Station 1: Sleigh Part Maze

Elf Recreation Stations - Build Guide

WEIGHT IS CRITICAL: This board is held freely in the air by 2-4 players during gameplay. All material choices must prioritize lightweight construction while maintaining durability for 30 shows. Target total weight: 15 lbs or less per board.

Game Type: Competitive 2 or 4 players

Board Size: 36" × 36"

Boards Needed: 3 (Easy, Medium, Hard)

Target Weight: ~15 lbs max per board

Play Style: Handheld - players hold board by rope loops

Balls: 8-12 ball pit balls per game

How It's Played

2 Players: Players stand on opposing sides. Each player holds 2 corner rope loops (one in each hand). Teams tilt the board to roll balls into their hole.

4 Players: Players stand at corners. Each player holds 1 corner rope loop. Teams of 2 (diagonal corners) work together to score.

The board is held freely in the air - not attached to anything during play. Collection tubs sit on the floor beneath the holes to catch scored balls.

GAMEPLAY SETUP - 2 PLAYERS

Board Construction

LIGHTWEIGHT PRIORITY: Choose materials that minimize weight. The board must be comfortable to hold for extended gameplay. Avoid heavy hardwoods or thick stock where thinner/lighter options work.

Materials - Per Board

Part	Material	Dimensions	Qty	Est. Weight
Base	3/8" Baltic Birch plywood	36" × 36"	1	~8-10 lbs
Border walls	1×2 pine (select lightweight boards)	36" long	4	~2 lbs
Corner blocks	1×2 pine	3" pieces	8	~0.5 lb
Eyebolts	1/4" × 1.5" with nuts	-	8	~0.5 lb
Rope	3/8" braided cotton	~18" per corner	6 ft total	~0.5 lb
Barriers (Med/Hard only)	1/2" × 1.5" pine strips	4-8" pieces	4-8	~1 lb

Estimated Total Weight:
Easy board: ~12-13 lbs | Medium board: ~13-14 lbs | Hard board: ~14-15 lbs

Material Selection Tips:

When selecting pine boards, pick the lightest ones - weight varies significantly
Baltic Birch is preferred over standard plywood for strength-to-weight ratio
3/8" provides adequate rigidity without excessive weight
Cotton rope is softer on hands than nylon during extended play

Corner Rope Setup

Each corner has 2 eyebolts - one on each edge meeting at the corner. A single rope threads through both to create a loop handle.

CORNER DETAIL - TOP VIEW

Rope Assembly

Install 2 eyebolts at each corner - one on top edge, one on side edge (8 total per board)
Position eyebolts ~4-5" apart, measured from corner
Cut rope: ~18" per corner (72" / 6 ft total per board)
Thread rope through both eyebolts at corner
Tie ends together to form a continuous loop
Loop should hang ~6-8" below board edge for comfortable grip

Hole Placement (Different Per Board)

Two 4" diameter holes per board. Each board has different hole positions AND distances to create distinct gameplay.

PROXIMITY = DIFFICULTY: As holes get closer together, the risk of accidentally scoring for your opponent increases. Hard mode is chaos - one bad tilt and you score for the other team.

Board	Hole A (from left, from top)	Hole B (from left, from top)	Distance Apart	Strategy
EASY	9", 9"	27", 27"	~25"	Safe - holes far apart in corners
MEDIUM	10", 18"	22", 18"	~12"	Same row - horizontal tilt matters most
HARD	15", 16"	21", 20"	~7"	Near center - high own-goal risk

HOLE POSITIONS BY BOARD (scale: 180px = 36")

Three Board Variations

EASY

Barriers: None (border only)

Strategy: Pure tilt control

Best for: Young kids, beginners

MEDIUM

Barriers: 4 floating walls

Strategy: Navigate around obstacles

Best for: Families, casual play

HARD

Barriers: 7-8 walls, tighter paths

Strategy: Precision required

Best for: Teens, adults

BARRIER DESIGN RULES:

Ball pit balls = 2.75" diameter
Minimum gap between barriers = 4" (ball + clearance)
Barriers must NOT touch border walls (floating only)
No dead-end traps - balls must be able to escape any area
Barrier material: 1/2" × 1.5" pine strips, glued to surface

EASY BOARD - No Barriers

Border walls only. Pure tilt control. Best for young kids and beginners.

EASY BOARD - HOLE PLACEMENT ONLY

Hole positions: A at 9", 9" | B at 27", 27" (near corners = short roll to score)

MEDIUM BOARD - 4 Barriers

Hole layout: Both holes on same horizontal row (18" from top), 12" apart. Barriers create vertical obstacles.

MEDIUM BARRIER LAYOUT (dimensions in inches)

Barrier	From Left	From Top	Size	Type	Purpose
B1	15"	14"	8"	Vertical	Wall between the two holes
B2	5"	12"	6"	Vertical	Protects left approach to Hole A
B3	27"	14"	6"	Vertical	Protects right approach to Hole B
B4	12"	24"	8"	Horizontal	Deflector below both holes

Hole positions: A at 10", 18" | B at 22", 18" (same row, ~12" apart)

Gap check: All gaps 5"+ (exceeds 4" minimum). Center barrier creates a "choose your side" dynamic.

HARD BOARD - 7 Barriers

Hole layout: Both holes near center, only ~7" apart. Short barrier between them creates bounces. Outer ring funnels balls to danger zone!

HARD BARRIER LAYOUT (dimensions in inches)

Barrier	From Left	From Top	Size	Type	Purpose
1	6"	6"	6"	Horizontal	Top left deflector
2	24"	6"	6"	Horizontal	Top right deflector
3	7"	15"	6"	Vertical	Left side channel
4	27.5"	15"	6"	Vertical	Right side channel
5	6"	28.5"	6"	Horizontal	Bottom left deflector
6	24"	28.5"	6"	Horizontal	Bottom right deflector
7	17"	17.5"	2"	Horizontal	Chaos nub between holes

Hole positions: A at 15", 16" | B at 21", 20" (~7" apart - CLOSE!)

Strategy: Outer ring funnels balls to center. Short barrier (#7) between holes creates unpredictable bounces.

Gap check: All gaps 5"+. The real challenge is the close holes, not tight barriers.

BUILD TIP: Mark barrier positions on board with pencil before gluing. Test with actual ball to verify gaps before permanent attachment.

Storage Stand

Simple stand to hold the board when not in use. Not used during gameplay.

Requirements

Holds board at comfortable height (~36-40" from floor)
Space underneath for 2 collection tubs
Lips/ledges around perimeter to mark player positions
Portable - easy to move between locations
Can hold any of the 3 board variations

Stand Design TBD: Basic table-style frame with open bottom for tub storage. Final dimensions depend on tub sizes selected. Stand does NOT need to support gameplay forces - only static board weight.

Game Supplies

Item	Spec	Qty	Notes
Ball pit balls	2.75" diameter, bright colors	30-40 total	Enough for all 3 stations + spares
Collection tubs	~12" wide bins/buckets	2 per station (6 total)	Catch balls through holes
Ball storage bins	Small containers	2 per station	Divide balls at game start

Hardware Summary - Per Board

Item	Size	Qty
Eyebolts with nuts	1/4" × 1.5"	8
Wood screws	1.25" - for border walls	~20
Wood glue	-	As needed
Braided cotton rope	3/8" diameter	6 ft