| Memorial Day has passed...you know that means | | | | starting line before he can continue the race. |
| 4th of July is right around the corner, right? So | | | | Three-legged Baseball/Kickball |
| let's not procrastinate and end up sitting on the | | | | What you will need: |
| roof hoping to catch a glimpse or a flicker of a | | | | * Baseball and bat (or Soccer ball) * Baseball |
| firework because you ran out of time to plan a | | | | gloves * Bandanas or pantyhose legs |
| party. Oh wait...that's what I did last year. | | | | This is a fun game if you have a big group. Divide |
| In order to avoid a repeat performance, I decided | | | | into teams and have each team member tie |
| to try to get ready a little early this year and in | | | | himself at the ankle and the knee to another |
| the interest of motivating my fellow Americans to | | | | teammate using bandanas or legs from |
| get out there and celebrate their Independence | | | | pantyhose. Follow the rules of baseball, with one |
| properly, here is a list of fun things to do at your | | | | team being out on the field and the other "at bat". |
| Independence Day event. There's something here | | | | The outfield team pitches the ball, the first team |
| for every age group, so you don't have to worry | | | | at bat tries to hit the ball and then run the bases, |
| about anybody sitting on the sidelines, unless | | | | while tied to another teammate. The outfield also |
| that's where they choose to be (there's always | | | | has to be tied to a teammate. Play as many |
| one, right?). So read up, Coach! We got some | | | | innings as is necessary to declare a winner, or until |
| serious gamin' to do!! | | | | everyone has had enough. It can be an |
| Bucket Brigade | | | | exhausting game! You can substitute the soccer |
| What you will need: | | | | ball if you don't want to swing a bat. The teams |
| * Cups or small plastic buckets with holes in the | | | | just kick the soccer ball and run the bases as |
| bottom * 2 large buckets filled with water * 2 | | | | they would with baseball rules. |
| large empty buckets | | | | And finally, if you need a nice sit down game that |
| Divide the group into 2 teams and have each | | | | everyone can play, this one is it. It's fun and it's |
| team form 2 single file lines. Place a bucket full of | | | | easy. |
| water at one end of the playing field and an | | | | Ring on a String |
| empty bucket at the end of each team, behind | | | | What you will need: |
| the last player. The first player in line takes his | | | | * Ring * Length of string long enough to encircle |
| small bucket(or cup) with the hole, runs to the | | | | entire group of players |
| large bucket filled with water, then runs back to | | | | Place the ring on the string and tie the ends of |
| the line, carrying his leaking bucket on his head. He | | | | the string together with a knot. All players sit |
| then passes his bucket to the next person in line, | | | | down and form a circle, one chosen to be "it" |
| who must pass the bucket over his head to the | | | | stands in the middle of the circle. Each player |
| next person in line, so that the bucket goes all the | | | | takes hold of the string and moves their hands |
| way down the line, over each person's head. The | | | | back and forth on the string as they are passing |
| last person in line dumps what's left of the water | | | | the ring from hand to hand, and from player to |
| into the empty bucket at the end of the line. The | | | | player. The person in the middle of the group |
| first team to fill the empty bucket wins. | | | | watches as the players try to secretly pass the |
| Tunnel Relay | | | | ring around the circle without the ring-watcher |
| Each team stands in single file behind the starting | | | | seeing where the ring really is. When the "it" |
| line, with legs apart. When the whistle blows, the | | | | person thinks he or she knows who is holding the |
| last person in line drops to the ground and crawls | | | | ring, he shouts it out and points to the hand he |
| "commando" style between his teammates legs | | | | thinks is holding the ring. |
| to the front of the line. He then stands up and | | | | The player he chooses must reveal the chosen |
| takes the place at the head of the line. The last | | | | hand to show whether or not they have the ring. |
| person in line then repeats the process, crawling | | | | If it is in the other hand, even though that person |
| through the line and taking his or place at the | | | | was chosen, they DO NOT have to reveal the |
| front when he arrives. The race is won when an | | | | HAND that was NOT chosen. If they are caught |
| entire team has completed the course. | | | | with the ring in the chosen hand, that player must |
| Don't Drop the Egg | | | | relinquish his seat and be "it". The person who |
| What you will need: | | | | identified the ring holder gets to take the holders |
| * Wooden Spoons * Eggs (raw or boiled, | | | | seat. It the guesser is wrong, he must remain it |
| depending on how much mess you want to clean | | | | until he guesses correctly. Play until everyone gets |
| up!) | | | | tired of the game. |
| Team members line up single file behind the | | | | Well, there you have it. A great list of games to |
| starting line. The first person in line places an egg | | | | start your 4th of July gig off with a BANG! Hope |
| on a wooden spoon, then races down to and | | | | the party is a BLAST! Okay, alright...you get it! |
| goes around the marker, then back to the | | | | (you get it, right? 4th of July? Firecrackers? Just |
| starting line. He or she must then transfer the | | | | checkin'.) Have a great Independence Day, and |
| egg, without using his hands, to the next player in | | | | while you are playing, take a few minutes to |
| line. That player repeats the process and the race | | | | remember how truly blessed we are to live in the |
| continues until an entire team finishes the course. | | | | "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. |
| If a player drops his egg, he must return to the | | | | Okay, public service announcement over...Go Play!!! |