Outside the city, you can turn off your phone and brain from the Internet, calm down, and find harmony. But what to do on a picnic if you’ve already eaten and taken pictures? Options like mosquitoes. In the spring, for example, you can collect birch sap and fish, and in the summer you can look for berries and swim. If you're having a romantic picnic for two, you can fly a kite, read aloud to each other, or set up an impromptu open-air cinema.
But large groups need more active activities to run, compete, and have fun. Here are some options.
Ultimate
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This is a team sport involving a frisbee. Ultimate competitions were first held in 1968 and have been held regularly since then. Ultimate was brought to Russia by Canadian schoolchildren who came to St. Petersburg on exchange in 1989. Now ultimate has its own community and thousands of fans, many cities have their own teams.
Purpose of the game : earn points by passing the disc to your team's players. Number of players : two teams of 5–7 people. Playing court size : 100 × 37 m (central part 64 × 37 m plus two 18-meter goal zones on the edges). Equipment : Frisbee.
Rules of the game
Players line up along their zones. The team that wins the toss puts the disc into play. Opponents must either catch the frisbee in the air or wait until it touches the ground.
The player holding the disc cannot run with it. You can make a pass within 10 seconds, but you cannot lift your supporting leg off the ground. The opponents' task is to interfere with an accurate pass and intercept the Frisbee. There are no judges in Ultimate: everything is built on mutual respect between the players. Therefore, when selecting, you cannot touch the person holding the disc.
To earn a point, you need to pass the disc to your player who is in the opponent’s goal zone.
The intricacies of playing ultimate are shown in the following story.
Ultimate is a very dynamic game in which there are no age or gender restrictions. Ideal for outdoor recreation with a large noisy group. All you need is a frisbee and markers to mark the boundaries of the playing and scoring zones. If there is not much space, then the size of the site can be reduced.
The most popular outdoor competitions
Let's start with the most interesting and frequently used outdoor competitions for birthdays, which are popular in any company, and no vacation trip is simply complete without them.
Of course, one of these competitions is “Tug of War”. It has many variations. It brings out team strength.
"Tug of War"
All participants must be divided into 2 teams, it is desirable that the forces are approximately equal. You can choose 2 captains, who will recruit companions one person at a time, or in another way, this is at your discretion. The two resulting groups stand opposite each other and take the rope. It is necessary to make marks on the ground, for example, drive a stick into the ground where the middle of the rope is and where each team is located, and tie a ribbon on the rope itself exactly in the middle so that the winner can be determined. After these actions, at the command of the leader, the participants begin to pull the rope. The winner is the group that quickly matches the ribbon on the rope with the mark on its side. It is better to hold such a competition when the company is already a little tipsy, it will be more interesting and funnier.
The next, no less popular competition, which is suitable for corporate outdoor recreation on a birthday, is “Treasure Hunt”.
"Treasure Hunt"
This competition will require different items from each of the two teams, the same amount. It is advisable that all items be approximately the same size, such as various jars, chocolate bars, small packages of cookies, candies - everything that you don’t mind giving away. While the participants are not looking, the presenter hides all the details in the recreation area, choosing two different places. You can hide it anywhere: in a hollow tree, under a pile of leaves, behind a stump, in a hole and other interesting places. Each team, in its assigned territory, looks for the opponent’s things, which at the time of the competition are treasures. The host announces the start of the game, and the teams begin their search, trying to find all the things faster than their opponents. And when all the treasures are found by one of the groups, they are automatically awarded to the winners as the main prize, and naturally, they also take their things. The competition is very interesting, exciting, everyone will be glad to become a participant in this game.
A very common, good old game from a series of catch-up games that will evoke a sea of emotions is “colors”. Anyone who is not afraid to run a certain distance will want to take part in this competition.
"Paints"
This game follows a script. All participants stand in a line and guess any color, preferably it should be rare, so it will be more difficult to guess. The presenter (buyer) goes a short distance away from them and turns away. The following dialogue occurs:
- Presenter (B): -Knock-knock-knock?
- Participants (P): – Who’s here?
- Q: - I am a monk.
- U: Why did you come?
- B: - For some paint.
- U: - What color?
- Next, the presenter says any color that comes to his mind.
- B: – (for example) behind the blue one.
- If this paint is missing, then the answer sounds something like this:
- U: - She’s gone, now jump around on one leg.
- And then the buyer jumps in a small circle. But if such a beauty is among those wished for, then the participants answer:
- U: - There is one, you need to pay for it...
Names the age of the owner of this color.
The buyer quickly counts out loud to the named number, and at this time the little beauty tries to run far away from him. Having counted, the presenter runs for the paint, and then the catch-up begins, this can last a long time, everyone supports the runaway with a loud shout. The point is for the paint to return to its place without being caught. If the presenter still catches her, then they change places and the game starts again, only with a different buyer. This competition is very fun and interesting, especially when there are many participants.
Competitions are very popular in nature on birthdays - relay races, when all the vacationers ate, got drunk and decided to have fun. Here are some options for such active recreation.
"Candle"
Participants are divided into 2 teams, stand in equal columns one behind the other. The captains of each team are given a lighted candle. Usually the distance of the race is chosen to be short so that each player can run his own path without a long wait. A route is selected along which the participants run in turn. For example: you need to run to a tree that is the same distance from each team, run around it and return. But the main thing is that the candle never goes out. If suddenly this happens, the participant must return to the team, light a candle and start all over again. If the fire does not go out, then the candle is passed to the next person on the team, and he runs under the same conditions. The game continues until each participant has completed his or her own path . The winner is the team that completes the task faster.
"Jumpers"
This competition also requires 2 teams, the same formation of participants, only instead of running with a candle, each of the group will need to jump on one leg to a certain place and back. To complicate the task a little, you can choose an area on a slope so that the jumper goes up there, and back down the hill. The more the players fall, the funnier it will naturally be for the audience. The winner is the team that finishes the relay first. As a prize in this competition, you can make any remedy for abrasions and bruises, it will be quite useful. By the way, instead of jumping on one leg, as an option, you can equip the participant with skis , give them poles and send them along the same path, this will be no less funny.
Country squash
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Squash is similar to tennis, only the ball is not thrown over the net with a racket, but hits the walls. Usually squash is played on a special court surrounded by four walls, but in the countryside you can get by with just one vertical plane.
Goal of the game : win the most games. Number of players : 2 or 4. Playing area size : any. Equipment : rackets and squash ball.
Rules of the game
Find a flat wall without windows or doors to throw the ball at. This could be the wall of your house (not your neighbor's!) or garage. You can play one on one or two on two.
The game consists of draws. The one who dropped the ball loses. The one who wins the drawing gets a point. The one with 11 points wins the game. When the score is 10:10, the game continues until the gap is two points. How many games to play is up to you.
Country squash should not be treated as a serious competition. This is just a fun way to warm up and compete with friends in between feasts.
Prizes and gifts for guests
Useful little things can be prepared as prizes: keychains, notebooks, pens. Funny surprises are also suitable: a set of erotic playing cards, socks in a jar, a funny fridge magnet, memorable cardboard medals for “The Funniest”, “The Most Active” and others. You can also give sweets: chocolate bars, boxed sweets, lollipops, which come in different unusual shapes and sizes. It doesn't matter if the prize is purely symbolic. The main thing is to pay attention to the guests and have a good time with the whole company.
Petanque
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This is an ancient game, known back to Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. In those days, round stones were thrown, thereby practicing accuracy. In the Middle Ages, authorities placed a taboo on petanque: fencing and archery were considered more useful activities. But despite everything, the game has survived to this day and is very popular in Europe, especially in France.
Goal of the game : score 13 points. Number of players : two teams, each with no more than 3 people. Playground size : 15 × 4 m. Equipment : wooden ball with a diameter of 3 cm (cochonet), 12 metal balls with a diameter of 7–8 cm.
Rules of the game
The game uses no more than 12 metal balls. If a team consists of one or two players, then each of them plays with three balls. If teams have three players, then they have two balls at their disposal. Team balls must be visually different.
The lot determines which team starts the game. She draws a circle with a diameter of 30–50 cm on the site and throws a wooden ball - a cochonette. After this, the players stand in a circle and throw their balls, trying to place them as close to the jack as possible. You can touch and knock down your opponents' balls, as well as change the position of the jack, but you cannot go beyond the boundary of the circle.
When all the balls are thrown, the points are counted. The team whose ball is closest to the jack wins. But to find out how many points the winners earned, you need to count how many triumphant balls are in the radius limited by the ball of the losing team closest to the jack. How many balls are in the radius - how many points the team earned in this round. The game goes to 13 points.
Once you master the rules (you can find them on the website of the Russian Petanque Federation or in the video: part 1, part 2), you will understand how exciting petanque is. It has both a sports and an intellectual component. It is necessary not only to accurately throw rather heavy balls, but also to build game tactics.
Birthday games
Not only competitions, but also a variety of games will help you have an interesting time. There will be no winners here, but there will be a lot of fun, pleasure and laughter.
Outdoor games
Outdoor games will entertain the company. It is interesting not only to act as an active participant, but also to observe others.
"Fanta"
It is necessary to prepare comic tasks in advance. Guests take turns pulling out cards, reading them out loud and doing what is suggested. The participant who has completed the task can draw the next forfeit and say who will get it.
Examples of tasks:
- Depict how you walk on hot coals barefoot.
- Saddle up on a chair and jump on it, shouting: “You can’t be late for adventure!”
- Make a toast as if you are very drunk.
- Choose two more participants and, together with them, depict the dance of an African tribe.
- Give each person present a compliment.
- Confess your love to your neighbor on the right.
- Draw a chicken laying an egg.
- It's sexy to eat a banana.
- Describe without words what you love to do most.
- Go out onto the balcony and ask passers-by what date and year it is today.
- Depict a cat hunting a mouse.
- Select participants and create a sculpture “Peter I on horseback” from them.
- Portray a child who was not bought a toy.
- Shout from the balcony: “People! I love you!"
- Portray five different emotions.
- Quickly say the tongue twister: “The fluorographer fluorographed the fluorographer.”
- Use a pen to draw a tattoo on the arm of your neighbor on the left.
- Make a signature cocktail for the birthday boy.
- Write the name of the birthday boy in the air with a dot.
- Try to bite your elbow.
"Song performance"
You need to portray a song. In this case, you should choose a song in advance and prepare the necessary props. It’s interesting to show “A Christmas tree was born in the forest”:
- herringbone - a headband with Christmas trees or green shiny tinsel;
- blizzard - silvery tinsel;
- frost - Santa Claus's hat;
- bunny - the tail or mask of a bunny;
- wolf - gray tail or wolf mask;
- horse - the tail or mask of a horse;
- little man - mustache and hat.
If there are still guests left, they can be children, who at the end dance around the Christmas tree. Let's turn on the song and have fun.
"Repeat"
This game is especially fun in drunken company. To catchy music, the presenter shows the movements, and the participants repeat them. The further you go, the more complex the movements and the faster the music. The one who completed everything most accurately becomes the leader.
"Armless Mechanic"
One participant is selected and he will be the armless mechanic. The second guest will be a broken mechanism. The mechanic comes out, and the rest agree on which part of the mechanism is faulty (arm, palm, cheek, shoulder). Then they call the mechanic and tell him that he must check the mechanism only with his lips and nose. When touched, the mechanism reacts. If a mechanic is near the damaged area, the second one begins to squeak; if the mechanic finds a breakdown, the mechanism hums loudly. Afterwards, the mechanic takes the place of the mechanism, and another participant becomes the new mechanic.
Table games
Guests willingly play games without leaving the table. To begin with, you can write a congratulation to the hero of the day or birthday.
"Collective Congratulations"
Participants should not know what they are writing. The presenter asks to name funny and interesting adjectives and writes them into the congratulation text prepared in advance. Then the resulting congratulation is read out loud.
The text could be like this:
“Our __ birthday boy! On this __ and __ day, our __ company at the __ table congratulates you on your __ Birthday! We wish you __ smiles, __ friends, __ meetings, __ and __ life, as well as the fulfillment of __ desires. Today __ songs and __ congratulations will be played in your honor.
Your __ and __ guests at the table.”
Questions and Answers Game
It is necessary to prepare cards with questions and answers in advance. Put the questions in one box and the answers in the other. The first participant says who he wants to ask a question to and draws a card. The second one draws out the answer and reads it out loud. Then this participant asks a question.
Examples of questions:
- Do you have erotic dreams?
- Have you ever slept on a palm tree?
- Do you throw eggs at passers-by from the window?
- Have you ever woken up in a sobering station?
- Do you like to perform striptease?
- Have you ever had intimate areas waxed?
- Do you dream of cutting your hair bald?
- How often do you confess your love to your significant other?
- Do you admire yourself in the mirror?
- Do you pick your nose?
- Do you sing in the shower?
- Does it happen that you don't come home to spend the night?
- Do you like to dance under the moon?
- Do you visit a nudist beach?
- Do you have the habit of kissing everyone during the holidays?
Example answers:
- This is the most favorite activity in my life!
- Unless no one sees.
- I do this all the time!
- Yes! After all, I have no complexes!
- How did you find out about this?
- In the light - not especially, but in the dark - with pleasure!
- Only together with you!
- On Fridays this is sacred to me!
- This is my main talent!
- Only if my friends ask me about it.
- If they offer me money for it, then why not?
- Don't put me in an awkward position!
- Yes! Especially when I'm bored.
- No, I was too well brought up for that.
- Yes! At every convenient opportunity!
Unusual volleyball
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A ball is irreplaceable in nature. If you want, mint, if you want, play football, if you want, play dodgeball or volleyball. The rules of these games are familiar from childhood. What if you modified them and played volleyball... without hands?
Goal of the game : score 15 points. Number of players : two teams of 6 people. Playground size : any. Equipment : volleyball net and ball.
Rules of the game
The idea is the same as in regular volleyball and pioneer ball: throw the ball over the net. If it lands in the opponents' territory, your team earns a point. The only difference is that you can receive the ball, block, and pass with your head, shoulder, legs, anything, but not with your hands. You can only put the ball into play with your hands. The game is played to 15 points.
Perhaps this volleyball is not as sporty as classic volleyball, but it is very fun. Ask someone who is not involved in the game to take a photo of the game: you will laugh heartily at the photos later.
Towns
This is a Russian sports game with a two-century history. Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Chaliapin, Maxim Gorky, Vladimir Lenin and other famous people enjoyed playing gorodki.
In the 20th century, the game was wildly popular: there were sports clubs in towns, and all-Union competitions were held. In the 21st century, this fun has almost been forgotten. Representatives of the YAYA generation prefer bowling to small towns, but maybe they just haven’t tried it?
The goal of the game is to knock out the pieces with the least number of throws. Number of players : any. Playground size : city - 2 × 2 m; the far distance from the throwing point (kon) is 13 m, the closest distance (half-kon) is 6.5 m. Equipment : gorodoshny ryuks and bats.
Rules of the game
The towns use 15 figures: “cannon”, “fork”, “star” and so on. The rules for constructing figures and their sequence are described here.
Gorodoshnoe field and figures
You can play one on one or in teams (at least five people in each). The maximum task for the player is to knock out a piece from the city (and suburbs) with a minimum number of bat throws. The first throw is made from the stake. If it was not possible to knock out a piece with one blow, then they throw it again, this time from the half-kon.
Towns are a democratic game. You can play on any flat surface: asphalt, dirt, lawn. Markings can be made with chalk or spray paint. In this case, the size of the site can be reduced, and the rules can be simplified. For example, you may not draw the suburbs or use only the simplest shapes.
Treasure hunters
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This game can be classified as intellectual. Both players and organizers need to use their brains. Especially the organizers. If you take on this mission, then you need:
- Come up with what will be a treasure (for example, a keg of beer).
- Decide where to hide it (it’s more interesting to play in the forest).
- Come up with clues and draw a map.
Purpose of the game : find the treasure. Number of players : any. Playground size : any. Equipment : map, treasure, tips, healthy adventurism.
Rules of the game
The rules depend on your imagination. Here are just a few tips.
- Cut the card into several pieces. To find the treasure, you will first need to collect the entire map.
- Divide into two teams: one - treasure hunters, the second - organizers. The latter should meet treasure hunters at intermediate points and give out parts of the map.
- Come up with tasks. Giving away a card just like that is boring. Let treasure hunters fight for every treasured scrap.
- Hide the treasure better. For example, bury it in the ground or hang it on a tree. The more difficult it is for players to get a prize, the more valuable it will be to them.
What kind of competitions are there?
In general, competitions are divided into several types:
- Intelligent. Such competitions are usually attended by people of the older generation who love to show off their knowledge, show intelligence and erudition. Chess can also be considered an intellectual competition if the winner is awarded a prize.
- Cheerful. This type implies fun, laughter, tomfoolery. They bring positive emotions not only to the participants, but also to the audience. As for the age group, these competitions are suitable for everyone, because everyone loves to laugh at themselves and their comrade.
- Physical. These competitions are distinguished by the manifestation of physical strength, they involve fights using sports props (weights, rope, jump rope, etc.). Age is not limited, preferably males take part.
If it turns out that the weather is bad and the event will have to be canceled or moved indoors, find out which competitions are suitable for you indoors.
Lapta
This is an ancient team game with a ball and bat, which writer Alexander Kuprin called one of the most interesting and useful.
In lapta you need resourcefulness, deep breathing, loyalty to your party, attentiveness, resourcefulness, fast running, a keen eye, firmness of the hand and eternal confidence that you will not be defeated. There is no place for cowards and lazy people in this game.
Alexander Kuprin
Many readers probably remember the times when rounders were played in courtyards and a picket fence served as a bat. Nowadays it is played mainly in schools. But going out into nature is a great opportunity to shake off the old days.
Purpose of the game : score the most points. Number of players : two teams of 4 or more players. Playground size : length - 40-55 m, width - 25-40 m. Equipment : tennis balls, bat 70-110 cm long.
