Human Hungry Hippos
One blindfolded player rides a blanket into a field of balls and grabs as many as they can while their teammate steers. The board game, life-size, with a lot more yelling.
Setup
- Scatter the balls across the middle of the floor.
- Each team gets a blanket. One player (the hippo) lies on it, blindfolded. The other (the driver) holds the blanket’s edge.
- Teams start on the outside edge of the ball field.
How to Play
- Go! On the signal, drivers carry their hippo into the ball field.
- Grab everything. The blindfolded hippo scoops balls onto the blanket as fast as possible.
- Steer and retreat. Drivers pull their hippo back to base, dump the haul, and slide back in.
- Time’s up. When the timer ends, count the balls at each base. Most balls wins.
Say Something Like
“Hippos, you’re blindfolded and hungry. Drivers, you’re the only eyes your hippo has. When I say go, get in there and grab everything you can. Whoever has the biggest pile when the timer hits zero wins!”
Variations
- Point Balls: Mix in a few odd-colored balls worth five points each.
- Swap Roles: Play two rounds so the driver and hippo trade places.
- No Blindfold Kids Round: For younger kids, skip the blindfold and just race.
Discipleship Teaching Points
The hippo can’t see. The driver can. Talk about trusting the voice that can see what you can’t. Reference: Proverbs 3:5–6.
Secular Teaching Points
Communication, trust, and teamwork under a time crunch. A crowd favorite for camps and youth nights.
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