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                         Balloon Fight

Age 5 + Up
Approximate Time 10 minutes
Players 4 or more
1 balloon per child, water source, leader needs a whistle
Best played at camp or in a park

Before starting the game, each player gets a balloon and fills it with water at a fountain or tap where an adult leader is standing.

After they fill their balloons, playrs go off to hide in the park.  After five minutes, the leader blows a whistle to signal the beginning of the game.

Players can come out from their hiding places, or they can stay where they are and wait to surprise their companions.  The object of the game is to squirt each other with the balloon.

When a player is squirted, s/he can turn around and wet her attacker.  They continue in the "fight" until one of them retreats or runs out of water.

A player cannot be squirted when his/her balloon is empty or when s/he is in view of the game leader.  The game ineds when the leader blows the whistle again.

100 Games for Summer

Primary-Age     Small-Group       Medium-Size-Group       Large-Group              Moderate-Activity

Posted by: wee wifey at 03:19 PM | Comments (46) | Add Comment
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Picking & Choosing (It and Other)

If you have been a leader for any length of time you have been faced, especially at game time, with 20 children hopping up and down, screaming "ME ME, PICK ME".  If you don't have a system for choosing you will find that inevitably you are picking the same children over & over.

I have found that the time tested method that the Girl Scouts use for the Brownie age level (primary grades) to be the best system for picking & choosing -- anything!  I have found that it works for all age levels.  They call it "It & Other", among  other things, but I like the term "It & Other".  Typically the Brownie troops use an "It & Other" box, all decorated and will use it for picking and choosing a game leader.   Here is my simplified and expanded system.

You will need envelopes, both standard sized and twice as many as the smaller envelopes and 3x5 cards or pieces of paper.  On the outside of the standard sized envelope write the activity: picking the game to play, passing out supplies, cleaning up, etc.  On the smaller envelopes write on one "It" and on the other "Other.  Each standard sized envelope gets "It" and "Other" envelopes.  Each set of envelopes gets a set of 3x5 cards ... each card has the name of a child in your group.

To start, all names go into the "IT" envelopes.  When it is time to pick someone, or a couple of someones to do something (that everyone wants to do -- or no one wants to do), pick names out of the "IT" envelope.  The name cards then go into the "OTHER" envelope.  You will continue to pick names out of the "IT" envelope for that activity until all the name cards end up in the "OTHER" envelope and then the process starts all over.  Very simple.  Everyone gets a chance to be picked to do everything, good and bad, so it eliminates any feelings that Ermatrude has to do all the "nasty" stuff or the Phoebe always gets picked to be the game leader. 

OK, so what happens if you are having a meeting and you only have one name left in the "IT" envelope and that child isn't there that day?  Go ahead and put all the name cards back into the "IT" envelope and pull a card.  However, in pencil (so you can erase it), put the child's name on the front of the large envelope.  The next time you have a meeting and need to pick for that activity, you will see that little Ermatrude should have been the one to pass out cookies but wasn't there at the last meeting so she is automatically picked for the next time she shows up.

As I mentioned, I've used the "IT and Other" system for all age levels, up through high school and it has been a successful tool that the children like using -- in fact, it was the Brownies that I had many years ago that suggested I expand the system from picking a game leader to picking & choosing for everything!

Posted by: wee wifey at 03:17 PM | Comments (52) | Add Comment
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Games can be used many different ways.  We can use them to teach how we are all alike all over the world; they can help children maintain discipline, or just blowing off steam after sitting for too long.

Ten Commandments for Game Leaders:

1.  Start with familiar games that are quickly learned and then move on to more complex games.

2.  Establish a warm, positive atmosphere that's fun for everyone.  Make sure you select games that are right for the age, experience and physical condition of the participants

3.  Be interested and enthusiastic about the game yourself.

4.  Know the game well before attempting to teach it.

5.  Encourage everyone to participate and do their best.

6.  Be fair in your judgments.

7.  Show respect for each child and be patient.

8.  Encourage fair play and safety at all times.

9.  Be flexible and prepared to vary or change the game.

10.  Emphasize cooperation and playing for fun rather than winning.
 
 Hints:
 

1.  Explain the game briefly, giving the basic rules. If needed, demonstrate the game with a small group of children.

2.  After explanations, allow the group to get into the desired formation or team positions to start the activity.

3.  Ask for questions before you start to play.
 
4.  If you decide to change rules during the game, try only one change at a time. Allow the group to help suggest rules as well. You might say to the group, "Let's try playing the game this way."
Stop the game when the enthusiasm is still high. Don't let it drag on.

5.  Arrange for total participation. Devise a plan for rotation. Minimize waiting and maximize playing time.

Posted by: wee wifey at 03:12 PM | Comments (35) | Add Comment
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and the main dish

                   Dutch Oven Berry, Berry, Berry Ribs 

  1             bottle  red raspberry syrup
  1             bottle  boysenberry syrup
  1             bottle  blueberry syrup
                        Boneless pork ribs (about 1 1/2 rib per person)
                        Salt and pepper

Arrange ribs in a 12" dutch oven. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour berry syrups over ribs. Place 10 coals under the dutch oven and place 14 on top. Bake for 1 hour or until ribs are fully cooked. Serve with your favorite side dishes.

Posted by: wee wifey at 04:16 PM | Comments (27) | Add Comment
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the side dish ....

                            Dutch Oven Cabbage

  1                     solid head of cabbage -- cut into wedges
  1               cube  margarine
                        Seasoned salt
                        Onion Salt
                        Garlic Salt

Place cabbage in a 10" dutch oven. Season with salts and dot with margarine. Add about 1/2 cup of water. Place 8 coals on the bottom and 12 coals on the top of oven and cook until cabbage is barely tender.

Posted by: wee wifey at 04:11 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Dessert from a Dutch Oven

                        Apples and Cinnamon Rolls - Dutch Oven

  3               cans  apple pie filling
  2               cans  refrigerator cinnamon rolls
                        Cooking spray

Line a 12" dutch oven with foil. Spray with cooking spray. Pour pie filling in bottom of dutch oven. Place cinnamon rolls on top of pie filling. Cook with 14 coals on top and 10 coals on the bottom of oven until rolls are browned. Drizzle glace over rolls and serve warm with whipped topping or ice cream if desired.

Posted by: wee wifey at 04:09 PM | Comments (32) | Add Comment
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The camp Dutch Oven is one of the most useful items you can own.  It is used for one pot meals, roasting and baking.  For cooking, 10-12 briquettes are placed in a ring under the oven and 15-18 briquettes are placed on the cover of the oven.  It takes about an hour for things to get cooked or baked.  Be sure you start a fire at least 1/2 hour before you plan on using the oven.  Place the charcoal in the fire for about 1/2 hour.  They should be good and hot.  Make sure you line the dutch oven with aluminum foil whenever possible -- it makes cleaning easier.  Check the cooking often.  Use pot grips to remove the lid and be very careful you don't let the lid tilt and dump ashes and grit into the pot.

New camp Dutch Ovens can be expensive.  A cheaper alternative is to look for a cast-iron stove Dutch Oven in the second hand stores.  They are close to a camp Dutch Oven except for the legs.  To compensate for no legs, get 3 bricks and place your briquettes in the center and then place your Dutch Oven on top of the bricks.  Be sure to turn the lid upside down to accomdate the charcoal briquettes on top of the Dutch Oven. 

The  International Dutch Oven Society has links to some very good sites with more information and recipes.

Posted by: wee wifey at 05:18 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Here's a cake that's as good for snacking as it is for serving at a holiday dinner.

  1                box  white cake mix
  1                can  cream of coconut
  1          container  frozen whipped topping -- (8 ounces) thawed
  1            package   package flaked coconut -- (12 to 14 ounces)

In a 9" X13" baking pan, bake cake according to package directions.
Using a fork, prick holes in baked cake; spoon cream of coconut over
it. Cool completely. Spread whipped topping over the cake, then
sprinkle on all the coconut. Refrigerate any leftover cake.

18 to 24 servings

NOTE: For a special holiday treat, decorate the cake with your own
colorful toppings. Cream of coconut is used in tropical drinks as well
as in cooking and baking.

Posted by: wee wifey at 03:11 PM | Comments (45) | Add Comment
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