Hobbies And Interests
Ladder Toss
Also called Ladder Golf, Monkey Ball and Hillbilly Golf, Ladder Toss is a fun and competitive outdoor game. The game requires two small three-rung ladders, usually made of plastic pipe. The ladders are placed 15 to 21 feet apart. One person from each team stands at each ladder. Players take turns tossing a bolo, a rope with golf-size balls on each end, at the opposite ladder. If the bolo catches the bottom rung, that team scores one point. If the bolo lands on the middle rung, the team scores two points. A bolo that lands on the top rung scores three points. As in the game of Cornhole, teams' scores in each round can cancel each other. If team A lands a bolo on the top rung and team B lands two, team B scores three points and team A scores nothing. The team that reaches 21 first wins.
Ladder Climb
Ladder climbing races are usually played with rope ladders, but can be played with a very stable fixed ladder as well. Children can compete to see who can climb the ladder to a fixed point, usually marked by a bell, the fastest. If two ladders are available, children can work as a team to see how fast the entire team can reach the top and climb back down.
Ladder Relays
Relay races are great for teamwork and cooperation. Children can work in pairs or small groups to carry a ladder from point A to point B on a race course. To make the race more interesting, cones or obstacles can be placed in the path of the ladder carriers. A second pair or group waiting at point B takes the ladder from the first group and runs back to point A. The first team to return to the beginning point wins. To make the game more challenging, children can carry a team member or an object (such as a beach ball) on the ladder. This requires the ladder to be carried flat so the person or object does not fall.
Obstacle Course
Straight ladders or double ladders make great objects for an obstacle course. Tires, hula hoops and other common objects can be added. Ladder climbing can also be part of the obstacle course, if the ladder is stable enough for climbing.
Human Ladder
Two teams of six or more children sit across from each other on the ground. Each child should be at least an arm's length away from the kids on each side. The children sit with their legs outstretched and their feet touching the feet of the person across from them, making a "human ladder." A flag for each team is placed at one end of the row. When the race begins, the team leaders hop up from their positions at the opposite end of the ladder. The leaders run, jumping over their teammates' legs, grab the flag, run to a marker at the other end of the course and race back to their original positions. The child hands off the team flag to the next person in line, who runs to the same posts. The first team to complete the relay wins.