Game: Musical Condiment Twister

We have played this game several times, but had an addition a couple of nights ago that made it even more fun.  The basic idea goes like this:  

1. Create a twister board on a piece of plastic sheeting using paper plates to mark circles and filling those circles in with Ketchup, Mustard, Relish, and Mayonnaise with blue food coloring.
2. Print out pieces of paper that say, "Right foot," "Left Foot," "right hand," and "Left Hand" on red, blue, green, and red paper.  You want enough of these to have each phrase on each color AND to have enough for each spectator to have one.
3. Place the pieces of papers on the backs of the spectator chairs.
4. Blow up a beach ball.
5. Select four or five players (you may want to have two boards... one for guys, and one for girls)
6. Instruct the spectators, "Once the music starts, throw or hit the beach ball back and fourth.  When the music stops, so does the beach ball.  The person holding the beach ball yells out the instructions on the back of their chair like "right foot red" and the players will obey.
7. The players play without removing hands/feet from the board unless they are instructed to by the crowd.

Creation Stations

We recently had a worship night focused on God the Father.  The talk was short.  It made the point that the first impression we get of the character of God is in the creation passages in Genesis.  God is a brilliant creator!  The talk then made the point that one way we experience God is by trying to become more like Him.  It follows that if one of God's main roles is as Creator, then when we create, especially when our focus or intent is growing in Him, we experience God.  We closed by observing the fact that our youth meetings are often not about creation but study.  

Then we dismissed the teens to spend the rest of the evening creating at these stations (checklist and description if needed):

1. Snow Sculpting:  Using the snowy blend of "Yuck" from Buckets-O-Fun, we made it in three colors and allowed students to create on pieces of tin foil.

2. Finger Painting:  By far the most popular (go figure).  Fingerpaints, paper, done.

3. Cookie Decorating:  Cheap walmart cookies, cheap tub or two of icing, leftover sprinkles from giant sundae.

4. Flower Arranging:  Donated flowers from florist or cheap grab bag of flowers, scissors and vases or bottles.

5. Writing/Drawing:  Inspirational photographs, Bibles, paper, pens, pencils.

6. Garage Band Loops: Get people who have Apple computers to bring them.  They come with a program called Garage Band that students can use to create music from existing loops.

7. Event Soundtrack.  Had one computer plugged into the sound system with the web browser open to "In Bb."  Students simultaneously play youtube videos in the same key creating a live soundtrack for the event.

Three Gross Games

Three simple games we have used in the past.  Have seen versions of these played everywhere; therefore, they were probably all stolen from Jesus or Peter originally.

Bloody Marshmallows 

After shooting ping pong balls into buckets to see which topping they get to use (Bucket marked 1 is Ketchup, 2 is mustard, 3 mayo, 4 Catalina Dressing, 5 Mixture), contestants have 30 seconds to cram as many marshmallows dipped in (condiment) into their mouths as possible.  Afterwards, they spit them out and count.  I have had a person concerned with this one about it being a choking hazard.  You can modify it to make it safer by having them eat each one and count as they go.

Cheerio Shaving

After getting a facefull of whipped cream, students dip their face in a bowl of cheerios.  Their partner sqirts of the cheerios with a tiny squirt gun.

Diaper Licking

Students race to see who can lick all the hersheys syrup and candy bars out of their diaper. 

Quick Idea: Scavenger Hunt with a Purpose

Everyone does a scavenger hunt from time to time.  You've probably done everything from back to school to video or clue-based scavenger hunts.  Next time, take a moment earlier in the week to call your local mission organization and ask them what supplies they need.  Then, use those items (all new unless the mission will take used) for your list.  You decide on how many points each it worth, and voila!  Your scavenger hunt will be more than just a good time for your students, it will harness their connections and resources to help fulfill the needs of your community.

Inexpensive Draw for Students: Local Bands

One of the biggest discoveries I made in my early years of ministry was the draw of local bands.  All throughout your community there are teenagers practicing in bedrooms and garages waiting for a place and an audience.  When you open up your super bowl party or friday night hang out time a beautiful relationship is formed.  

First, you have something out of the ordinary to offer your students, and second, the band will promote your event until they are blue in the face.  No one wants to play to an empty room, and local teen bands have a way of making sure that doesn't happen by getting every friend of a friend to show up in support.  Depending on

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