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WEDNESDAY July 11-18, 2012
Let’s play outside
By SYLVIA ANDERSON St. Joseph News-Press
Whether it’s a family reunion or Fourth of July party, make sure to have some lawn games on hand that all ages can enjoy. Croquet, volleyball and horseshoes are the standard fare but require space and time to set up. So we found some less traditional alternatives that you can set up quickly or even take with you to a tailgate party.
BEANBAG TOSS One of the most popular outdoor games these days is the beanbag toss, says Eric Marshall, community marketing manager for Dick’s Sporting Goods. “It’s fun for the entire family, and you can get people of all ages involved,” he says. There are different names for it, but essentially it’s a piece of wood with a cutout in it with beanbags. They vary in price depending on whether they’re made out of plastic or wood. Typically the game is played with two teams of two people. You get three points for getting the beanbag in the hole and one point for getting it on the surface. “It’s similar to horseshoes,” Mr. Marshall says. “The rules are different, but the same principle.” And unlike horseshoes, if you should accidentally hit someone with the beanbag, you won’t knock them out.
KAN JAM Kan Jam is a new kind of game for the good ole Frisbee. Instead of throwing a disc back and forth, this is a 4-player disc game, similar to a beanbag toss, where you play with a disc instead of beanbags and use teamwork to score. The object of the game is to score points as a team by throwing the disc in the goal (“kan”). “It’s kind of like a trash can where you throw it through the slot,” Mr. Marshall says. If you get good enough, you might consider attending the 2012 KanJam World Championship in New York on Aug. 11. Get more information and rules at kanjam.com.
METEOR ROCKET Here’s some firework-like fun for kids that’s educational as well. The Meteor Rocket is actually a science experience where you can send a rocket more than 100 feet into the sky. “It’s powered by baking soda and vinegar,” says Pam Houp, owner of PBE’s Toys and Dolls. “You know how that stuff is kind of wild.” The baking powder and vinegar is the same combo you use for toy volcanoes and to clean your drains, she says. You can vary the altitude and speed with the proportions of the ingredients or by changing the fuselage length. There’s also a Rocket Car you fuel with baking soda and vinegar using the same principles. They both sell for $21.99 at PBEs Toys and Dolls in St. Joseph. You also can order them online at www.pbetoys.com.
GEYSER TUBE Another blast for the whole clan is the Geyser Tube. It’s essentially a tube you put in a bottle of diet soda then fill with Mentos candy. It creates an enormous geyser that erupts up to 25 feet in the air. You use diet soda so it doesn’t get sticky, Ms. Houp says. The Geyser Tube won the 2010 Dr. Toy top 10 activities games award and the 2010 Creative Child Seal of Excellence Award. It sells for $5.99 at PBEs Toys and Dolls in St. Joseph or online at beamazing.com.
LADDER GOLF BALL This is another very popular game, Mr. Marshall says. As with the beanbag game, it’s also called hillbilly golf and a variety of other names. The game is played with two or more players or teams. Each player has three golf ball bolas. (A bola is two golf balls attached by a nylon rope.) The object of the game is to wrap your bolas around the steps of the ladder by tossing them. The ladder has three steps: a top, a middle and a bottom. Games are played to an exact total of 21. Get the official rules from laddergolf.com. Sylvia Anderson can be reached at sylvia.anderson@newspressnow.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SJNPAnderson.
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