This month we're going back to the basics: three simple new game ideas for your youth group. We'll look at one with an indoor setting, an outdoor setting, and then a public setting (mall, busy park, etc.).
Number Hunt
Supplies:
A writing utencil for each participant
A sheet of paper for each participant with numbers on it.
Pick out about 10 numbers, and keep them under 100.
Set-Up: None
Play:
Tell players that they are going to find other people who have true statements or stories revolving around those numbers.
For example, numbers on the sheet might include 5, 28, and 14:
I found Susan, who has 5 dogs at home, Gerard was born on April 28, and Jasper ripped his big toe on a nail n 3rd grade on vacation in Miami, and got 14 stiches.
Give participants a few minutes to think of some stories or statements that might fit the numbers.
When you start the activity, allow time for mingling and story-telling
After play stops, invite participants to share some of their "Number moments"
Extra Ideas:
Instead of random numbers, you might send out a questionnaire a week before, or send out requests before hand via social media. Print up the number sheets with numbers that participants have given you before hand. The participants will need to find that person and get the story.
Make up a list with letters, words, months, etc. (The overall goal of this idea is to get participants talking and sharing in a different way.)
Do a devotion or Bible Study looking at some significant numbers in Scripture.
Blindfold Architecture
Supplies:
Blindfold for each participant
Set-Up:
Take participants to a good flat location outdoors (or in a large gym)
Play:
The group is to work together to form the symbol that you are naming.
Start small: circle, figure eight, addition symbol, etc.
Then try advanced: hockey stick, bowl of cereal, cow, Florida!
Give them one to two minutes for each shape, counting down at crucial times, and allow them to remove blindfolds after each one to see where they're at.
Extra ideas:
After you do a few, allow some participants to go outside of the group and call out a few things.
Break up the group into a few small groups, and have them race to get the shape first (you can do this with or without blindfolds)
Devotion/Bible Study ideas may include: Spiritual blindness, Jesus healing the blind, community, etc.
Flypaper Scavenger Hunt
Supplies:
Pre-select a location to conduct the activity: Malls, public park, etc.
Decide ahead of time how many small groups (groups of 3-8) there will be. For each group, you will need:
A t-shirt
Duct tape
At least one adult chaperone
A list of around 30 items that the groups will be looking for: List will vary depending on locale
Think smaller items: leaves, menu brochures, condiment packages, 27 cents, etc.
Set-Up:
Upon arrival, break the group up into small groups.
Play:
Before start, have each group select one person to be the flypaper. Have that person put on the t-shirt and direct the other group members to place duct tape circles on them.
The group will have a pre-selected amount of time (15 minutes?) to find as many of these items as possible. When they have found them, they will stick the item on the flypaper person.
The group must stay together.
The items MUST NOT be from within the group (for example, if the item is 27 cents, they can't fish through their own pockets to find some).
For every correct item, the group will get 10 points.
For every minute the group is late in returning to the pre-designated meeting spot, they will lose 10 points.
Remind the group of proper conduct.
Extra ideas:
At the activity's conclusion, share stories and experiences.
Include a couple of list items that are worth more points: (a signed personal business card, a picture).
Instead of a shirt, use a hat, pants, etc. with adhesive all over it.
Sean Cramer graduated as a DCE from Concordia University, River Forest and served as a Program Assistant/Associate at Camp Lone Star in La Grange, TX. After moving back to his hometown near Rockford, IL, Sean currently works with Developmentally Disabled individuals. Aside from awaiting a Call in professional ministry again, Sean enjoys volunteering, reading, playing games, exercising, and observing his dog be absolutely resistant to any new tricks.
