Superhero training camp

What it is

A training camp where children “become” superheroes. They create their own hero identity, design a cape, then prove their powers on an obstacle course before working together to defeat a villain. It burns a lot of energy, so it suits active kids, and it avoids licensing by letting children invent their own heroes.

Plan ahead

• Two weeks before: send invitations as “top secret recruitment letters” and ask guests to come dressed in their favourite colours.
• One week before: buy plain capes and masks, felt shapes or fabric pens, and gather obstacle course gear: cones, hoops, a play tunnel, a skipping rope and pool noodles.
• The day before: make the slime (or buy it), freeze a few toy figures in ice cubes, and print certificates.

Set the scene

Cut a city skyline from black bin bags or card and tape it along a fence or wall. Add “POW!” and “ZAP!” comic signs. Mark out the training course with cones. Indoors, use sofa cushions for walls and a hallway for the tunnel.

Activities

Cape design

Lay out felt letters, lightning bolts, stars and fabric markers. Each child designs an emblem for their hero name. Fabric glue dries slowly, so do this first and let capes dry while you play the next game.

Training course

Set up 6-8 stations: crawl through the tunnel (“secret passage”), jump through hoops (“energy rings”), zig-zag through cones (“dodge the lasers”), throw a beanbag at a villain poster (“power blast”), balance along a rope on the floor (“tightrope”) and sprint to the finish. Time each run and give everyone a “personal best”.

Villain showdown

An adult or older sibling dresses as the villain (a cape and a silly hat is enough) and announces that the city’s citizens are trapped. Children search tubs of slime to rescue small figures, and use warm water and spoons to free others from ice. Once all are rescued, everyone chases the villain off the premises.

Food and drink

• “Power sandwiches” cut into lightning bolt shapes
• Hero fuel: fruit kebabs in rainbow order
• Popcorn in comic-style cups
• A cake with a city skyline and a small cape on top

Tips

• Stick name labels on the inside of each cape before decorating.
• Keep the course safe: no high jumps, and have a grown-up at the tunnel.
• If indoors, swap sprinting for “slow-motion hero runs” to stop collisions.