Candy Dash

Name and Purpose

Candy Dash is a high-energy seek-and-tag event that gets a large group moving, laughing, and celebrating together.
Players practise searching, decision-making, and group coordination in a big, joyful activity format.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 8-16 | 30-100+ players | 20-30 minutes | Large open outdoor field with surrounding bushes or trees for hiding, and a clear central open area for the flag pull

Materials

Wrapped individually packed candies (2-4 per staff member, enough for 1 candy per player)
4-6 staff members in playful costumes (helmets, knee pads, or silly accessories for fun)
Flag football belts or ribbon strips (1 per staff member) with candies clipped or safety-pinned to the flags
Cones to mark the central open area where flags may be pulled
Whistle for stop signals

Quick-Run Card

Attach wrapped candies to each staff member’s flag belt.
Players gather at the central field. Staff sneak out to hide.
On the signal (everyone calls together), the search begins.
When a player finds a staff member, they call out loudly. Nearby players join.
Staff member moves to the central open area. Players pull one flag each to claim one candy.

Setup and Boundaries

Designate a central open area (cone-marked) where all flag pulls happen. No candy is claimed outside this zone.
Staff hide within a clearly defined boundary (set the perimeter before play)
Signal: 2 whistle blasts from the lead staff member = everyone stop and gather at the central area. Used for safety holds and end of game.
Check the hiding and running area for hazards before play: holes, low branches, uneven ground

How to Play

Staff members each attach 2-4 wrapped candies to their flag belt using clips or safety pins. Tape alone is not reliable in this context.
Staff put on their costumes (fun and optional, but makes the game more memorable).
All players gather in the central open area. Staff slip away to hide in the surrounding bushes or trees within the agreed boundary.
When staff are hidden, the lead staff member gives a signal. Players all yell the agreed start call together (agree on the call before the game: “Candy Dash!” works well).
Players spread out to search for hidden staff within the boundary.
When a player spots a staff member, they call out loudly. Other nearby players hear the call and converge.
The staff member immediately makes their way to the central open area (not while surrounded by a closing crowd). This keeps the flag pull safe.
In the central area, players pull one flag each to take one candy. One candy per player. Once a player has one candy, they step back and cheer on others.
Staff may call out a decoy location to create a funny moment. This is optional and camp-culture dependent.
The game ends when all flags have been pulled or when time is called. Any remaining candies are distributed to players who did not get one.
All players should leave with one candy. Staff monitor this before the game ends.

I-OPt Options

Start
- A (Active): Sprint out to search the full boundary area
- S (Support): Coordinate a search grid with nearby players
- Q (Quiet): Search methodically at a walking pace
- O (Observer): Watch the first discovery happen, then join the search
Mid
- A (Active): Run toward a called location as soon as you hear it
- S (Support): Call out locations clearly so other players can find their way
- Q (Quiet): Walk to the location at your own pace
- O (Observer): Track which areas have been searched and direct others
Late
- A (Active): Pull a flag in the central area
- S (Support): Step back after claiming your candy and cheer others
- Q (Quiet): Wait for the crowd to thin before approaching the central area
- O (Observer): Help ensure every player gets a candy before the game ends
End
- A (Active): Help collect flag belts and return costumes
- S (Support): Check that all players have a candy before the debrief
- Q (Quiet): Enjoy your candy quietly before the debrief circle
- O (Observer): Share a favourite funny moment from the hunt

Inclusion Adaptations

Players who cannot run may walk the search area with a partner. Staff can make their hiding spots slightly easier to find for walking players.
For players with dietary restrictions, alternative non-candy prizes (stickers, small tokens) clipped to the flag are another option

Stewardship Moment

Collect all flag belts, ribbons, and candy wrappers after the game. Appoint a small cleanup crew before play ends.
Avoid using packing tape or duct tape to attach candies directly to clothing. Tape leaves residue and is wasteful. Flag clips or safety pins are reusable and reliable.
Reflection: “We just shared this whole field together. What does it take to keep a big shared space enjoyable for everyone?”

Consent

Pre-brief: “In this game, players pull a ribbon flag from a staff member’s belt to get a candy. For those not comfortable with the crowding near staff, waiting for the crowd to thin before approaching the central area is another option. You will still get your candy.”
Mid-game check: After the first staff member is found, pause briefly to confirm the central area process is working before continuing.
Re-entry: There is no elimination in this game. Everyone participates in searching and everyone receives a candy.

Risks and Mitigation

Crowd crush around a discovered staff member: staff immediately move to the central open area before any flag pulling. No flag pulls in the bush or at the hiding spot.
Tackling: the original game involved tackling. This version uses flag pulls only. No physical contact with staff beyond pulling a ribbon flag. Staff model calm and confident movement to the open area.
200 candy wrappers as litter: individual wrapper collection is non-negotiable. Appoint a small litter crew before play. Alternatively, hand out candies in small paper bags that double as wrapper holders.
Staff should be aware of players with dietary restrictions or allergies and have alternative prizes available
Low branches or uneven terrain in hiding areas: sweep the search zone before play

Warm-Up Suggestions

“Follow the Leader”: a short group walk through the search boundary so everyone knows the play area before the game begins
“Loud and Soft”: practise the start call together as a group, loud once, soft once, to set the energy

Debrief Questions

What? “How did you find out where a staff member was hiding? What tipped you off?”
So What? “What was it like to be part of a big group all chasing the same goal?”
Now What? “What made it feel fair? What would have made it feel unfair?”

Cleanup and Reset