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My favorite reality TV show is The Amazing Race. Pre-teens and teens will enjoy an adventurous party based on this show. However, it is also an ambitious theme that takes some good organization and planning. Here are some tips on how to approach this party and make it a bit more do-able:
First, invite enough guests to be able to sub-divide them into groups of three or four. You can decide the groups based on the kids’ order of arrival at the party. The first three or four kids can be team #1 and will be the first to leave on the race, the next three or four can be team #2, and so on. It may be a good idea to have an adult supervisor with each of the teams who has a cell phone on hand in case the kids need help.
This is clearly going to be an out-and-about party, and planning the race location is key. If you live in a place where the kids can race around a town center safely, that would be one good party area. If not, have the kids race around a mall or your neighborhood.
Here are some other things you will need to give advance consideration for this party:
- The routes the teams will take to complete the race
- Various activities that will be done at each locale
- What the clues will be, and roadblock and detour challenges
- If money will be needed to complete the activities
- Which (if any) stores the kids will visit (be sure speak with each store’s manager about your party activities)
- How many adult helpers you will need to have one at each race location.
Some sample tasks that you can have the kids do include:
- Finding a town or mall marker, taking team pictures at it, and singing a silly song to get the next clue
- Visiting the library and looking up some interesting facts on a topic in order to get the next clue
- Ordering a particular drink in a coffee shop and drinking in a particular way to get the next clue
- Singing silly songs at fast food restaurant for fries and shakes and assembling the kid’s meal toy in order to get the next clue
No matter how many activities you have the kids do, send each of the teams on a different route so that they are all separated. On the show, the teams all follow the same route, but it may be a little more fun for the kids to be on different paths so that they won’t know exactly where everyone is. Invariably, the teams will run into one another, but the different routes will keep them guessing.
Don’t forget about the “roadblocks” (tasks that only one member of the team can do) and “detours” (tasks that the team must do together). Given that the teams at your party will be larger than those on the show, you may want to designate one or two people to do the tasks rather than only one person or the whole team.
Here are some examples of possible roadblocks:
- Drinking black coffee at a coffee shop (probably not a favorite drink for pre-teens!)
- Eating something disgusting at a neighbor’s house
Here are some examples of possible detours:
- Untying ribbons that are tied throughout a backyard and trying to find one marked with a black X
- Counting the contents of a jar full of buttons
- Counting the total number of benches in a mall complex or park
- Finding a yellow ribbon hidden among piles of clothing in a clothing store (of course, you will have to ask permission from the store to plant the ribbon)
Once the kids successfully complete their roadblock or detour, you can give them the next clue.
The team that arrives at the final destination first wins!
The majority of the party will be taken up with the race. To end the party, serve pizza, cold drinks, and cake, and put on an Amazing Race DVD for everyone to enjoy as a final activity.
This is an involved and complicated party, but kids this age will love it!
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We are planning a Reality show banaza beginning with the party guest picking colored bandana’s out of a bag to determine the team they are on. They will then get an address (on our street) to find and at that house reach into a bucket with ice or crickets and grab a set of keys. The team then races back to our house to find the owner of the keys, now the driver of the team and they are off… next stop the police station (party girl’s dad works there) to match 5 shoe prints to the bottom of shoes and run in place for 2 min. get next clue and off to the fire house to roll a hose that has been layed out. It must be done correctly! Then off to a freinds house to reach into a bowl of cooked spaghetti (they won’t see it) to get the exact amount of change to purchase a pack of gum at the local Walgreen’s then they will come back to the party girls house for a cake with gummy worms, bugs all over it and “pond scum” to drink (lime sherbet and white soda). Finally the girls will have a fill in the blank game of “secret identity”. Each girl at the RSVP gave me a secret about themselves for this part of the party. Things like; I’m allergic to nickel, my grandpa was a founding father of The Hill in St. Louis etc.
Only thing missing is a great party favor!
[...] Look to the Amazing Race Party Plan for more ideas related to this theme! [...]
[...] Copy one of the reality TV Shows that are so popular: Amazing Race, Survivor or Fear Factor: Can take place at a park, backyard, or other outside venues, such as a mall for the Amazing Race. [...]
I am trying to plan a party at a park for a picnic – the amazing race is what I am doing as an activity. where would i find more ideas on how to do this in a park?
Thats a good idea i did that for my13 year old son last year what i did for some activities is and they had a blast……..
1) find 3 diffrent types of plants or leaves
2) take a pic of a tteam mate doing a funny dance move
ect
just be creative fo rmore help email me back at mjsworld@live.ca
Local Mom’s put on their own version of
“The Amazing Race – Friends Edition”
Kelly and Heather, both mothers from Florida thought it would be a great idea to get their graduating daughters and friends together for one last summer event before going off to college.
So, on Saturday, August 2, 2008 Kelly and Heather put on “The Amazing Race – Friends Edition”. They based their “race” on the popular television series “The Amazing Race”. 10 teens were randomly put into 5 groups of 2. All 5 teams were video tapped to memorialize all the crazy antics. Each contestant was given a yellow Amazing Race shirt and a clue.
Off and running, the teens scattered, deciphering the clue and running to reach the first destination before all the others.
The first leg of the race was a ¾ of a mile jog which landed them at a pool where they plunged in for a brisk backstroke. After jogging back to the next clue destination, each team was assigned a randomly chosen driver. Those drivers graciously consisted of parents, friends and teachers of St. Cloud High School. Once the groups piled into their cars, they raced off to the Publix on Rt. 192. The kids were handed their instructions which advised them to dress up in goofy clothes and race through the supermarket finding specific items.
The next clue directed the youths to the Ice Factory where they skated a NOT so quick turn around the rink… backwards! There were a lot of bumps and bruises but they were clearly having a blast!
The Amazing Race always features a food event. Kelly and Heather thought it would be appropriate to include it in their race, too. Some of the items included blue cheese, sardines and, the most repulsive piece… cow tongue. Surprisingly, one of the boys loved it… go figure!
The teams had a great time urging unsuspecting strangers to perform a 20 step dance routine. One team snared an unaware golfer at the Remington Golf Course, much to his chagrin and his friend’s enjoyment.
It was a real close finish but, win or loose, everyone had a fantastic time.
After the race, the teens, parents and volunteers enjoyed pizza and watched the videos. Seeing their peers tripping, singing, running, skating and generally making a fool out of themselves, caused the most uproarious laughter. I’m sure they will cherish that day for years to come!
Someone pointed out this website to me when I was looking for an Amazing Race plan for my teen daughter. It’s basically an amazing race where you buy each of the legs separately. When I looked at it there were legs at a house, poll, library and mall.
We have a packaged party plan built around the Amazing Race currently available through Ebay called “Amazing Chase”. Four different legs are available for about a dollar each. The web is full of great ideas but these packages guide you through the party planning in detail and provide all the documents you need. We found that amazing race parties are simply the most fun you and your kids can have on a birthday, but they take a lot of effort. The memories are worth it!
Check this site for amazing race-style party plans:
www3.telus.net/chase-games
I am having a party of the amazing race. I am doing each stop a different country and my friends bro is being a piolet. Also at one of the beaches i go to in california there is an amazing race once a year. I am trying it this year for ideas.