Tag: cornhole

Outdoor Fun At the Lake: Cornhole

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

Cornhole is a fun recreational activity similar to a bean bag toss game. It is played on a lawn and requires players to throw bean bags at raised platforms. This has become a very popular game to play at picnics, tailgating, and other social events.

The great thing about cornhole is that you can build a cornhole set with just a few supplies. Also, it takes hardly any time at all. In fact, you can build your set and start playing as soon as this weekend!

Regulations

The American Cornhole Association states that platforms must be 48 inches by 24 inches in a rectangle shape made from plywood of about one half an inch thick.

The front part of the platform will be about 2.5 to 4 inches in height, and the back will be about 12 inches or so off of the ground. Bags, according to regulation standards, need to be made out of a duck canvas filled with corn feed and can only be 6 inches wide.

Corn Hole BoardYou are able to purchase these bean bags online for about $30. There are also ones that are filled with plastic and that are weatherproof, so if you leave the bean bags out in the rain, they will not be damaged.

Fun to Play Anywhere, Anytime!

Cornhole has taken off in popularity thanks to its simplicity and ease of transport.

It is common to see cornhole sets while tailgating for sports, at local breweries and pubs, and is even commonplace in your typical backyard.

Cornhole also pairs well with grilling. Particularly at the lake, you are provided spectacular views while the game is being played!

Supplies That You Will Need

The following is a list of basic supplies to give you an idea of what you will need:

  • Two 24 inch by 48 inch plywood sections for the bean bag landing zone
  • Four 2×4 x 21 for the frame
  • Four 2×4 x 11 and a half pieces for the legs
  • Circular saw or jig saw
  • Drill
  • Router
  • Hardware for the frame

For fully detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to construct your own set, visit the Cornhole How-To website. In addition to the free information on how to build a set, the site also offers an e-book for $4.99. This book details advanced game techniques as well as step-by-step picture instructions.

Whether you’re having a picnic or a cookout, or simply a fun Sunday afternoon, cornhole can be fun for everyone involved. It should not take more than a day to build your set, and then you will be able to enjoy it any time you want.

For more family fun article, check out our stories about geocaching and the hottest summer must-have lake toys of last year!

Fun Outdoor Games for the Family

Posted on Glenn S. Phillips

Studies have shown the recent trend of indoor entertainment and various electrical technologies have an increasingly negative impact on children.

The multitude of gaming consoles, the plethora of new children-oriented television channels, and the emphasis on technology for every single activity directly correlates with overall poor health.

So, how can you coax the kids outside or pry your kids away from all of these devices? Take them to the great outdoors! Encourage your kids to stay active and inspire them to get up and moving! To do so, try some of these fun lake or outdoor games and activities for your whole family.

Cornhole

Outdoor Games: Corn hole
Photo courtesy of www.thesprucecrafts.com

Cornhole, also known as bean bag toss, is a yard game that’s simple and fun for everyone. Two boards with holes in them are lined up a set distance away from one another and people take turns trying to ring the hole with the bean bags.

A bag in the hole scores 3 points while a bag sitting on the board is worth 1 point. Players takes turns throwing and the first to reach 21 points is the winner!

For younger children, simply move the boards closer together, lessening the difficulty of the game.

Flashlight Tag

This simple and fun outdoors game is good for children and family members as well. The game rules are pretty simple and can be enjoyed especially if you are near a lake and trees.

To start out, choose who will be “it” by drawing straws, rock, paper, scissors, or any other similar game. The one who is “it” will then run around trying to tag anyone else playing the game, or trap them in the light of the flashlight.

Animal and Bird Watching

Outdoor Games: bird watching
Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com

While this may sound a bit cliché, it nevertheless proves to be one of the best outdoor activities for the kids and family. If you are near a lake, you probably won’t need to visit any camping site or forest parks to do animal or bird watching.

This is because you can find many wildlife species around the nearby trees and many fish species in the lake itself. There may also be turtles, beavers, or frogs just outside your back porch!

In addition, you may also be able to hear the chiming of birds during the evening which proves to be relaxing for both kids and elders.

Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn’t love to go on adventures and quests? What’s good about scavenger hunts is they involve physical activity and this means you and your kids will get a lot of exercise and fun at the same time. You can plan out the route first and perhaps take a tour around your nearby lake.

However, prior to the game, warn the kids to avoid things like prickly plants, poison ivy, and sumac which might be lurking in the trees around your lake.

So, now that you are familiar with the outdoor games mentioned above, getting your kids to leave their electronic devices and play outside for a change won’t be a problem. You could also designate an area in your yard to set up a simple pole for a game of horseshoes.

Use your imagination, and talk to your kids about their favorite activities in order to make getting outdoors more fun for the whole family!