1. Glow in the Dark or Black Light scavenger huntProgram Description: Lead teens through the library with a series of clues. At the end of each clue, teens find the glowing item and the next clue using a black light.

Cost = $40 per 20 teens.

Note: This is the cost of 5 blacklights + a package w/multiple colors of glow paint. It will cost more if you buy, rather than make the glow-in-the-dark objects. You can also spend more money, if you buy prizes for the winners. Make it cheap and easy – buy candy!

Materials Needed:o 5 black light flashlights (1 for each group of 4 teens)o Cheap glow-in-the-dark toys from Oriental Tradingo Glow-in-the-dark fabric painto Cheap paint brusheso Small objects to paint w/glow paint

Staff Prep:- Decide what glowing items you’ll be hiding around your library. You can buy small

items from Oriental Trading OR to reduce costs, paint small objects (ex. rocks) with glow paint.

- If you’ll be painting items, make each item distinct in color or shape, so that you’ll be able to tell that the teens made it to each spot.

- Find approximately 10 hiding places around your library. - Write 10 numbered clues to help teens find the hiding spots.

Event Instructions:- Divide teens into groups of 4.- Give each group a bag to hold their found objects, a black light and a DIFFERENT

clue.- The first group to find all of the objects wins!

2. Night-time Ninja ChallengeTrain teens to be stealthly, night-time Ninjas using the highly sophisticated and proven training techniques below. Teens complete each training exercise in groups, competing against one another. The group that earns the most points wins Top Ninja.

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Cost = Varies from $0 and up depending on which challenges you do and how many supplies you can find around your house and library.

Getting Started:- Determine from reading each challenge where the suitable place to hold your event

will be (outside may be best). - Gather necessary supplies - Make the game your own. Change the rules or add your own challenges. - Photocopy enough score cards so each team will have their own. You can be

responsible for recording their score cards at each round or let them do it.- Mark start and finish lines for each challenge.- Make sure the timers are working properly and that you and other staff know how to

use them.- Divide participants into groups of 3 to 4 people.- Determine how you will award winners and if you want to have prizes for the runner

ups. - Have fun!

Ninja Skill 1: PATIENCE

Playing Card Tower Challenge

Teams compete to see who can build either the tallest or fastest card tower wins.

Materials Needed- At least 26 playing cards for each team

Instructions- Two options for scoring: (1) Each team can be given a certain amount of time to

build a tower out of playing cards (you can determine time according to how easy or challenging you would like it to be); or (2) 2 teams go at a time, you hold 2 clock watches – higher points are given for least amount of time to complete or less points for most amount of time to complete.

- The teens who have successfully built a tower that is at least 2 stories high and uses at least 20 playing cards within the time allowed (or with the least amount of time) are given 5 points.

- The tower must be made of playing cards only. - If they complete the challenge, stamp their card and award them 5 points. If they

don’t, either cross off the challenge on their card or write “0” in the square.

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Ninja Skill 2: A“CUTE”NESS

Wild Animal Vaccination Challenge

Teams compete to see who can vaccinate the most wild animals.

Materials Needed- 4 suction cup dart guns (Dollar Store)- 5 stuffed animals (Dollar Store or raid a child’s room)- Masking tape to mark starting line

Instructions- Each team needs to hit 3 animals with the suction cup gun. Place the animals a fair

distance away from shooting line.- Only one person from each team can shoot at a time, but they can switch people if

they want to.- Once the team has either hit 3 animals or given up, award them points on their score

cards:

1 point = 1 animal3 points = 2 animals5 points = 3 animals

Ninja Skill 3: COMPOSURE

Water Relay Challenge

Teams compete in a relay race to see who can fill a cup of water with a spoon fastest.

Materials Needed- 6 Cups with drawn water markers- Spoons- 2 Buckets- Food coloring - Water

Instructions- Prepare cups by adding 3 drops of food coloring (optional). - Teams must fill a cup of water to the line marked outside by carrying water from a

bucket, across the grass, to the cup. - Give each team member a spoon. They can all work at the same time.

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- Once they’ve finished, stamp their card, award them 0, 5 or 10 points, depending on which line they reached,

- Consider giving a time limit of 5 minutes to see if they can make it to the 5 point line in time. If they finish in time, give them the option to continue to the 10 point line by 5 minute deadline. If they attempt and make it, they get 10 points. If they misjudge their time and do not make it, they get 0 points.

Ninja Skill 4: ENDURANCE

Hula Hoop Challenge

Who can hula hoop the longest? Teams pick their best competitor to represent themselves. This one’s a hard one, so let them switch if their first pick doesn’t work out.

Materials Needed- 4 hula hoops- Stop watch

Instructions- At least one person from each team must hula hoop for:

o 15 seconds to earn 5 pointso 30 seconds to earn 10 points

- During the 15 & 30 seconds, the hula hoop must be moving in a circular motion, cannot fall below the teens’ knees and cannot be touched by anything except the teen’s torso, and legs (i.e. no hands, arms, another teens hands, etc!)

- If they complete the challenge, stamp their card, award them 0, 5, or 10 points (depending on which goal they reached)

Ninja Skill 5: POSTURE

Balance Your Books Challenge

Teams compete in a book balancing relay race.

Materials Needed- Books

Instructions- To complete the challenge, 1-3 teens must walk from the starting line to the finish

line with a book balanced on their head.

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- They cannot use their hands to hold the book or rebalance it while they are making the journey.

- Time limit is optional.- Once the team has either completed the challenge or given up, award them points:

1 point = 1 person completed3 points = 2 people completed5 points = 3 people completed

Ninja Skill 6: AGILITY

Spelling Challenge

Teams must spell something in people – like the YMCA song, but an actual word.

Materials Needed- None

Instructions- Teens can sit, stand or lay down.- Give them a reasonable time limit in which to complete the task- If they spell their word within the time frame, give them 5 points, if not they get 0.- Consider giving bonus points for longer words.

Ninja Skill 7: STRENGTH

Pillowcase Challenge

Teams show their strength in this sack race competition.

Materials Needed- 8 Pillowcases

Instructions- Each team member must get into a pillowcase, jump to a large object, touch it and

return to the starting line.- If the whole team completes the challenge, award them 5 points- You may want to make this a timed event, in which all teams must make it to the

finish line within a certain time OR the rule could be that all team members must make it to the finish line without falling or the team does not get the 5 points.

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Ninja Skill 8: BRAVERY

Food Challenge Teams earn points by eating gross foods.

Materials Needed- Food - Forks - Plates - Water and something good to eat (to wash the bad taste out of their mouths)

Instructions- Similar to the television show, Fear Factor, participants have to eat gross food in

order to gain points. - Choose 3 items from food suggestions listed below. Most can be found at a local

grocery store. Soggy bread (1 slice) - Before the event, pour water on top of 6 slices of

bread, cover and let sit. Vegemite (1 tsp on a cracker) –available at Cost Plus Baby food (1 small jar) Mayo (portion cup) Spam (2 slices) Brussels sprout (3) Lime Jell-O with cream cheese, olives, chow mien Sauerkraut (¼ cup) Sardines (2) Pickled eggs (2) Meal worms (9) – Make sure to buy those intended for human consumption Crickets (5) – Make sure to buy those intended for human consumption

- Before the event, prepare a plate of food for each team with 3 items on each plate.- Stamp the card and write in a point value when they have completed the task (or

given up):

1 point = 1 item eaten (all of it)3 points = 2 items eaten (all of them)5 points = Everything eaten

3. Camping party

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Program Idea: Host a camping party for teens. Make s’mores, tell ghost stories and display scary books for teens. For more fun, set up a tent and make it into a mini haunted house and dare teens to go in one at a time. Or have a volunteer pose as a palm reader or fortune teller inside.

Cost = $15 (s’mores ingredients)

Scary Stories: http://www.americanfolklore.net/spooky-stories.htmlhttp://www.ghostsandstories.com/index-2.html

Smore’s:See this site for instructions on how to make them in a microwave and toaster oven. http://w3.kraftbrands.com/HoneyMaid/smores/pages/how-to-make-smores.aspx

Make the traditional kind with graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate bars OR try one of these variations.

- Add peanut butter- Use chocolate graham crackers and replace the chocolate bar with

a caramel chewy candy.- Add sliced fruit

4. Jeopardy – Night editionTeens are divided into teams to play this night themed Jeopardy. Play the low tech way (below) or buy special Jeopardy kits that connect to your T.V.

Cost = $0 and up for prizes.

Materials Needed: Poster board Post-it notes – 1 pack Bold marker Construction paper square, approx. 6” x 6” – one for each District

Preparation: Draw a grid on both sides of the poster board with 5 columns and 6 rows. On side 1: write the Jeopardy! (1st round) categories in the top square of each

column in bold marker. Write 100 through 500 in the 1st column’s 2-6 squares in bold marker. Place a post –it note in each of the squares under the categories. Write 100 on the post-its in the 100 row. Repeat for the 200-500 rows.

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On side 2: write the Double Jeopardy! categories in the top square of each column in bold marker.

Write 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1,000 in the 1st column’s 2-6 squares in bold marker. Place a post –it note in each of the squares under the categories. Write 200 on the post-its in the 200 row. Repeat for the 400-1000 rows. Determine who will be the host and who will watch to see which team rings in first.

Instructions: Starting with the Jeopardy! Round, teams choose categories and point values from

the board. After the host reads the question teams who know the answer, should raise their

colored square as fast as possible. The first team to raise their square will be given a chance to answer the question. Answers must be in the form of a question. If they answer the question correct, they are awarded the points from that square on

the grid. If they do not, they lose the points from that square. The next team that raises their square will get a chance to answer the question, etc. The team that answers correctly gets to pick the next category and point value. Play continues until all questions have been read. Move on to the Double Jeopardy! Round and repeat. Now teams compete in the Final Jeopardy Round. First they must decide how many

of their accumulated points they’d like to bet. Each team writes it down on a piece of paper and turns it over.

The host reads the question and gives teams 2 minutes to decide on an answer and write it down.

Teams win or lose the number of points they bet, based on whether or not they got the answer correct.

The team with the most points wins.

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Single Jeopardy! Round

Score Astrological Signs Famous Ghosts Night Sky Night Words Nocturnal Animals

100The Lion.

Ichabod Crane encountered him on the way home.

They are placed in orbit for communication, weather prediction, etc.

It illuminates a child’s bedroom.

Nocturnal animal that hunts using echolocation.

  What is Leo?Who is the Headless Horseman? What are satellites? What is a nightlight? What is a bat?

200 The Bull.

Shakespearean play in which a ghost demands his son seek revenge for his murder.

Unusual anomaly in the sky that you can’t identify. You wear it to bed.

Masked animal who likes to raid the garbage.

  What is Taurus? What is Hamlet?

What is a U.F.O. or unidentified flying object? What is a nightgown? What is a raccoon?

300 The Twins.Call them if you have an infestation of ghosts.

Small, icy bodies that orbit the sun. It’s scary.

An unwelcome insect in the kitchen.

  What is Gemini?Who are the Ghostbusters? What is a comet? What is a nightmare? What is a cockroach?

400 The Crab.One of the Ghosts who visits Ebenezer Scrouge.

The number of planets that orbit the sun.

Someone who stays up late at night.

Cats can see in the dark, because theirs is larger.

  What is Cancer?

Who are Christmas Past, Christmas Present or Christmas Yet to Come? What is 8? Who is a nightowl? What is a pupil?

500 The Scales. He’s a friendly ghost.

A star cluster that is also called the “Seven Sisters.”

A good place to store your bedtime reading.

Western marsupial with a bare pink tail.

  What is Libra? Who is Casper? What is the Pleiades? What is a nightstand? What is an opossum?

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Double Jeopardy! Round

Score Constellations Famous Sleepers It Glows Shadow Animals** Vampires in Literature

200 Smaller of Little Bear.Animal kingdom sleeper who wakes up in Spring.

These insects abdomens glow yellow, green or pale-red. Butterfly

Short-lived vampire who has her own novella.

  What is Ursa Minor? What is a bear? What is a firefly? Who is Bree Tanner?

400 The Hunter.Fairy tale princess who slept for 100 years.

October’s birthstone, it also sometimes glow under a blacklight. Rabbit

Schuyler Van Alen is the star of this vampire series.

  What is Orion? Who is Sleeping Beauty? What is an opal? What is the Blue Bloods?

600

This constellation is dominated by the big dipper.

The bed she sleeps in is “just right.”

Phenomenon which produces a natural light show in the sky. Dog

In this series, there are 3 types of vampires: Moroi, Strigoi and Dhampir.

  What is Ursa Major? Who is Goldilocks? What is aurora borealis?What is Vampire Academy?

800 Water-bearer.

Fairy Tale in which a legume prevents the princess from sleeping.

Fish that uses a glowing fleshy growth on top of it’s head to lure prey. Duck

The author of the “House of Night” series.

  What is Aquarius?What is “The Princess and the Pea?” What is an anglerfish? Who is P.C. Cast?

1000

Canis Major contains this star, the brightest in the night sky.

He slept for 20 years after being lured away by ghosts.

Trick-or-treaters often use these objects to see on Halloween. Swan

Vampire hunter who was Dracula’s nemesis.

  Sirius Who is Rip Van Winkle? What is a glowstick?Who is (Professor Abraham) Van Helsing?

Final Jeopardy Round

Q: The stage of sleep where dreaming occurs. A. REM or rapid-eye movement

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5. Insomniac CaféTeach teens to make a variety of midnight snacks. I’ve included several ideas below, but you can make any snack food.

Costs = see individual recipes for approximate costs.

Homemade Hot Chocolate = $15

3 c. powdered sugar1 c. unsweetened cocoa1 c. coffee creamer1 tsp. salt5 1/3 c. nonfat dry milk

- Mix all ingredients together. To make a cup, add 1/3 c. to hot water or cold milk.

Chewy Caramel Popcorn Balls = $10

1/2 (14 oz.) pkg. vanilla caramels1 tbsp. Water2 tsp. Butter7 c. popped popcornButter

- Combine caramels, water, and 2 teaspoons butter into a 4-cup liquid measuring cup.- Microwave uncovered on 100% power (high) for 1 1/2 minutes. - Use a rubber scraper to stir until smooth. If caramels aren't soft enough to stir

smooth, microwave for 30 to 60 seconds more.- Put the popcorn into a large microwave-safe mixing bowl. - Pour the melted caramel mixture over the popcorn. Use 2 rubber scrapers to toss

gently until popcorn is coated with caramel.

Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix = $15-20

9 cups Chex or other grain cereal2 cups bite-size pretzel twists2 cups bite-size cheese crackers and/or Cheetos3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing and seasoning mix1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

- Combine cereal, pretzels and cheese crackers in large bowl.- Melt butter in microwave, pour over top of mixture and stir until evenly coated.

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- Add powered ranch dressing seasoning mix and parmesan and stir until evenly coated.

- Microwave uncovered on High 3 minutes, stirring each minute. - Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 15 minutes.

Peanut Butter Roll-ups = $20-25

4 whole wheat or flour tortillas1 jar creamy peanut butterFruit (bananas, strawberries, apple slices)RaisinsHoney

- Spread tortillas with peanut butter to within 1/2 inch of edges of tortillas. - Add honey if desired.- Top with your choice of fruit.- Carefully roll up tortillas.

Pita Pizzas = $30-40

1 pita bread round per person1 jar of pizza sauce per 6 teens1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese per personAssorted toppings (mushrooms, sliced olives, pepperoni, pineapple, etc.)Toaster Oven

- Top pita with sauce, cheese and then other toppings.- Cook in toaster oven for 5-10 minutes

Fruit Kebabs - $25-40

Wooden SkewersAssorted fruits cut into chunks (some good ideas include orange slices, apples, bananas, strawberries, grapes, melon, pineapple)Marshmallows (optional)Brownie bites (optional)

- Thread fruit and sweets on the skewers in patterns or randomly

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6. Glow in the Dark Shrinky Dinks

Make glow-in-the-dark Shrinky Dinks using Grafix shrink film. Teens drawn designs on the film and punch a hole in the top (for necklace or keychains) prior to shrinking. Teens can color them in with light colored sharpies ahead of time, but they glow more if you leave them clear and paint them after shrinking with glow paint. Vendors are listed in parentheses after each item.

Estimated Cost = $40 for 24 teens (2 sheets of shrink film per teen, 1 key chain and unlimited necklaces)

Materials Needed : o Toaster Oven (1-2)o Clear Shrink Film (eNasco.com)o Sharpies (black and light colors)o Tulip Glow-in-the-dark fabric paint

set (eNasco.com/Michaels)o Scissorso Spatulao Oven mitts o Hole Puncho Baking Pan that comes w/toaster

oven or small disposable panso Fork (for uncurling shrinky dink that

sticks to itself)o Cheap paint brusheso Key Chain Pieces (Dick Blick)o Hemp Cord 1 mm or 20 lb

(eNasco.com/Michaels)o Needle Nosed plierso Large Jump Rings (Michaels)

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Instructions: Note: the toaster oven should be turned on approximately 3-5 minutes before you

put the pan in. It heats up quickly! When it’s time, heat it to 350 degrees. Decide what you’d like your keychain or necklace to look like. Remember to leave

space at the top to punch a hole in the film. This will be where you connect the shrinky dink to the key chain or necklace.

As you draw your design, remember that a shrinky dink will SHRINK. If it starts out 4 x 5 inches, it will shrink to approx. 1 ½ x 2 inches.

Cut out your design. Punch a hole in the top center of the film. Make sure the hole is no more than 1/8 of

an inch from the edge of the film. Place your shrinky dinks inside the pan and put the pan in the toaster oven. It will

take approximately 2-3 minutes to shrink. Take it out as soon as it stops curling and is flat. If you leave it in too long it will look melted.

When your shrinky dink cools down, paint the back with glow paint. Use several layers or do a thicker initial coat to maximize glow.

Now decide if you want a key chain or necklace:

For a necklace: Measure out enough hemp cord for the longest necklace you’d wear, then add 2

inches to each side. Tie the shrinky dink onto the cord using a “lark’s cord knot.” This will allow the

shrinky dink to lay flat when you wear it: Fold the string in ½, finding the center. Push the folded center through the hole on your shrinky dink. Pull it through far enough so that you have a medium-sized loop on the other side of

the shrinky dink. Now, put the loose ends of the cord through the loop and pull tight. Tie the ends into a sliding knot. This will allow you to adjust the length of the

necklace. See instructions at: http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/sliding-knot.html

For a keychain: Open a jump ring using the needle nose pliers. Slip it through the link at the end of the keychain and then through the hole in your

shrinky dink. Crimp it closed using needle nosed pliers.

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7. Planet Mobile

Program Description: Make a mobile model of the universe.

Cost = $5 (for glow paint). You probably have everything else in your craft supplies.

Instructions:Available at: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/astronomy/solarsystemmodel/

I made the following modifications:- Used cardstock for the planets. - Cut out the planets using an Ellison die that has five different sized circles on one

die.- Added glow paint to the planets.

8. Glow-in-the-Dark bracelet

Cost = $11 for 20 teens.

Materials:o Rexlace, Neon Glow-in the Dark (Michaels has Creatology version) = 10 ft per teeno Glow-in-the-dark pony beads (480 pk from Michaels)o Scissorso Tape measureo Tape

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Instructions:- To make a 6-7 inch bracelet, cut a 72-inch length of rexlace. This will be your

knotting cord. Next, cut a 36-inch length of rexlace. This will be your filler cord. - Fold both cords in half. Place folded ends together and tie an overhand knot 1/2-inch

from end. Don’t make it too big, as this will be the “clasp” on your bracelet. (See diagrams A and B)

- Place knotted end of cords on a flat surface like a table. Tape the knot to the surface. Make sure that knotting cords lay on the outside and filler cords on the inside.

- Tie a series of square knots to measure 2 inches in length. (See diagram for square knot):

Bring knotting cord on left across filler cords and under right knotting cord as in “C”.

Then bring right knotting cord under filler cords and then through and over the loop made by left knotting cord.

Now grasp the end of knotting cord that is on the left. Bring this cord under the filler cords.

Grasp the end of knotting cord that is on the right. Bring it over the filler cords.

Bring knotting cords through loops on both sides, pull snuggly.- Add the bead through both of the filler cords. - Tie two more square knots and add the next bead. Repeat this process until you

have added 6-7 beads. - Tie another series of square knots measuring two inches in length. - To finish the bracelet, tie the cords into three overhand knots. Trim the ends of the

cord. To fasten the bracelet, push the ending knot through the beginning loop.

Instructions modified from: http://www.kreinik.com/kshop/product.php?productid=16285&cat=285&page=2

9. Lanterns

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Make lanterns with your teens using one of the two methods below:

Japanese Paper Lanterns – Cost = $22 for paper at Dick Blick. You probably already have colored sharpies and glue.

http://cdn.dickblick.com/lessonplans/pdfs/japanese_lanterns.pdf

Kaleidoscope Candle Holders

Cost = $26 for 20 teens. This covers the cost of 20 $1 candle holders from Walmart + modge podge, tissue paper and tea lights. Save money by using empty glass jars.

Materials:o Glass candle holderso Tissue paper – many colorso Modge Podge (“Gloss-Lustre” variety or try the “Sparkle” version, which contains

glitter)o Cheap Paint brushes o 2-3 Small plastic bowls (to wash paint brushes)o Paper towels (for clean up)o Tea lightso Optional: buy glow powder and mix a little into the Modge Podge. I haven’t tested it,

but I bet they’d glow too!

Instructions: Cut tissue paper into 4” x 4” or 6” x 6” squares, so each teen can have one square of

each color they’d like to use.

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Rip tissue paper into small odd-shaped chunks. Modge podge individual pieces of tissue paper pieces to the candle holder one at a

time. You can use the pieces to make a random design or create pictures or patterns. Let dry.

Add a tea light and you’re done!

10. Star Chart (passive)Program Description: Post print outs of a REAL star chart on your bulletin board or other key spot in your teen space and have a contest to see who can identify the most constellations.

Cost = FREE and up (if you offer prizes)

Instructions:- Print a star chart(s) with outlines of the constellations.- Block out the names of the constellations and give each a number. - Print entry sheets (name, email or phone number and a blank for each constellation)

and place them near the display. - Draw a winner from the names of teens who got them all correct (or closest!).

11. Fake Neon Sign

Program Description: Make a fake neon sign that glows under a black light using aquarium tubing and a few extra ingredients. Divide teens into groups of 4. They’ll need to help each other and can share supplies.

Cost = $30 (for tubing, highlighters and black light)

Materials: 100 ft. Flexible plastic aquarium tubing (approx 1 ft. per letter) 5 Glue gun

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20 Cardboard or other stiff backing for your sign 5 Fluorescent highlighter pens (multiple colors) 5 Buckets Water 1 Black light

Instructions:- Decide what word you want on your sign. Each letter takes between 8-12” of tubing,

so you might limit teens to a certain number of letters.- Practice forming your word with the tubing, so that you can get an idea of how much

tubing will be required. - Cut the tubing somewhat longer than what you think you will need. - Add 6 cups of water and the ink pad from a highlighter to a bucket. (Note: I was able

to pry the bottom off the end of the highlighter using a pair of scissors).- Fill the plastic tubing with your fake neon:

o Put one end of the tubing into the fluorescent liquid and raise it higher than the other end of the tubing.

o Place the lower end of the tubing into a cup so you won't have a big mess. Let gravity pull the liquid down the tube. You may need to suck on the tube to get the liquid moving.

- When the tubing is filled with liquid, lift the lower end up and seal with beads of hot glue. Seal the other end and hold until dry.

- Use hot glue to stick the tubing to the backing you have selected. Form the word for your sign. If you have excess tubing, carefully cut the end and seal it with hot glue.

- Illuminate the sign by turning on a black light.

Instructions modified from: http://chemistry.about.com/od/glowinthedarkprojects/a/fake-neon-sign.htm

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