Wacky Bowling

Spoiler: We did not have the budget to take everyone bowling.

My Activity Blog

INTRODUCING… Wacky Bowling!

Typically, how we choose activities is we give the members of the youth group decide what they want to do, then we support them in making it happen. This particular week, they wanted to go bowling and were super excited about going. But when we reviewed the budget, it was not in the cards for us.

Based on that planning meeting, I started thinking about how I could honor their wishes but also make the activity budget-friendly. I began thinking about the activity, how I could recreate a bowling experience in our church house. I took the “bowling” concept too seriously. I wanted to have bowling pins and balls of different sizes, to add to the wacky-ness of the activity. I had plans to create bowling pins myself and tried to find them online, but all of those options were going to take entirely too much time.

I realized that the concept of serious bowling wasn’t really that fun.

This is where I let the intrusive thoughts flow. I thought about what could make bowling, not a bowling alley, fun. What have I wanted to knock over in the past?

I kept the idea of each lane being different sizes, but also different themes. I began to walk around my house, thinking about things I could use as balls and pins. I wanted to have enough variety, so I figured seven lanes of different sizes would be perfect.

I reached out to the other leaders to obtain additional materials that I needed.

Each player got a scorecard to record their scores. We then split everyone up into groups of three. One person would bowl, one person to set up the “pins”, and one person to record the scores (though I would recommend if there are enough leaders to have a leader assigned to each group as well to be the scorekeeper). They were welcome to go and bowl at whichever lane they wanted.

We also played some Abba, had some party lights, and asked everyone to dress “groovy”.

For the bowlers with the three highest points, I had ChapSticks that they used to bowl with on the glamourous lane.

I had two options for a treat:

Build your own bowling lane: Mini gummy bears and sweet-tart chewy candies
Treats you would find at a bowling lane: Nachos

We had a blast!

Creating Your Activity

When thinking about your activity, realize you don’t have to use the same things as me. I had a lot of materials on hand, and I would suggest you use the same thing. Our girls will have different interests than yours too, I would suggest that you adjust what you use to meet those interests.

Allies, Pins, and Balls Used:

Dinosaurs: Mini dinosaurs with an “Asteroid” (a dice).

Glow in the Dark: Water bottles with glowsticks and a glow-in-the-dark ball.

Stayin’ Fit: Dumbbells and a yoga ball.

Bonus – Person Bowling: Activity participants and a giant beach ball (we were unable to do this one, as I could not find the beachball).

Spooky: I found a Halloween-themed bowling set at Walmart

Glamorous: Lipsticks and a beauty blender.

Wonky Bowling: An odd-shaped ball and building blocks.

Style Bowling: At the end of the activity, we chose the best ball and pins and set up a bowling alley. The girls were then allowed to bowl however they wanted , while everyone watched. There were “judges” that gave each bowler “Style” points (which all ended up being a perfect 10).

Material List

Items You Need:

Painters Tap – to tape where the pins go, and parts of your lanes
Clipboards – to hold the scorecards
Pencils – to mark the scorecards
Score Cards
8 Balls (I’d suggest bringing two more than you need in case a ball doesn’t work)
6 Sets of “Pins”
Score Paddles
- Print outs
- Popsicle sticks or paint stir sticks

Optional Items:

Party Lights
Bluetooth Speaker
Bumpers

My Material List:

Painters Tape
Clipboards
Pencils
Party Lights
Bluetooth Speaker
Score Cards
Dinosaurs
- Mini dinosaurs
- Dice (2)
- Jungle background
- Paint stir sticks for bumpers
Spooky
- This bowling set from Walmart
- Extra ball
Glow in the Dark
- Dark separate room
- 1 or 2 liter bottles filled with a small amount of water (6 or 10)
- Glow sticks (2 per bottle)
- Glow in the dark ball – Link to the one I used
- Pool Noodles
Glamourous
- Lipsticks (10)
- Beauty blender (the odder shaped, the better)
- Paint stir sticks for bumper
Stayin’ Fit
- Yoga Ball
- Dumbbells under 10 lbs (6 or 10)
- Yoga mats (I used them to try and make a lane)
Wacky Bowling
- Jolly Egg
- Blocks
- Pool noodles
Style Bowling
- Judging score paddles
- Paint stir sticks