Jingle Bell Jungle (Optional Activity)

Preparation:

Attach some of the bells to the string temporarily to find the way that works best for your group. Because you will not know where they need to be and the difficulty of storing the string with bells attached, plan on having the students and leaders connect them during the activity. Here are some ways to attach the bells:

• Twist Ties—Have one attached to each bell beforehand, then twist each onto the string where needed.
• Girth Hitch—Pull a loop of the string through the bell’s eye, then over the bell.

What to Do:

Gather everybody together and explain you’re going to play “Jingle Bell Jungle.” Tell them you’re going to make an obstacle course with string and bells. Tell them the object is not speed, but instead to keep the peace by running the course without ringing the bells. If you have a very large group, divide them into two or three groups as necessary, each doing the same thing (you’ll need to double or triple the supplies accordingly).

Start passing the string through the group(s) so that everyone gets to hold part of it. Once everyone is holding the string, let out another 20 feet (6 meters) or so of excess and cut the string.

Pass the bells out and teach them how to attach them to the string in three steps:

• Show them how to do it.
• Have them do it.
• Have them undo it.

Pick the two who learned best as “designated bellers” to attach bells to the string as the obstacles are formed.

Start making obstacles with the string. These will be configurations of string to go over, under, or through without touching any bells. Here are some suggested configurations:

• Zig-Zag Step-Throughs: Two columns of students have strings zig-zag between them. The object is to run through them, lifting the knees up high like a tire-run in an outdoor obstacle course.
• Hoop: Students form a vertical loop to pass through. Usually, they are more square-shaped or triangular than circular.
• Limbo Line: Students hold up a horizontal length of string to pass under by crawling or ducking. 
• Hurdle: Students hold up a horizontal length of string to go over. (Take care not to create a leg snare!)

Have the Designated Bellers attach bells to the string at critical points in each obstacle.

Make at least three obstacles unless you are short of people to hold the string. In this case, you can make one obstacle at a time, have everyone run it, then make the next.

Choose the Bellers as the first two to run the course. Once they have done the course, have them trade places with students holding the string, who will run the course next.

Rotate students through the course this way until everyone gets to do it.

Notes/Suggestions:

Stress to students that the object of this activity is to avoid the bells, NOT to speed through the course—which may cause injury.

Ways to keep score:

• Distance: How far through the course they went without ringing a bell. Once a bell is rung, their turn ends. Offer do-overs for bad starts.
• Bells Rung: They run the whole course, gaining a point each time they ring bells. The lowest score wins.

Make sure the obstacles are challenging. Trust us: easy equals boring in this game. Try this at home or with your leaders first. Once you work the kinks out, it will be a lot of fun.