Overview:
Bring out the inner children in your team with this fun activity! Nerf Nation will send your team back to their childhood years as they compete in an epic battle of capture the flab. Teams strategically battle each other in the ultimate Nerf Gun challenge. You will separate the group into two nations. The Red Nerf Nation will have small nerf guns with many team members. The Blue Nerf Nation will have more powerful/impactful nerf guns but fewer team members. Both teams will be given 15 minutes to fortify their areas. They can strategically create bunkers and barriers for protection. Both teams will need to hide their colored bandana from the other team. Once the game begins, teams will fight to find and capture the other team’s flag. If a team member is shot, they are no longer able to participate. The first team to capture the flag and safely return to their Nation, wins.
Equipment Required:
Nerf Guns (two distinct kinds of nerf guns – one smaller, one more powerful). Blue Flag (or bandana) and a Red flag (or bandana). Bunker Materials: Cardboard Boxes, Tarps, Tables, Chairs.
Space Required: Medium to Large.
Group Size: 8 to 40 people.
Total Time: 40 Minutes
- 5 minutes to brief the activity.
- 30 minutes to complete the activity.
- 5 minutes to debrief the activity.
Instructions:
- Strategically separate the group into two nations. The Red Nerf Nation will have small nerf guns with many team members. The Blue Nerf Nation will have more powerful/impactful nerf guns but fewer team members.
- Brief the teams on the activity.
- Give both teams 15 minutes to fortify their areas. During this time, teams can strategically create bunkers and barriers for protection. Both teams will need to hide their colored bandana from the other team.
- Tell the teams to begin – once the game starts, teams will fight to find and capture the other team’s flag. If a team member is shot, they are no longer able to participate. The first team to capture the flag and safely return to their Nation wins.
- Acknowledge the winner and debrief the activity.
Learning Outcomes
- Communication
- Creative Thinking
- Strategic Planning
- Team Bonding
- Team Cohesion
Suggested Review Questions
- Which Nation did you feel had the advantage? How so?
- How did you overcome your disadvantages?
- How did you use your advantages?
- What was most challenging about the activity?
- What did you enjoy most about this activity?
- How well did you work as a team?
- Did your team have a strategy?
- If so, did your strategy change as the game went on?
- Did communication play an important role in this activity? If so, how?
- What is one thing that you can take away from this activity?
