Christian Youth Camp - Knock Down, or Build Up

Christian Youth Camp -
Knock Down, or Build Up
In all our relationships the things we do can
say can either build up or tear down. This
wacky youth group game presents the same
choice to teams of youth.
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
www.CreativeScavengerHunts.com

Description
There are times when we have fun, draw closer to one another, talk about all
kinds of things, and experience the joy of being together. Other times though it
seems that the things we say, or things that are said to us seem to hurt even
more when it involves our families.
We often hear it said that the people we hurt the most are often the ones that
are closest to us. There are times I wish I could have taken back the words the
moment I’ve said them, but it’s often too late; damage done.

STACKERS
Resources
1. Plates and cups – You want an even number of plates and cups so
they can be stacked. Don’t use breakables ones as they will be
knocked over and dropped. Plastic works great, but you can also use
disposable ones. Be warned that if they are too light, they can be
easily blown over.
2. Balls – Tennis balls work well but you can use a smaller ball to make
the game more difficult or a bigger one to make it easier.

3. Instead of cups and saucers you can use other objects but must
take into account the weight of objects and the ball used. A light
ball won’t be able to knock down heavy objects. Other options
include using just cups, jenga blocks, shoe boxes, empty food cans
(beware of sharp edges), Pringles cans, cereal boxes, wooden
blocks, etc. The only requirement is that the objects must be easily
stackable by the youth.

Preparation
• Create an open space in the middle of a room or of an
outdoor area.
• Place the cups and saucers in a pile for each team.
• Set up teams an equal distance from the piles in the center.
The further away, the more difficult the game becomes.
• Give each team a ball.

What to Do
1. The first person on each team must run to the pile in the
center for his or her team in the play area and stack all the
plates and cups. The cups and saucers must be stacked so that
each cup rests on a saucer, then the next cup and saucer is
placed on top, continuing until a tower of cups and saucers is
built.
2. After the tower is built, the youth runs back to his or her team
and tags the next person.

3. The next person has a choice. EITHER run straight to their own
team’s tower in the center and unstuck and re-stack the cups
and saucers OR
4. Toss the ball to knock down another team’s tower. If the ball is
tossed, the next person in line must retrieve the ball and bring it
back to the group before the person who tossed it can run to
their tower in the center and unstuck and re-stack the plates
and saucers.

5. If a team’s tower is knocked down by another team, the
person who originally stacked that particular tower must run
to the center and stack them again before the next person can
go to the center and unstuck and re-stack the plates and
saucers.
6. The first team to have everyone on the team finish unstacking
and re-stacking their tower wins.

7. Strategically, a team has a choice to focus on building
their own towers or taking time to knock down other
towers so that they slow others down. Bear in mind that
they could knock down more than one tower with one
throw – including their own!

Take It to the Next Level
In all our relationships the things we do and say can either build
up or tear down. It always seems easier to tear someone down
rather than build them up. It takes a long time to build someone
up with positive words, words of life, words of blessing, but only
a moment to tear them down. And often, all the positive that
was done before is wiped out in an instant.

We can all remember occasions when we have personally been
torn down by someone’s hurtful words. Most of us have been
intentionally, or unintentionally torn someone down with our
words or actions.
• Paul tells the Christians to let no “unwholesome talk” come
out of their mouths. What are some things that might be
called “unwholesome talk”? Words that tear down?
• Why do people speak to others with hurtful words?

• What are some examples of words that build up?
• Before we do or say things to others, we need to ask ourselves,
will this build up or tear down? Will it benefit, or harm?
• How should we respond when we have been hurt by words?
• How should we respond if we have hurt others? What can we do
to make it right?
• How can we build up others who have been hurt?

Closing
Give each youth some adhesive address labels and a something to
write with. They must write down encouraging remarks on the
stickers and place them on the backs of other youth with a personal
comment to encourage them. Be sure to let the youth know this is a
time to be serious and if they can not do it in a meaningful, caring
way you’d rather them not participate. You might want to have some
soft music playing while they do this. Tell them to go build each other
up.

Then ask for volunteers to come to the front and read the words on
their back. Let the youth keep them and ask them to place them
some place at home where they will be reminded of the
encouraging words.
Action Point
Issue the youth a challenge to speak positive words to at least 2
persons everyday for the next week and then in the next meeting
ask them to share their experiences.

Scripture References
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good
repute, if there be any virtue, and if there is anything worthy of
praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8)
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that
which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto
the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Bible Studies based on the book of Jonah
Only. This youth camp curriculum was
designed to teach the basic truths
of obedience in addition to evangelism in the
context of a Biblical character. The advantage
of going through a book and looking at one
man's story is that we see not only the
teaching but the example. It becomes much
more real!
Camp Curriculum - Whale of a Tale
-> Tell me about “Whale of a Tale”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/resources/order5.html

Creative Youth Ideas
Camp Bible Study Series
“Who Do You Say that I AM?”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/resources/whodoyousay.html
-> Tell me about “Who Do You Say that I AM?”
Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do others
say that I am?" It was easy to answer
because it required no conviction, no
commitment, and no risk. But then he
follows that question with another, "Who
do YOU say that I am?"

Live the Fruitful, Abundant Life
Jesus Promised. Great for youth camps or
weekly Youth Bible Study. There are 7
Primary Bible study Sessions in the series.
www.creativeyouthideas.com/resources/fruitofthespirit.html
-> Tell me about “Fruit Of the Spirit”
Creative Youth Ideas
Youth Camp Bible Study Series
“Fruit Of the Spirit”

"The Great Adventure" is western
themed Bible study series loosely based
around the song of the same name by
Steven Curtis Chapman. It was initially
written for a large Texas Church to use for
their Summer Youth Camp but has since
then proven popular around the world.
Camp Curriculum - The Great Adventure
www.creativeyouthideas.com/resources/order12.html
-> Tell me about “The Great Adventure”

Christian Youth Camp - Knock Down, or Build Up

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