Water Games~ Heather Young

While you’re having fun in the sun this summer, don’t forget the water! Just a drop can add a refreshing feeling that will leave you wanting more! Although you can add water to any outdoor game, here are some more original ideas – maybe even a few you may not have thought of before:

·         Water Balloons

o   Volleyball

§  Using a volleyball or badminton net, toss water balloons over the nets and catch them with sheets.  The more water balloons you add, the more fun it will be!

o   Hot Potato

§  Sit in a circle with some friends, pass the balloon around the circle until someone pops it.  Then, that person sits out and you keep doing that until there is only one person left.  Instead of passing the balloon around the circle, you could toss it across the circle for more of a challenge.

§  Also, you can have someone playing music, and when they pause it, the person holding the balloon has to pop it on themself.

o   Balloon Toss

§  This game is probably the most common.  Have people get into teams of two and stand across from one another, face each other.  Every time a team makes a successful catch, one person takes a step back.  If the balloon breaks, that team is out.  The last team standing wins.

§  You can also use bowls or old plastic containers to catch the balloons.

o   Dodge Ball

§  In this case, of course, you will be using water balloons instead of balls.  Water balloons may even be safer.

o   Team Balloon Race

§  Have everyone get into teams of two, stand back-to-back with one another, and link their arms together.  Place a water balloon between their backs.  The first team to the finish line with their balloon intact is the winner!

·         Squirt Guns

o   Target Practice

§  Build a target with whatever material you have available, then shoot away! (Don’t forget to put a board behind the target in case you miss!)

§  To create a competition, put different-colored food coloring in the water in each person’s gun.

o   Squirt Fight

§  Divide players into teams, each with a different color of water.  Have everyone wear white shirts, and after everyone runs out of water, determine who wins by looking at which color appears most on the shirts.

§  To prevent running out of water too quickly, you can use trash cans or large buckets to hold large amounts of water for each team to refill their guns.

o   Shoot the bottle

§  Set up bottles on a table and see how many you can knock down in 3 tries!

Please don’t hesitate to add comments if you know of any other entertaining water games!

Photograph property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photography taken by Abby Whear.