Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Mark one of the camp directors for Elevate last summer, about making up your own games.
In Elevate over the summer, one of the camps had an element, which required the preteens in their groups to create a game. They created their game and then everyone participated in the game and voted for which one they liked the best. Mark actually created a game as well that sounds like it would not work but actually had great success with the preteens.
The game was called “Gauntlet”. It is a mix of dodgeball and an elimination game. In the game, you have teams on the field separated at the midline with cones. One team has dodgeballs the catch being that everyone can have a dodgeball but they cannot have more than one and they cannot pick up another one ever, they are limited to the one ball throughout the game. This team is on one side of the field behind the midline. The other team on the other hand has no dodgeballs at all. That team actually has another objective. They are trying to move a secret “gauntlet” from one side to the other side of the field without the dodgeball team ever hitting the “gauntlet”. This is accomplished by having bodyguards moving with the “gauntlet” and keeping that person a secret. The bodyguards are limited to one life; if they are hit then they must leave the field. The point was awarded to the team that was able to accomplish their objective.
Another game that was created during Elevate’s Makers Camp was a game called “Sports Ball” which actually didn’t even use a ball. It was like ultimate Frisbee but they used a pool noodle. They threw the pool noodles like javelins through hula hoops that were hung up in trees on opposing ends of the playing field. Each team was trying to get the pool noodle to their hula hoop. When they had the pool noodle in their hand they couldn’t move but could pass to other players that were free to move.
Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.