Young Catholics

Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and Family Resources

Games

Pirate Peg Legged Race (Game for Youth Ministry or VBS)

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Looking for pirate games? The Pirate Peg Legged Race is basically a three legged relay race with a few other things thrown in for some pirate fun!

This race works well for all ages, so it is suitable for a VBS program, youth group, or youth ministry camp. Our Vacation Bible School often comes up with “extra” games in case something doesn’t work out. This would be a perfect game for that situation.

Get a set of three legged race bands

Pirate Peg Legged Race

Wet variation: Instead of using the treasure as listed below, use water. Let them carry it in their hats. In this variation, the treasure chest is a bucket they need to fil
Prep Time 5 mins
Active Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Keyword active games, VBS
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Ingredients
  

  • Something to tie the adjoining legs of each pair
  • Two sets of pirate accessories for each team – hat vest, eye patch, sword, etc.
  • Treasure candy, small trinkets, silly items, tennis balls, pingpong balls, whatever you want
  • Treasure chest for each team – can be a shoebox
  • Something to mark the start line and the end line such as a rope or cones

Instructions
 

  • Mark the start and end lines on a field.
  • Spread the treasure out along the end line.
  • Have everyone pair up and tie their legs together, three legged race style.
  • Divide the group into two (or more) teams.
  • Give each team their pirate accessories.
  • Give each team a treasure chest which they will leave at the start line.
  • On the start, the first pair from each team each put on their pirate accessories and race to the end line.
  • They pick up as much treasure as they can carry in their hands and race back to their treasure boxes.
  • They put their treasure in the treasure chests and hand off their pirate accessories to the next pair in their team.
  • That pair puts on their accessories and runs down to get more treasure.
  • This continues until one of the teams fills their treasure chest and wins. (You be the judge of when it is full.)
Tried this idea?Let us know how it was!

#VBS #VBSgames #CampGames

Bail the Ship (VBS or Youth Group Game)

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Bail the Ship is a fun large group game. It pits two groups against each other and burns off a lot of energy. I have seen it played at Vacation Bible School and at camp. It’s always a lot of fun.

It can be used with an ocean or adventured themed VBS or camp. Or just change the name to fit your theme. 🙂

Get some self sealing water balloons

Bail the Ship

This game does not have a winner or loser. It is just for fun and getting wet!
Prep Time 30 mins
Active Time 15 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Keyword active games, VBS
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Equipment

  • Lots of water balloons
  • Two large sheets or towels
  • A divider, such as a volleyball net or a rope

Ingredients
  

  • None

Instructions
 

  • Divide the playing area into two parts using the divider.
  • Create two teams of equal size.
  • Give each team a supply of water balloons and a towel (or sheet or blanket).
  • Each team will use the towel to launch water balloons to the other side.
  • Players may catch water balloons and launch them back.
  • Balloons which land on the ground and do not break may also be launched to the other side.
  • Play continues until all of the water balloons have been broken.
Tried this idea?Let us know how it was!

#VBS #ChurchCamp #games

Water Balloon Relay (Game for VBS or Church Camp)

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Water Balloon Relay is a fun wet game for your Vacation Bible School or church camp. Have plenty of water balloons on hand! Your VBS kids will want to play this over and over again. It is a good game for any water or ocean or pirate or nautical based theme. Or a good game just because water balloons are fun!

Be prepared for this to get a little crazy when the kids are really tossing the balloons with their towels. That is part of the fun.

Get some self sealing water balloons

This game is probably to difficult for the really little preschool kids. Primary aged kids can do this at camp or VBS. For middle school or a high school youth ministry group, have them stand further apart to make it more challenging.

Water Balloon Relay

Prep Time 30 mins
Active Time 15 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Keyword active games, VBS
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Equipment

  • Towels – One for each pair of kids
  • Water balloons – lots!!!!
  • Something to mark the starting point and the ending point so they don’t move closer together.

Ingredients
  

  • None

Instructions
 

  • Divide the group into two or more teams.
  • Line the teams of kids up in pairs and give each pair a towel.
  • Space the pairs apart between the start and the finish lines.
  • Give the first pair in line for each team a water balloon. Place it in their towel.
  • The teams must pass the balloon by flipping it from one towel to the next along the line.
  • If they touch a balloon with their hands, they must go back to the first pair in line and start over.
  • If a balloon lands on the ground, they must go back to the first pair in line and start over.
  • If the balloon breaks, start again at the beginning of the line with a new balloon.
  • The first team to get their balloon to the end of it’s line without breaking it wins.
Tried this idea?Let us know how it was!

#VBS #ChurchCamp #CampGames

Glow in the Dark Twister (Game for Youth Group, VBS, or Youth Ministry)

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Here’s another game for a GLOW (God Lights Our Way) theme or just for fun. It is easy to make and youth of all ages love it!

I am offering two options here for the play area. One uses glow in the dark sidewalk chalk. For the other option, you can make the mat from a purchased Twister game and glow in the dark paint.

If you have a larger group, you can start with four mats side by side to form a larger play area. As the group gets smaller due to elimination, cover part of the play area with a tarp or sheet to force them to use a smaller area.

Glow in the Dark Twister

Sidewalk Chalk Option

Materials – Sidewalk Chalk Outdoor Option

Get a Twister game for your youth group
  • String
  • Scissors
  • Glow in the dark sidewalk chalk
  • Round bucket or other object to trace the outline of the circles
  • Spinner from the game or install a spinner app on your smartphone

Instructions – Sidewalk Chalk Option

  1. Make a grid by laying out string to form a 4×5 square grid in the size of a twister mat.
  2. Using the bucket as a guide, draw the outlines of your circles with the chalk. You are making 4 rows, each with 5 circles of the same color. Or make it bigger for a larger group.
  3. Play using traditional Twister rules. Spin the spinner, and everyone has to put their body part on the color indicated. Only one per circle! If you can’t do it, you are out.

Indoor Option (using a mat)

Materials – Mat Indoor Option

Instructions – Mat Indoor Option

  1. Cover each circle with glow in the dark paint of the appropriate color.
  2. Allow to dry thoroughly.
  3. Play using traditional Twister rules. Spin the spinner, and everyone has to put their body part on the color indicated. Only one per circle! If you can’t do it, you are out.

#GLOW #LightOfTheWorld #twister #YouthGroup #CatholicYM

Ship Wreck Action Game (for VBS or Youth Group)

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Ship Wreck is a running game. The game requires a combination of speed, teamwork, and listening skills. So this is one of those games that is not necessarily won by the most athletic team. Some teamwork strategy can really even the odds.

It works best with teams of 5 to 10 people, but you can adjust in to match your group size. You can have any number of teams, but generally 2 to 5 teams works best. It is a great game for youth group, youth ministry, or vacation bible school.

Each team will need a “ship”. These should be identical (or similar) items and should be appropriate for the number of members on the team. During the game, all of the team members will need to get on or in their ship. For a team of 10 people, a small tarp or blanket would be appropriate.  If your teams are really small, a hula hoop is a good option. A large piece of cardboard also works.

Shipwreck Game

Teams must work together to get their ship to the finish line without losing anyone.
Prep Time 5 mins
Active Time 6 mins
Total Time 11 mins
Keyword active games, Team Building, VBS, Youth Ministry
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Equipment

  • One “ship” for each team (see above)
  • Items to mark start line and finish line

Ingredients
  

  • None

Instructions
 

  • Divide the group into even teams of about 5 to 10 people
  • Set the start line and the finish line. These could be pretty far apart, depending on the age of the players.
  • Give each team their ship and have them line up together at the start line.
  • All team members must keep in contact with their ship at all times. If a member lets go, they loose a point.
  • Have the teams start running toward the finish line.
  • Yell “shark”. All team members must get on (or in) their ship. The first team with everyone aboard scores a point.
  • Have them start running again. Continue step 6 several times as they make their way down the field.
  • The first team to the finish line scores three more points.
  • The team with the most points wins.
Tried this idea?Let us know how it was!

#VBS #games #VBSgames