides of a table. (Not too far away as they both have to be able to reach the Plexiglas at the same time.) • Once they are paired up, bring the pieces of Plexiglas out and set it on the table with both students holding on to the sides (there should be room for them to hold without getting the peanut butter on their hands). • Instruct them that when you say “GO” they must lick the peanut butter off of the Plexiglas on their side. • The first pair of two people to lick their entire piece of Plexiglas clean (on both sides) are declared the winners. (NOTE: If this is taking too long, you can set a time limit on it and determine the winners based on who has cleared the most peanut butter from their Plexiglas.) • This is very funny to watch because as the students begin to get the peanut butter on their side cleared away, the person on the other side can clearly see their open mouth, tongue licking the peanut butter, and a very sticky, peanut butter-filled mouth. It can also be funny to see the two contestants hesitate because they don’t want to lick at the same time—even though they are separated by Plexiglas. Because it is see-through, the reactions are hilarious. Supplies Needed: • One pane of Plexiglas for every two contestants • A jar of peanut butter • A spatula for spreading the peanut butter • A table to set each piece of Plexiglas on for the competition 21 Outdoor Game #17 – Sumo Wrestling This youth group game is a wild and crazy competition. It is best done with only a couple people at a time, due to the supplies needed and the fun of watching. However, if you can get more supplies, you can do multiple competitions at the same time. How to Play: • Advance setup: - Get three inner tubes, inflate them, and duct tape them together, one on top of the other. (NOTE: Depending on how large the inner tubes are, you might want to only use two instead of three.) - Do the same thing with a second set of three inner tubes. - Mark a circle to designate the sumo wrestling “arena” area that students will compete in; use tape or chalk if you’re playing on a surface like a parking lot. • Ask for two students who would like to sumo wrestle. • Have the two volunteers put the inner tubes over their body, so they are inside the center of them. They must hold on to them with their hands. • Put both contestants inside the circle that marks the sumo “arena.” • When you say “GO” have the competitors bump into each other using the inner tubes and attempt to push the other outside of the circle. If either one of them steps outside of the circle, they other person receives a point. • Play to 3 points (the person who gets 3 points is declared the winner). • Have another student come to compete against the winner. • Play until everyone has had a chance to sumo wrestle (or if you have too many students to do this, play until you are out of time). • Declare the final winner the grand champion. • If you are able to have more than one “arena” with more people sumo wrestling, you can have multiple contests going on at the same time. Supplies Needed: • Two sets of three inner tubes duct taped together • Tape or chalk to mark the circle of the wrestling “arena” 22 Outdoor Game #18 – Swat This youth group game is another pool noodle game. This is a game that can increase in difficulty and fun as you move along. How to Play: • Have your students make a circle and sit facing toward the middle of the circle. • Have one student bring a chair into the middle of the circle—and close the gap. • Take a pool noodle that you have already cut in half and place it on the chair in the middle. (This is the “swatter.”) • Choose one student to begin the game. This person starts in the middle. • The person in the middle takes the “swatter” and taps the shoulder or head of someone who is sitting in the circle; discourage any inappropriate or violent hitting. • The “swatter” then attempts to run back to the chair in the middle, place the “swatter” down on that chair, and then run back to the spot of the person they swatted and sit down. • The person who was swatted must attempt to pick the “swatter” back up off of the chair in the middle and hit the person back before they reach the spot and sit down. • If the student in the middle does not get the swatter to stay on the chair, then they are out of the game. If they get hit on the way back to the spot of the person they swatted, they are out of the game. If the person in the middle makes it successfully back to the spot of the person they swatted, no one is out of the game, and play continues with the new person in the middle repeating the above steps. • You can play this game until you only have one winner as others get out, or you can play for a specified amount of time. • VARIATION #1: As the students get good at this game, move the circle further and further apart. • VARIATION #2: Introduce more “swatters,” which means more people in the middle, more chairs in the middle, and more confusion in the middle. (With this variation, make it clear that the student who gets swatted can only swat back the person who swatted them—they cannot hit anyone else in the middle.) Supplies Needed: • A pool noodle cut in half (for the variations, you will need multiple pool noodles cut in half) • A chairs for the middle 23 Outdoor Game #19 – Turkey Bowling This youth group game is a wonderful Thanksgiving seasonal activity but can also be hilarious and fun to play anytime of year. Make sure that all of your students wash their hands thoroughly after playing this game! This game can be played in any space with enough room that fits your group and is long enough to make a “bowling lane.” A parking lot is often the best space for this game. How to Play: • Purchase a frozen turkey and keep it frozen until time to play this game. • Take a roll of plastic sheeting (2 mil works well) and lay it out like a bowling lane. • Cover the sheet with Crisco (to grease the lane) and then arrange 6 to 10 2-liter bottles full of water at the end of the lane in the shape of a triangle (these function as the bowling pins). • Remove the wrapping from your frozen turkey. • Use the frozen turkey as a bowling ball. • Keep score and play as many “frames” as you want. • When everyone has bowled all of the “frames” designated, add up each person’s score and award a prize to the best turkey bowler. • Make sure students wash their hands thoroughly after the bowling is finished to prevent salmonella. • NOTE: As the game progresses, the turkey becomes more and more greasy and the game gets more crazy and fun. Supplies Needed: • A frozen turkey • A roll of plastic sheeting (2 mil will work) long enough to create a “bowling lane” • A can of Crisco • Six to 10 2-liter bottles of water 24 Outdoor Game #20 – Run the Gantlet This youth group game is a high-activity game that allows for a unique challenge. It is fun to watch the guys “survive” the girls’ “attacks” and to see which guy survives the longest. Both the guys and the girls tend to really love this game. How to Play: • Divide the girls in your group into two even groups. • Give all of the guys a balloon and instruct them to blow it up, tie it off, and then tie it to the center belt-loop on the back of their pants/shorts. (NOTE: Instruct the guys that their balloons must be blown up completely. The cannot make their balloons tiny.) • Give the girls some newspaper and instruct them to roll it up fairly tightly. • Have the girls line up in two single file lines, parallel to one another and facing each other with approximately three to four feet between them. • Once the guys have their balloons in place and the girls are lined up in their parallel lines with their newspapers in hand, the game can begin. • The guys must “run the gantlet”—which means they must run between the two lines of girls who try to pop the balloon by hitting it with the newspapers. • Have every guy whose balloon remains unpopped to keep running through until there is only one guy left, who is the winner. (NOTE: If a guy’s balloon breaks off the belt-loop but doesn’t pop, he is still out.) • NOTE: Instruct the girls to be careful where and how they are hitting the guys. Also, if the guys seem to be getting too “beat up” you can end the game early. • RECOMMENDATION: Although the students (both genders) will probably request to switch roles and have the girls “run the gantlet” while the guys try to pop the balloons, it is my recommendation that you do NOT do this. There are numerous issues that could cause more problems by switching roles! Supplies Needed: • A bunch of newspapers • One balloon for every guy in the group 25