How To: Laser Obstacle Course

We've all seen the movies where the spy or thief has to navigate a field of lasers without touching any of them for fear of being caught by security.

Well if you are looking for a fun, easy obstacle course for your outdoor party, then you should definitely consider making one of these. I put this together for a backyard party we had a while back and the kids loved it, even the older ones. Not only was it fun, but getting through the course was a challenge for them. Each kid wanted to be the one to get through without hitting a "laser."

What you need:

• 8 tall tomato stakes (add more for a larger course and use less for a smaller one)
• A large roll of red yard
• A pack of craft bells with loops at the top
• Strong tape

Directions:

1. First you take your tomato stakes and put them in the ground about a yard apart from each other so that you have two rows of four.
2. Take the red yarn and tie it to one of the poles at the short end of your two rows. Reinforce your knot with tape, wrapping it around the yarn so that it doesn't slide down the pole.
3. String a craft bell onto the yarn and then stretch the yarn across to the opposite pole, wrapping it around that pole a couple of times and reinforcing the wrap with tape. Move the bell so that it is hanging right in the middle between the two poles.

1. Keep wrapping your string around and between all of the poles, threading bells and reinforcing with tape as you go. The point is to make it complex and random so that the kids have to figure out a way through the course without hitting the yarn and setting off a bell. Make sure to leave spaces big enough so that the kids can fit through them.

This worked super well for us, and the kids had so much fun. 

The Pros:

• The older kids enjoyed this too because it presented them with a challenge. Granted, the bigger kids you get, the bigger poles you need to use.
• This was really cheep as far as obstacle courses go. We bought a massive pack of bamboo tomato poles, so they weren't too pricey. And the tape was just the masking tape that we already had at home.
• It was different. How many home parties offer a "laser" course? Not many, my friend.

The Cons:

• The bells aren't super loud. But even if we couldn't hear the bell we could see the yarn move. So in the end it worked anyway.
• This wasn't easy on our grass. As the kids crawled and worked their way around the poles it matted it down. Thankfully it popped right back up soon after the party.

Would I make this again? Yes, Definitely!

Need inspiration for your laser obstacle course? Check out this scene from Oceans Twelve!