Summer camp game ideas are all about bringing kids together through fun, laughter, and teamwork in the great outdoors. These games are designed to encourage creativity, movement, and bonding, whether campers are cooling off with water games, solving challenges in scavenger hunts, or competing in friendly team relays.
Classic favorites like capture the flag, tug-of-war, and sack races keep the energy high, while group games like charades, talent shows, and minute-to-win-it challenges bring out imagination and spirit. Whether in the forest, field, or around the campfire, these games help kids build friendships, learn cooperation, and make lasting memories through shared adventure and play.
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Summer Camp Game Ideas
Here’s a huge list of 100+ Summer Camp Game Ideas—categorized for easy browsing. These include a mix of outdoor, indoor, water, night, and team-building games. Perfect for campers of all ages!
🏞️ Outdoor Games
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Capture the Flag
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Kick the Can
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Freeze Tag
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Sardines
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Hide and Seek
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Red Light, Green Light
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Sharks and Minnows
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Simon Says
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Mother May I?
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Blob Tag
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Zombie Tag
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Flashlight Tag
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Duck Duck Goose
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What Time is it Mr. Fox?
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Human Knot
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Tug of War
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Three-Legged Race
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Potato Sack Race
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Wheelbarrow Race
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Relay Races
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Hula Hoop Challenge
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Obstacle Course
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Nature Scavenger Hunt
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Compass Treasure Hunt
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Follow the Leader
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💧 Water Games
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Water Balloon Toss
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Sponge Relay
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Slip and Slide Races
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Drip, Drip, Drop (like Duck Duck Goose with water)
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Pool Noodle Joust
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Pool Volleyball
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Marco Polo
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Water Gun Freeze Tag
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Leaky Cup Relay
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Water Limbo
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Sprinkler Dash
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Fill the Bucket Relay
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Water Dodgeball
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Ice Cube Pick-Up
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Cold Potato (pass the ice cube around)
🤝 Team Building Games
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Trust Fall Circle
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Group Juggle
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Minefield (blindfolded obstacle course)
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Silent Line-Up (no talking, order by birthday)
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Tower of Cups
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Blanket Flip Challenge
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Human Pyramid
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Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower
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Team Balloon Pop
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Pipe and Marble Challenge
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Crossing the River (with limited items)
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Pass the Hula Hoop
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Camp Trivia
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Puzzle Piece Hunt
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Friendship Web (yarn game)
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🎨 Creative/Artsy Games
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Nature Art Competition
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Sidewalk Chalk Challenge
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Tie-Dye Station
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Face Painting Contest
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Sand Sculpture Contest
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Make-Your-Own Camp Flag
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Story Circle (add to the story one by one)
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Skit Night
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Camp Song Karaoke
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Make a Camp Mascot
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Talent Show
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Puppet Making and Puppet Show
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Leaf Rubbing Art
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Painted Rock Hunt
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Dress-Up Relay
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🏠 Indoor Games (for Rainy Days)
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Charades
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Pictionary
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Heads Up
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Bingo
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Uno Tournament
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Giant Jenga
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Would You Rather
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Mad Libs
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Balloon Ping Pong
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Sardines (indoors)
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Board Game Bonanza
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Hot Potato
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Who Am I? (sticky notes on forehead)
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Indoor Scavenger Hunt
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20 Questions
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Paper Airplane Contest
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Build the Tallest Tower (with paper or cups)
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Human Bop-It
🌙 Night Games
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Glow Stick Tag
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Flashlight Hide and Seek
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Campfire Storytelling
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Night Hike
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Firefly Catching
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Star Gazing Bingo
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Nighttime Obstacle Course
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Shadow Puppet Theater
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Glow-in-the-Dark Ring Toss
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Constellation Drawing
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Lantern Walk
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Campfire Songs and Games
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Ghost in the Graveyard
🏅 Just for Fun (Unique Ideas)
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Counselor Hide-and-Seek
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Egg and Spoon Race
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Costume Relay
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Water Balloon Piñata
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Giant Twister
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Balloon Stomp
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Limbo Contest
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Wacky Relay (with silly challenges)
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Camp Olympics
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Mystery Box Challenge
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Camp Idol (music or skit competition)
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Guess That Sound
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Reverse Charades
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Alphabet Treasure Hunt
How to Play
1. Capture the Flag
Players: 8+ (2 teams)
Supplies: Two flags, boundary markers
Steps:
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Divide players into two teams and set boundaries with a dividing line.
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Assign each team a territory and hide their flag within it.
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The goal is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to your side.
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Players can tag opponents in their territory to send them to “jail.”
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Jail can be a designated spot; teammates can free captured friends by tagging them.
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First team to bring the opponent’s flag to their side wins.
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2. Kick the Can
Players: 4+
Supplies: A can
Steps:
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Place the can in the center of a play area.
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One player is “It” and counts while others hide.
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“It” searches for players and calls out their name and hiding spot to capture them.
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Captured players go to “jail” near the can.
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Any free player can sneak in and kick the can to release all prisoners.
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Game ends when all players are caught or someone successfully kicks the can.
3. Freeze Tag
Players: 4+
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Steps:
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One person is “It.”
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“It” chases other players and tries to tag them.
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When tagged, a player must freeze in place.
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Other players can unfreeze them by tagging them.
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Game ends when everyone is frozen or “It” is switched out.
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4. Sardines
Players: 4+
Steps:
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One player hides while everyone else counts.
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Players search for the hidden person.
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When someone finds them, they hide with them silently.
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The last player to find the group becomes the next person to hide.
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5. Hide and Seek
Players: 2+
Steps:
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One person is the seeker and counts with eyes closed.
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Others hide.
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After counting, the seeker tries to find all hidden players.
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The first person found becomes the next seeker (or the last found, depending on rules).
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6. Red Light, Green Light
Players: 3+
Steps:
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One player is the “traffic light” and stands at one end.
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The others line up on the opposite side.
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When “Green Light!” is called, players move forward.
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When “Red Light!” is called, they must freeze.
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If anyone moves on red, they go back to start.
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First to reach the light wins.
7. Sharks and Minnows
Players: 5+
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Steps:
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One player is the shark, the rest are minnows.
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Minnows line up on one side, shark in the middle.
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On “Go,” minnows try to cross to the other side.
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Shark tries to tag them.
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Tagged minnows become sharks.
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Game ends when one minnow remains.
8. Simon Says
Players: 3+
Steps:
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One player is Simon and gives commands.
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Players must only follow commands that begin with “Simon says.”
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If a player follows a command without “Simon says,” they’re out.
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Last person standing wins.
9. Mother May I?
Players: 3+
Steps:
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One player is “Mother” (or “Father”) and stands at one end.
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Others ask permission to take certain steps (“Mother may I take 3 giant steps?”).
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Mother grants or denies.
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If someone moves without permission, they go back to the start.
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First to reach Mother wins.
10. Blob Tag
Players: 6+
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Steps:
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Two players start as “the Blob,” holding hands.
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They tag others to join their blob (must link hands).
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The blob grows as more people are tagged.
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Last player untagged wins.
11. Zombie Tag
Players: 4+
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Steps:
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One player is the zombie and walks with arms out, slowly.
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Tagged players also become zombies.
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Last survivor wins.
12. Flashlight Tag
Players: 4+
Supplies: Flashlight
Steps:
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One player is “It” with a flashlight at night.
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Others hide in the dark.
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“It” uses the flashlight to find and “tag” players by shining the light on them.
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Last one caught becomes “It.”
13. Duck Duck Goose
Players: 5+
Steps:
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Players sit in a circle.
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One walks around tapping heads saying “duck, duck…” until “goose.”
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Goose must chase the tapper.
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If tapper makes it to goose’s seat, goose becomes the new tapper.
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If goose tags them, they go again.
14. What Time is it Mr. Fox?
Players: 3+
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Steps:
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One player is Mr. Fox, standing away from the rest.
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Others call, “What time is it, Mr. Fox?”
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Fox responds with a time (e.g., “3 o’clock”), players take that many steps.
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When Fox says “Dinner time!” he chases them.
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If caught, that player becomes Mr. Fox.
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15. Human Knot
Players: 6+
Steps:
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Everyone stands in a circle and grabs two different people’s hands (not next to them).
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The goal is to untangle the knot without letting go.
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Work together to twist and turn until you form a circle again.
16. Tug of War
Players: Even number, split in two teams
Supplies: Rope, marker on ground
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Steps:
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Teams grab each end of the rope.
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A line is marked on the ground.
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On “Go!” each team pulls.
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First team to pull the other past the line wins.
17. Three-Legged Race
Players: Even number, paired up
Supplies: Ribbons or ties
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Steps:
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Pair up players and tie adjacent legs together.
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Line up at the start.
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On “Go!” pairs race to the finish.
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First team to cross wins.
18. Potato Sack Race
Players: 3+
Supplies: Burlap sacks or pillowcases
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Steps:
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Players step into a sack and hold it at their waist.
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Line up and hop to the finish.
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First to cross the line wins.
19. Wheelbarrow Race
Players: Even number, paired up
Steps:
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One partner holds the other’s legs while they walk on their hands.
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Line up and race to the finish.
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First team to cross wins.
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20. Relay Races
Players: 4+
Supplies: Optional baton or object to pass
Steps:
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Split into even teams.
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Each runner takes a turn running a set distance.
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Pass a baton (or tag) to the next runner.
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First team to finish all legs of the race wins.
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Hi, I’m Maggie Culp, the founder of PartyVibesFun.com, based in North Little Rock, Arkansas, United States! With a passion for creating unforgettable celebrations, I specialize in turning any event into a fun and vibrant experience. From birthday parties to themed gatherings, I’m here to help you bring your party ideas to life with ease and excitement. Whether you’re looking for unique games, creative themes, or party planning tips, I’m dedicated to making sure every moment of your event is filled with joy. Let’s create memories together and make your next party the talk of the town!