Special Forces Party

Special Forces
 

Face Painting - As each guest arrives, take them to Headquarters (tent set up in the back yard) and initiate them into your Special Forces unit with some green and brown face paint! For more fun, provide some camouflage clothing for them to dress up in, or invite everyone to come already dressed in fatigues. Then, break the ice with a rousing game of Tug-of-War!

Water Brigade - For the first Special Forces assignment, your unit must put out a fire that is destroying civilian crops! Divide partygoers into two teams; line the teams up next to each other. Set a bucket full of water at the head of each line; give the first person in each line a large cup full of water. Place an empty bucket for each team about 30 ft away. When you say “GO!,” the first person runs to the empty bucket, pours the water into it, and races back to their team with the empty cup. The next teammate fills the cup, runs to the bucket, pours the water in it and brings the cup back to the next player. When each team member has run down and back the game is over. To see which team has carried the most water down, insert sticks into each bucket and compare the water lines.

Unlock the Humvee - Someone has locked the keys in the Humvee and only one person has the extra key! Draw a side-view picture of a Humvee on a large piece of posterboard. Make the door handle and keyhole large enough to be obvious. Cut out a paper key for each guest and attach a piece of tape to the back. Explain to your guests that the object of the game is to place their key closest to the keyhole in order to unlock the Humvee. Blindfold each guest in turn, and spin them 3 times. When they are facing the Humvee, let them go. Award a prize to the player who “unlocks” the Humvee!

Aircraft Carrier Obstacle Course - This challenging game is best played outside in an open area, or in a large room. Create a runway using sidewalk chalk, masking tape, cones, sticks, etc. to mark the boundaries. It should be about 50 ft long and up to 10 ft wide. Collect nonbreakable objects that won’t be damaged if stepped on, such as sports balls, pieces of clothing, plastic toys, handbags, a blanket, etc. These objects will represent planes on the aircraft carrier’s runway. Pair up guests and let them decide who will be the fighter pilot and who will be the air traffic controller. When the game begins, the controller helps navigate the pilot (who is blindfolded) down the foggy runway without crashing into any “planes.”

Once the pilot is blindfolded, the other players may toss objects onto the runway from outside the perimeter (do not place the objects). After all the “planes” are on the runway, the controller guides the pilot with his or her voice: “Move four steps forward and one to the left - No, take smaller steps!” If the pilot “crashes,” another team takes a turn. When a traffic controller successfully navigates a pilot through the course without crashing everyone will surely applaud! Award teams with small prizes, no matter how far they “fly.”

Sweet Swamp Water - In order to protect the country, your Special Forces unit must climb treacherous mountains, slide through swamps without making a sound, and adapt to their surroundings. Give your guests a taste of life in the field (minus the danger) with this mean, green punch. Simply add a few drops of green food coloring to your favorite light-colored beverage: lemonade, lemon-lime soda and apple juice work well. To give your punch a rugged appeal, drop a few raisins into each ice cube compartment, fill with water and let sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes (so ice freezes clear); then freeze. Your guests will get a kick out of discovering frozen flies in their swamp drinks!

Hearty Meat Balls - For guests who need a surge of energy! Boil four eggs for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are hard-boiled. Run cold water over the eggs, then crack and peel carefully. Divide 1/2 pound of ground breakfast sausage into 4 equal portions and flatten each into about a 5-inch round patty. Wrap each patty around each of the hard-boiled eggs, covering the egg completely.

Beat one raw egg thoroughly in a small bowl. Roll each sausage-wrapped egg in the beaten egg mixture. Roll each egg in crushed saltine crackers, covering it completely with crumbs. Arrange eggs in a shallow baking dish. Bake 25 to 30 min., until sausage is no longer pink. Serve these power balls warm or cold. (If serving cold, refrigerate until meat time.)

Camouflaged Cupcakes - Purchase your child's favorite flavor of boxed cake mix and follow baking instructions on the package to make cupcakes. When cupcakes have cooled, frost each one with vanilla frosting tinted green with food coloring. Decorate with different shades of green icing, brown or green sprinkles, licorice, or camouflaged-colored candies (M&M's®, gum drops, etc.) Set out the decorations, so your guests can design their own personal cupcakes!

Super Sundaes - Your guests will beg to stop and refuel with this delicious treat! You will need vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, chopped peanuts, toothpicks, and construction paper. Place one scoop of vanilla ice cream in each child’s bowl and add plenty of “oil” (chocolate syrup). Be sure to ask each guest if he or she would like chopped peanuts added to their sundae (in case someone is allergic.) Add a toothpick with a U.S. flag, or other theme-related item for an extra special touch

Brown Bread Rations - This sweet tasting bread makes a great snack for party guests on a mission. Simply purchase ready-to-eat cans of "B&M Brown Bread with Raisins®" and serve it to your troops. Part of the fun is opening the can using a non-electric can opener and slicing the bread and dividing the rations up right in front of your little soldiers. This product can be found on the baked beans aisle at most major supermarket chains.

Spread your table cover on your party table. If your child has any theme-related toys, you can add them to the table for a more festive display.

Cut several one-to-two-foot-long pieces of curling ribbon. Curl the ribbon by pulling it between your thumb and the blade of your scissors. Lay the resulting curls on your table for added color. Hang balloons in bunches for the best effect. If you choose to fill balloons with helium, wait until the party day to ensure they float well!

To create colorful two-tone streamers, put two differently colored streamers back-to-back, twist as you walk them to the wall, and attach at shoulder height.