USE YOUR NOODLE!!
One of the most under used summer vacation toys in my opinion is the ever popular "Fun Noodle". For most kids it has two uses - floating on in the pool and beating up your siblings! While technically both of these uses can be "fun" it hardly begins to touch the potential of the "Noodle".
Now that these towers of fun are available at the dollar store they should become a very popular item in your recreational "tool box". Camp directors and parents are discovering that if you are willing to cut noodles up into new sizes there are many fun games that can be played!
Here are a few samples!
Noodle Jousting
Have everyone find a partner. Cut a noodle in half and give a piece to each partner. Each player must attempt to touch/hit the toe of his partner with the noodle sword. The first player to touch/hit his partner's toes five times is the winner! To make the game more of a challenge create a circle and make the players stay inside it as they attempt to tag each others toes!
Noodle Gauntlet
Divide your group in half. Each team player is given half a noodle and a 1" piece of noodle (they are easily cut with a carpet knife, band saw or electric knife). Both groups stand at each end of the field or gym facing each other. Each player places the 1" piece of noodle on the back of one hand and holds the 1/2 noodle with the other. When the whistle is blown each team tries to get to the other side of the gym/field without the opposing team knocking their noodle piece of their hand. When the noodle has been knocked off the hand of a player they are eliminated. Play continues until one team had eliminated the entire opposing team!
You can find hundreds of game ideas in these two great books:
50 Ways to Use Your Noodle by Chris Cavert and Sam Sikes
50 More Ways to Use Your Noodle by Chris Cavert and Sam Sikes
Both available at your favorite book provider's website!
Why not come up with your own games or use noodle pieces to add variety to games you already play? Noodle Hockey anyone? Or better yet have each of your teams create and demonstrate a noodle game! Reward the most creative team their very own - Noodle Trophy!
There is no lack of opportunity to attend a children's ministry conference and it is our desire to make sure you know the when and where of each one! This summer provides a unique opportunity for those involved in children's ministry.
If your ministry is always on the go and you need a portable stage might I suggest checking out Inflate-a-Set?