These games can be played at any meeting or camp, just to have fun!
A. Pool Noodle Games
Equipment: Pool noodles, some full length, some cut in half or sliced thinner.
For some of these games, arms, sticks or ropes can be used just as effectively.
Scavenger Hunt
For
Brownies,
Guides or
Pathfinders
Equipment: Pool noodles, or ropes
Teams of girls travel where necessary to get objects or answers required. They are “attached” by the pool noodles, which can only touch their abdomen or back, no hands. Variation: Girls can also be “attached” by a rope, circled around the whole group to keep them together.
Hunt ideas: How many light switches in the room? How many brooms in the closet? How many steps on the stairs?
Trust Run
For
Brownies,
Guides or
Pathfinders
Equipment: half pieces of pool noodles, or just your own arms!
Girls form two long lines facing each other, with noodles extended so that they are in line with the noodles of the girls in the other line. Or just extend the arms so that the hands are in line. One girl stands at the end and runs down the centre between the two lines of girls, trusting the other girls to raise their noodles or arms at just the right time so they don’t hit the runner. When the runner has passed by the noodles or arms are lowered to original place.
Circle Drop
For
Sparks,
Brownies or
Guides
Equipment: Full length pool noodles or some sort of pole and broom stick/doweling/bamboo
Girls stand in circle balancing their noodle/pole with one finger on the floor in front of them. Various directions are given to the group: On a signal -
- Let go of pole, clap hands, grab pole again
- Let go of pole, clap twice, grab pole again
- Let go, turn around, grab
- Let go, move to right, grab new pole
- Lift noodle, bounce it on floor, move to right, catch new noodle
- Make up other movements!
B. Parachute Games
For
Sparks or
Brownies
Equipment: A parachute (no cords attached)
Popcorn: Place a number of beanbags or small balls onto the parachute. Shake to make them pop up like "popcorn".
Ball Roll: Have the girls try to roll the balls into the hole in the middle of the parachute or try to keep the balls from going into the hole in the centre.
Making Waves: Girls can make small, medium, or large movements to make various types of "waves". You can incorporate a story about a ship on the sea, weather, etc. and/or use your voice as a tool to emphasize directives.
Merry-Go-Round: Children turn their bodies sideways and hold the chute with one hand. They then walk around in a circle, making a "Merry-Go-Round." For variety, children can hop, skip, jump, etc. You can stop music as a cue to reverse and go the other direction.
Parachute Tag: Lift the parachute high into the air. Call out two girl’s names. They must trade empty spots by running under the chute, before it comes down on them.
C. Balloon Games
For
Sparks,
Brownies or
Guides
Equipment: Many balloons blown up
Use your imagination, and have girls come up with some activities e.g. keep all balloons in the air, use hands, feet, head; teams back and forth across a line; two girls back and forth between each other. After playing a short time gather the girls and discuss what difficulties there were, some ideas for being more successful. Were they able to help each other? Which method is the most fun? Play another round and re-evaluate.
D. Bandana Games
Equipment: Bandanas, clothespins
Clothespin tag
Each girl ties the bandana on the back of her belt loop or to the back of her shirt. Each girl is also given six clothespins. The object of the game is to put the clothespins on other girls’ bandanas by chasing them. The game ends when one girl has pinned all of her clothespins and is left empty handed.
Bandana Relay
Additional equipment: A clothesline or rope tied up between two trees or poles, and a few pairs of gardening gloves.
Divide the girls into teams. The first girl in each team puts on gloves, runs up to a clothesline and pins on a bandana with a clothespin (hard to do with big gloves on!) She runs back and the next girl goes. The first team to hang all of their bandanas wins the game!
Dragon Tail
The group forms a line with hands on the waist of the girl in front of them. The girl at the end of the line has a bandana tucked into her back pocket or tied loosely to the back of her shirt. The girl at the front of the line is the dragon’s head and she tries to catch the dragon’s tail. Once caught, the girls can change positions in line.
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