Outdoor youth games create a sense of unity while emphasizing team building. The fresh air and physical activity make the games a healthy option for youth groups, neighborhood parties or an outdoor P.E. class. Set the rules and expectations for the group games before play begins to ensure all players stay safe while enjoying the activity.
Lava Crossing
Players work together in this game to get from one side of the playing area to the other. The catch is, the players pretend the area is covered with lava. They cannot touch the ground directly or they'll fall in the hot lava. Each player receives a piece of paper, Frisbee or another similar sized item that protects them from the lava. Divide the kids into teams. Each team figures out how to cross the lava field using the protective items they receive. If any of the team members step directly on the ground, the team must start over back at the beginning. The first team to get all members across wins.
Crossing Zone
A large square or rectangular area outside creates the playing area for this game. Create a zone in each corner of the square, marking the zones off with cones or other objects. Divide the players evenly between the four corner squares. On your signal, the players go to the opposite corner that is diagonal from their current location. Indicate how the players should move. For example, tell them to hop, run, skip or crab walk. The first team to get all players to the opposite corner first wins that round.
Glow Stick Tag
Tag is a common option for an outdoor youth game. This version takes place in the evening or nighttime hours after the sun sets. For safety reasons, choose a flat area without any obstructions like retaining walls or steps and play the game with older kids and teens. Each player holds a glow stick to make herself visible. The tagger holds a different color of glow stick so he is easily identifiable as the person who is "it." If a player is tagged, she becomes the tagger and switches glow sticks with the person who tagged her so that she now has the different colored stick.
Life-Sized Foosball
The kids play the role of the little plastic players on the foosball table. You need a marked playing area, two goals and a soccer ball to play this game. The players split into two teams with a goal assigned to each team. Each team separates the players into four different rows. The players for each row line up side-by-side, holding hands or locking elbows. All players in the row face one direction and cannot turn around during the game. Line up the rows down the field, alternating teams for each row. Each row has the option to move from side to side across the field but cannot move frontward or backward. The object is to score a goal on the other team.
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