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There are many crimes in this world. In this program, your youth group will become the “Top Secret” intelligence agency. The children will be divided into different departments to receive specialized training for the agency. The mission: to rescue a kidnapped chemistry lab technician.
Have fun!!
Materials needed: a folded tarp or a blanket / piece of fabric × number of groups
Participants are divided into groups of 4–8 people and all climb onto the tarp.
They are told that they are at a bazaar in Turkey and a merchant is offering them a very good deal on a magic rug that will take them home faster. The only thing they need to keep in mind for it to work is that if it rains, it must be wet on both sides.
They’re now flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters. They’re almost home; but… It’s starting to rain in heavy drops… the magic carpet is beginning to lose altitude… they have to flip it over to the other side as quickly as possible, or they’ll all die!
The teams have 5 minutes to figure out how to flip the mat over without anyone falling off.
Materials needed: balloons for each participant and several markers.
Participants form a circle. Each person receives a balloon and a marker. They are invited to represent themselves with a word or image that they draw on the balloon. To keep the process from dragging on, a maximum of 5 minutes is allotted for this.
Once everyone is finished, at a signal, the balloons are thrown into the air and scattered; at another signal or when the music stops, everyone picks up a balloon. Participants have three tries to guess who the balloon belongs to and why.
This game takes participants on a tour of the city—which they may or may not be familiar with—and teaches them to pay attention to details.
Don't let the many rules scare you off! This is a fun, action-packed board game in which two construction companies compete fiercely against each other.
Here you will find a dynamic hand clapping exercise that requires cooperation and strengthens the group feeling.
Materials needed: a rubber or plastic chicken or any other animal (preferably not made of plush, because it can get dirty)
Participants are divided into two teams; a playing field is marked off—divided into two halves—taking into account the number of participants, and free of obstacles.
The leader throws the chicken or other mascot onto the field after giving the signal to start the game. The players in the half where the chicken lands quickly form a line behind the mascot. Once everyone is in position, the person at the front passes the chicken between their legs to the person behind them. The mascot must move as quickly as possible through the space between the participants’ legs until it reaches the last person. Each person in the line, while helping the chicken move forward, also says their name. The last person in line runs with the chicken in front of the line, shouts “STOI,” and throws the chicken into the opposing team’s half of the field.
In this phase, the opposing team’s players form a line behind the chicken, while the player who threw the chicken must run around his own team, which forms a tight circle (similar to American football), until he hears the command “STOI” from the other team. The laps run around their own team count as points.
The game continues until a predetermined score is reached.
The game is extremely dynamic and fun; it’s best played outdoors.
Materials needed: 2 or more plastic jugs, depending on the number of teams; approximately 200 grams of corn kernels; one chair per team.
Participants form two or more teams, depending on the number of participants, and line up in a row. Place one chair at the front of the line, with the backrest facing the participants. A plastic bottle is placed in front of each chair. Each participant receives two kernels of corn (the number is flexible; it can be increased after the first round), which they hold in the palm of their hand. Each player’s task is to drop as many kernels of corn as possible into the bottle without touching the chair or going around it. Kernels that fall next to the bottle cannot be picked up.
Teams are free to devise their own strategy (e.g., helping or picking up the smallest players). There is no set time limit. The team that collects the most kernels of corn in the bottle wins.
The aim of this terrain game is to create a model of a magnificent building for the king. Let your creativity run wild and impress the king with your work of art.
Materials needed: a log long enough for all of us to fit on it
Participants are invited to climb onto the log in random order.
They must complete the following tasks:
- Within a time limit (3 minutes), arrange themselves in alphabetical order by first name, from left to right, without touching the ground more than 5 times.
- Time trial: Arrange themselves in ascending order by age, without touching the ground more than 3 times
- Time trial: without speaking, line up in descending order by shoe size, without touching the ground at all.
Other fun challenges can be added. The time limit can be adjusted depending on how well they do.
Materials: a blanket, tarp, or large piece of fabric
Participants walk around with their eyes closed and their arms outstretched within a designated area. At some point, the trainer will approach someone, touch them, and drape a blanket over them. At the sound signal, everyone stops and opens their eyes. The RULE is that no one is allowed to turn their head or look around. Each person will name who they see within their field of vision, without moving their head. After the group guesses who is missing (who is hidden under the blanket), the game resumes.
This is an elaborate competitive game with funny duels.
Materials: a blanket/tarpaulin/piece of fabric
Participants are divided into 2 teams (5–20 children). Before that, everyone goes around introducing themselves, once or twice.
Two leaders stand between the two teams, holding the blanket up so that the two teams cannot see each other. The rule is that, one at a time, the teams designate a representative to stand in front of or behind the blanket. After counting to 3, the leaders lower the blanket so the two can see each other. The first one to say the other’s name wins, and the loser switches to the opposing team. After a few rounds, the blanket is lowered without warning. The team with the most children at the end wins.
For a group of teenagers—it doesn’t matter how many, as long as it’s an even number—the commands might be something like: head to nose, knee to stomach, fist under the chin, head to head, kick to the buttocks, elbow to the solar plexus, foot to the shin, sole of the foot to the abdomen, finger to/in the nose, head to the abdomen, hand to the throat, knee to the forehead, head to the back, sole of the foot to the shoulder, etc.
No materials are required.
For a group of children, the commands may differ to avoid the risk of injury: fist to fist, palm to ankle, little finger to little finger, back of the head to back of the head, shin to abdomen, shin to back of the head, ankle to back of the head, palm to mouth, etc.
Once the participants get the hang of it, the pace can be increased and the last pair can be eliminated, until only one winner remains.
Participants line up at a distance of approximately 3–6 meters from the leader.
The leader will stand with their back to the participants.
At the start, participants try to move as quietly and smoothly as possible so that the leader cannot hear them. The goal is to reach the leader and take their place. From time to time, unexpectedly, the leader will give the command “freeze” and turn around. This is the moment when the participants must freeze. If the leader spots someone who has moved, that person will be asked to return to where they started.
The person who reaches the front first will take the leader’s place, and the game will resume.
No materials are needed.
The aim of this night game is to collect as many pearls as possible in order to fulfill the king's orders. Which guild is ahead?
Materials needed: as many chairs as there are participants, minus one
The participants sit in their chairs. A volunteer stands in the center and states an idea: “I’ve never broken a leg.” Everyone who has broken a leg stands up and switches seats. The person in the middle tries to find a seat. Those who stand up from their chairs are not allowed to take the seat next to them.
TIP: The statements must be true for the person saying them. The ideas should be creative and apply to as many people as possible (e.g., “I’ve never skipped school,” “I’ve never gotten a 4 in Romanian,” etc.).
Materials needed: balloons, depending on the number of teams
Participants are divided into two teams (5–12 people). The teams form a line (with hands on shoulders or hips); the last person in each line receives a balloon attached to their pant leg. Within a marked-off area, the task for both teams is to pop the other team’s balloon while protecting their own.
TIP: Make sure the leaders of the two lines are of the same gender.
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jomsphotography/4084620391/