Preteen Ministry Spring Games


March 20 was the first official day of spring. But seriously….around where I live it was still cold and rainy. It certainly didn’t feel like spring!

Now, we’re beginning to see some spring weather where I live. Hope the same is true for you.

Our friend, Nick Bremmer, shared some spring games that the preteens in your ministry will love. In fact, he used all three of these games at a spring retreat a few weeks ago.

After looking at them myself, I plan to use them in an upcoming spring retreat for our preteen ministry.

They are all “just for fun” games that you can plan at an upcoming retreat, camp, event, game night, etc.

Now that the weather is nice, your students will enjoy these outdoor games.

Enjoy!

Glow in the Dark Pillow Fight

Have students dress in all black and bring a pillow with a pillow case. No memory foam pillows! Those are seriously dangerous.

Supplies – You’ll need thin balloons (easier to pop or regular balloons can work), 2 inch glow sticks (1 per balloon), glow in the dark bracelets or necklaces  1 per player), duck tape (or glow tape), black sheets or butcher paper to cover all windows.

Beforehand – Cover up windows with butcher paper or black sheets. Blow up the balloons and place the glow sticks inside them.

Optional Supplies – Black lights, glow tape, and strobe light (we had to put our strobe light away due to a student with epilepsy).

Game Instructions – Blow up balloons, put a glow stick in the balloon and tape it to the backs of students! The idea is for students to put the balloons taped on the back of other players.

You can set up as a single elimination game (once your balloon pops, you’re out) or a team competition (organize teams by balloon color). Either way, we suggest playing several rounds.

You can build an entire event around this game or even play it on Wednesday night service or weekend service.

Powdery Snowball Fight

This was my favorite and it takes some prep work.

This is an outside game. Play it in parking lot or open field.

Supplies: You’ll need a lot of pantyhose legs. We suggest buying them new from Walmart in those plastic eggs for about 50 cents each). You will also need lots of flour (a couple of the huge bags work well).

Fill each pantyhose with flour (the size of your fist or a little bit smaller), tie off the ends and cut the excess off. Make sure to tie it so that you can untie and refill the pantyhose. Have all students wear all black (if that isn’t possible, that’s ok, it still shows up on other colored clothes).

Here are a few different ways to play the game:

  • All players line up shoulder to shoulder on one end of the playing field. Players need to run to the other side of the playing field without getting hit. Designate two players in the middle who are armed with “powdery snowballs”. As players run across the field, the two players in the middle swing around the “powdery snowball” attempting to hit players. If hit, players are armed with a “powdery snowball” and hit other players. For each round, players run from one end of the field to the other. Once they reach the other side, they are safe. Continue until one person is left. Then, play again.
  • Every player for themselves. Spread out students around the playing area. Everyone attempts to swing and hit other players. If hit, players are eliminated. Continue until only one player is left. Then, play again.

Note: The “powdery snowballs” do have the potential to hurt, so tell students to now swing or throw too hard. Warn students to not hit in the head. If they do, then they have to sit out of the game for a few minutes.

Marshmallow Baseball

Same rules as baseball, but with a twist.

Use camp fire size (biggest) marshmallows instead of baseballs and those giant plastic bats instead of regulation baseball bats.

We played in our gym so the marshmallows didn’t get too nasty, but it can be played anywhere.

Also, the big marshmallows are soft enough for players to throw at other players to get an out. So, as players catch the marshmallows from a hit, the infielders (or outfielders) can throw the marshmallows at the batters. If hit, they are out. Of course, players can still tag the batters as well, like traditional baseball.

A big thanks to Nick Bremmer for sharing all these games!

Do you have a game you want to share with us?

Leave a comment below with a brief description of the game.