🎄 Elf Recreation Room 🎄
Where Santa's elves go to play between shifts!
Station 1: Sleigh Part Maze
Concept: Collaborative maze balance challenge. A tilting platform with raised maze walls sits on a table. 2-4 players each hold a different side/handle of the platform and must work together to tilt and navigate balls through the maze paths to the goal without falling off. Requires teamwork, communication, and coordinated control. The elves use this to practice working together on delicate sleigh assembly!
Build Requirements
Materials:
• Wooden platform/board (24" x 18" approx)
• Raised maze walls creating paths (1-2" high)
• 1-2 balls (foam or rubber, 2-3" diameter)
• 4 handles or grips on each side of platform
• Catch basket below (when balls fall off)
• Sturdy table or stand (waist height)
Construction:
• Platform must tilt smoothly in all directions
• Maze walls create clear paths from start to finish
• Multiple difficulty paths (easy route vs. hard route)
• Handles positioned for 2-4 players to grip
• Non-slip surface on platform (paint with texture)
• Goal hole or zone at end of maze
Self-Guided Signage
⚙️ SLEIGH PART MAZE ⚙️
Elf Teamwork Training!
Work together to guide the sleigh part through the maze!
Don't let it fall off!
How to play:
1. Each person holds one side of the platform
2. Tilt together to guide ball through maze paths
3. Navigate to the goal without falling off!
4. Try the harder routes for a challenge!
🎅 Elves practice teamwork for delicate sleigh assembly 🎅
When finished: Please return balls to the catch basket for the next group. Thank you!
Durability & Reset
Durability Considerations:
• Wooden platform and maze walls - very durable, 30+ shows no problem
• Foam balls won't break or damage anything
• Handles may need reinforcement over time
• Maze walls secured firmly to base
Reset:
• Self-resetting - balls fall into catch basket
• Next group picks up balls and starts from beginning
• No staff intervention needed
• Check daily: all balls present, platform and handles secure
Station 2: Reindeer Wreath Decorating
Concept: Festive ring toss with Christmas wreath theming. Free-standing antler rack (shaped like reindeer antlers) serves as the target. Players toss wreath rings to decorate the reindeer's antlers for Christmas Eve! Rings can be decorated with fake greenery/ribbon to look more wreath-like. Quick, familiar gameplay that works for all ages. Help the reindeer get ready for the big flight!
Build Requirements
Materials:
• Antler-shaped rack (wood or dense foam)
• Optional: paint antlers with reindeer features (eyes, nose)
• Heavy base for stability (weighted wood platform)
• 6-10 rope rings (8-10" diameter) decorated as wreaths
• Optional: fake greenery, ribbon on rings for wreath appearance
• Ring storage hooks on side of base
• Floor markers for throwing distances (tape or painted)
• Sign post attached to base
Construction:
• Antler branches at varying heights (easy to hard)
• Base weighted so it won't tip if hit
• Antler points smooth (no sharp edges)
• Rings sized for easy hook-on
• Distance markers: 3 feet (easy), 5 feet (medium), 8 feet (hard)
Self-Guided Signage
🦌 REINDEER WREATH DECORATING 🦌
Help Decorate the Reindeer!
The reindeer need festive wreaths for Christmas Eve!
Toss wreaths onto their antlers to dress them up!
How to play:
1. Stand at a distance marker
2. Toss wreaths to hook on the antler points
3. Try from different distances!
🎄 Lower antlers = easier
Higher antlers = harder! 🎄
When finished: Please hang wreaths back on the hooks for the next group. Thank you!
Durability & Reset
Durability Considerations:
• Wooden antlers very durable
• Foam antlers won't hurt anyone if bumped
• Rope rings last indefinitely
• Fake greenery may need occasional touch-ups
• Weighted base prevents tipping
• Check bolts/screws weekly
Reset:
• Guests retrieve wreaths and hang on hooks
• Self-resetting system
• No staff needed
• Check daily: all wreaths present, base stable
Station 3: Snowball Toss
Concept: Bean bag toss into tiered buckets or targets. White bean bags represent snowballs. Three targets at different distances/heights create varying difficulty. Simple carnival game everyone understands. Elves practice their "precision snowball fights"!
Build Requirements
Materials:
• 3 buckets or bins (different sizes)
• Tiered stand OR arrange at different distances
• 6-8 white bean bags ("snowballs")
• Bean bag storage basket
• Point value signs (just for fun, not tracked)
• Throwing line marker on floor
Construction:
• Buckets weighted or secured (won't tip)
• Bean bags sewn sturdy (double-stitch)
• Stand/platform stable
• Easy setup: closest target = biggest/easiest
• Farthest/smallest target = hardest
Self-Guided Signage
❄️ SNOWBALL TOSS ❄️
Elf Snowball Fight Practice!
Toss snowballs into the buckets!
How to play:
1. Stand behind the line
2. Toss "snowballs" (bean bags) into buckets
3. Closer buckets = easier
Far buckets = harder!
⛄ Return snowballs to basket when done ⛄
When finished: Please return all snowballs to the basket for the next group. Thank you!
Durability & Reset
Durability Considerations:
• Bean bags extremely durable
• Buckets won't break (plastic or metal)
• Stand needs stable construction
• No moving parts to break
Reset:
• Guests return bean bags to basket after play
• Self-resetting
• Check daily: all bean bags present, buckets secure
• Replace bean bags if seams open
Station 4: Toy Part Assembly Line
Concept: Two-player collaborative color sorting challenge inspired by Japanese coordination games. One player is the "Pitcher" who rolls colored balls down a half-pipe tube. The other player is the "Catcher" who holds a divided box with 4 colored compartments (blue, yellow, red, green) and must catch each ball in the matching colored section. Fast-paced teamwork game testing speed, accuracy, and coordination. Elves practice their assembly line skills for toy production!
Build Requirements
Materials:
• Long table (6-8 feet)
• Half-pipe tube/track (angled down length of table)
• Bin of colored balls (blue, yellow, red, green - 20-30 total)
• Divided catch box with 4 colored compartments
• Pitcher's ball bin (at start of tube)
• Scoreboard or counter (optional)
• Table positioned for two players at opposite ends
Construction:
• Half-pipe securely mounted to table at slight decline
• Balls sized to roll smoothly down tube (2-3" diameter)
• Catch box divided into 4 equal sections, each labeled/colored
• Catch box lightweight enough to hold and maneuver
• Tube height allows balls to roll across table at catchable speed
• Return bins for sorted balls
Self-Guided Signage
⚙️ TOY PART ASSEMBLY LINE ⚙️
Elf Teamwork Challenge!
One elf sends parts down the conveyor,
the other sorts them into the right bins!
How to play:
1. Pitcher: Stand at top, roll colored balls down tube
2. Catcher: Stand at bottom, hold sorting box
3. Catch each ball in the matching color compartment!
4. Count how many you sort correctly
5. Swap roles and try to beat your score!
🎁 Speed + Accuracy = Perfect Teamwork! 🎁
When finished: Please return all balls to the pitcher's bin for the next group. Thank you!
Durability & Reset
Durability Considerations:
• Wooden table and tube - very durable, 30+ shows no problem
• Plastic or rubber balls won't break
• Catch box may need reinforcement on corners
• Tube mounting should be checked for security
• Balls extremely durable
Reset:
• Self-resetting - collect balls from catch box, return to pitcher bin
• Next pair starts fresh round
• No staff intervention needed
• Check daily: all balls present (equal numbers of each color), tube secure
Station 5: Present Shuffle
Concept: Skee-ball style game with wrapped presents. Angled board with scoring zones painted on. Players slide wrapped foam boxes/pucks up the ramp to land in high-value zones. Requires precision and power control. Elves use this to practice "sleigh loading accuracy"!
Build Requirements
Materials:
• Angled ramp/board (4-6 feet long, 2 feet wide)
• Raised lip on sides (keeps pucks on track)
• Scoring zones painted/marked at top
• 4-6 wrapped foam pucks/boxes (lightweight, slideable)
• Return track OR manual retrieval
• Sturdy frame/legs to support angled board
Construction:
• Board angled 20-30 degrees
• Smooth surface (painted plywood or laminate)
• Scoring zones: 10, 25, 50, 100 (just for fun)
• Foam pucks wrapped to look like small presents
• Rim prevents pucks from sliding off sides
• Return track channeling pucks back OR guests retrieve manually
Self-Guided Signage
🎁 PRESENT SHUFFLE 🎁
Sleigh Loading Practice!
Slide the presents up the ramp into the scoring zones!
How to play:
1. Slide wrapped boxes up the ramp
2. Try to land in the high-point zones!
3. Take turns or compete with friends!
🎯 Higher zones = harder to reach! 🎯
When finished: Please return all pucks to the start for the next group. Thank you!
Durability & Reset
Durability Considerations:
• Wooden ramp very durable
• Foam pucks won't damage board
• Paint/markings may need touch-ups over 30 shows
• Frame must be solid (people will lean on it)
Reset:
• Pucks return via track OR guests retrieve
• Self-resetting if return track installed
• Manual reset if no return (guests grab from top)
• Check daily: all pucks present, board smooth and clean
Station 6: Blind Building Challenge
Concept: Collaborative communication challenge. One player is the "Blueprint Reader" who can see the instruction card showing what to build. The other player(s) are the "Builders" who have the materials but CANNOT see the instructions. Blueprint Reader gives verbal directions only. Builders must follow instructions to recreate the design within the time limit. Tests teamwork, communication, and spatial reasoning. Elves practice their workshop assembly skills!
Build Requirements
Materials:
• Building materials: 15-20 large wooden blocks, foam shapes, or modular pieces (durable, easy to handle)
• Instruction cards: 5-10 laminated cards showing different structures (varying difficulty)
• Barrier/divider: Small standing board to block Builder's view of card
• Timer: Visible countdown timer (5 or 10 minutes)
• Table: Work surface for building
• Storage bin: Holds all pieces and instruction cards
Construction:
• Blocks/shapes in different sizes, colors (for instruction variety)
• Instruction cards clearly illustrated with color, position details
• Difficulty levels marked: Easy (5-6 pieces), Medium (8-10 pieces), Hard (12-15 pieces)
• Divider/barrier stable and tall enough to block view
• Timer easily visible and audible
Self-Guided Signage
🎄 ELF ASSEMBLY LINE INSTRUCTIONS 🎄
Can you build toys without seeing the blueprint?
How to Play:
1. Choose a difficulty level (Easy/Medium/Hard)
2. One person is BLUEPRINT READER - can see instructions
3. Other person(s) are BUILDERS - CANNOT see instructions
4. Set timer for 5-10 minutes
5. Blueprint Reader gives VERBAL directions only
6. Builders follow directions to recreate the design
7. When done, check if it matches the card!
🎁 Tip: Clear communication is key! 🎁
🎅 Swap roles and try a harder level! 🎅
When finished: Please return all blocks to the bin and instruction card to the holder for the next group. Thank you!
Durability & Reset
Durability Considerations:
• Wooden/foam blocks extremely durable
• Laminated instruction cards won't wear out
• Barrier/divider may need occasional reinforcement
• Timer batteries should be checked weekly
Reset:
• Self-resetting - knock down structure, choose new card, rebuild
• Guests return blocks to bin and card to holder
• Zero consumables
• No staff intervention needed
• Check daily: all pieces present, instruction cards intact
🎄 Have fun in the Elf Recreation Room! 🎄