Jane Maddin
1st Orleans Pathfinders
Orleans, Ontario
Canada
http://guiding.skl.com/1stOrleans-Path.html
A Ghost Pinata
Make a pinata. You need a large balloon to use as the form. Start
this a week before the party!!! Cover the balloon, except for an
opening big enough to allow you to stuff it with candy, with
strips of newspaper wet in flour and water. (Papier Mache). Cover
the balloon with several layers, using a length of string in the
middle of the layers so that you can hang it up afterwards.
Let the balloon dry in a warm place for 3 or 4 days. Fill with
candy (I always put enough candy for each of the participants - I
use a baggie for each girl, and I only put in candy that can
survive a pounding!!!) (Taffy, gum, that sort of thing; anything
brittle comes out as a powder!)
Decorate the outside of the pinata as a ghost - use a roll of
white toilet paper (It doesn't take a whole roll!) I just scotch
tape strips on until it looks well covered. I cut out three ovals
from black construction paper - two for eyes and one for a
howling mouth!
Then I hang it from the basket ball hoop - and with a blind fold
and a baseball bat I'm ready.
I have rules!!!!! No one crosses a certain line on the floor
unless they are the one to swing! (If there isn't a line on the
floor, I put one there with masking tape!) No one is to swing the
bat until we say GO! (We've never had any one get hit this way!)
Each person is lead up over the line, blindfolded and spun a
couple of times. Then they are to hold still till everyone is out
of the swinging zone.
There is a person holding the rope of the pinata. If there is a
large group and I am concerned that everyone won't get a chance,
I might raise the pinata so that the current swinger doesn't
connect too hard.
After the entire group has had a turn, I continue letting each
person in the line come up for a swing until the pinata breaks
apart.
Everyone gets a little baggie of candy and everyone has a safe
time and everyone has a BLAST!!