Christmas Carol Encore Mixer

Dec 022011

We did this variation of the Encore Mixer which includes a Scategories-type list.

After we split them up into 2 – 3 groups, we give each group a piece of paper & pencil. They are given 1 – 2 minutes to write down as many Christmas Carols as they can think of. Then, one by one, they have to sing at least 8 words of a song on their list. If another group has that same song, they all have to cross it off their list.

The team with the most original Christmas Carols on their list at the end is the winner.

Human Christmas Tree Decorating Contest

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Dec 012011

This is an annual tradition at our Young Life Club.

Supplies:

Green Saran Wrap
Lots of Christmas Tree Ornaments
Christmas Lights
Extension Cord
Surge Protector

Bring 3 kids up front and have them choose 2 friends each. Then, give each team 2 minutes to turn their person into a Christmas Tree. The first step is to have the person hold their hands straight out so they can be wrapped in Saran Wrap. Step 2 is to wrap the person in lights (unplugged). Then, the kids should put the ornaments on. The Saran Wrap is what holds the ornament hangers, because they’ll poke right through it. Finally, when the time is up, plug all the trees into the surge protector at the same time.

Have the crowd vote by applause for the best tree.

We usually make the winning tree stay up front for at least 2 songs. It makes for some great pictures.

Blindfolded Sushi

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Oct 032011

This game is all about making kids think they’re eating live goldfish, and one of them actually will.

What you’ll need:

A goldfish bowl that’s large enough to dip a clear cup in
Several goldfish
Some clear plastic cups
Swedish Fish candy
A blindfold
A small carrot

Send 3 kids out of the room and have them come in one at a time. When they get to the front of the room, tell them that they are going to be blindfolded and have to dip the cup into the fishbowl. Then, they’ll have to drink whatever is in it.

Put the blindfold on. When they dip the cup in, you’ll have to help them because they can’t see. When you’re helping, after they get the water in their cup, slip a Swedish fish in it. Then tell them they have to down whatever is in the cup.

For the third kid, you might want to use a leader because they’ll be in on it. Instead of dropping a Swedish fish in, you’ll drop a live goldfish into the cup. They will actually swallow a live fish, but the catch is that they have the small carrot hidden in their mouth before they come in the room. After they swallow the fish, they need to act like they are gagging and then chew up the carrot. When they spit the carrot back into the cup, the room goes nuts.

Head Under The Table Game

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Sep 272011

If done right, this is one of those games kids will talk about forever.

What you’ll need:

A piece of wood (5′ x 3′) with a head sized hole cut about 1.5′ from one end, or we have used 2 card tables and cut a hole in one of them.
A large sheet that can be cut
2 chairs or bar stools (unless you’re using card tables)
4 or 5 sports balls
4 or 5 boxes – at least one needs to be able to cover a head

Take 3 kids out of the room and set up the wood on the backs of the chairs to create a table or set the card tables side by side. Cover the table with the sheet and cut a hole in the spot where the head will be sticking through. Make sure the sheet goes all the way to the ground on all sides.

Put the balls under boxes in a line on the table and put one box over the hole. Have a kid or leader get under the table and put their head through the hole. It’s important to have the face of the person under the table face away from the crowd because that way the person lifting the boxes will be facing the crowd.

Have the kids come in one at a time. Play it up hard that this is a game to test their knowledge of all different kinds of sports. Have the leader who’s leading it wear a referee shirt and whistle. Do a demonstration by having the leader pull a golf ball out of their pocket, “What sport is it!!??” They’ll say golf. Tell them that’s what they have to do for each of the boxes. Finally give them a fake time to beat, so they are sure to go fast & start the video cameras recording.

When the contestant throws the box off the head, the person who is the head screams real loud. There are a couple variations to this. I saw one at camp where the last contestant, took a baseball bat and hit the balls. When they came to the head, the person who was the head had a manican head that they put through the hole. The head got hit into the crowd. If you do that, have the person under the table wear a hat that they’ll put on the manican.

The other variation is to have the last person hold a pie and smack the unsuspecting person under the table when throw that box off. That requires the leader to actually do the throwing of the boxes for that one.

It works best if they throw the boxes into the crowd instead of lifting them straight up, because they’ll be leaning forward to get a good look at the balls. Have fun!

Encore Mixer

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Sep 202011

This is from the board game Encore.

Split the crowd into 2 to 4 groups and yell out a word that you’ve thought about ahead of time. It needs to be a word that would be in a lot of songs. Then, starting with one group, they have to sing (as a group) at least 8 words of a song that contains the given word. And, the given word must be a part of the portion they sing.

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Chris Storms