WHERE"S WALLY? 

The real question should be ...Where "isn't" Wally?

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For this fun family event, families will receive a

 map, a mission, and a mystery verse to solve.

 

• The map will be of an area that covers several city blocks. Several blocks long and several blocks wide. You can do this in a downtown area or select a neighborhood area...several streets wide by several streets long. 

• The mission is to find "Wally." There will be 29 Wally's inside the map area. (families will be traveling by car...not on foot)

• The mystery verse is a scripture from the Bible...John 3:16 (you may create your own scripture or switch this up any way that you choose.)

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Families will begin their journey at the church where they will receive their map, their team color, a pencil, their mystery verse, and any other information that you would like to add to your event. You may want to print up a page with your text information on it and ask participants to text a few pics of themselves with the different Wally's. 

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If you are hosting your event in the downtown area, check with businesses inside your map area and request free coupons for drinks, ice cream, etc. for each participant.

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If you are going into a neighborhood, consider setting up a hot chocolate stand or something similar for participants to stop and enjoy.

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TEAM COLORS AND MAP AREAS

If you are a smaller size church, you will want to use one team color and one map area. If you are a larger church you may want to create more map areas or expand the size of your map area to accommodate more cars. I have created 4 different team colors in case you need room to grow.

 

Keep in mind, if you create more teams, you will also have to recruit more Wally volunteers. Each area requires 29 Wally volunteers. (+- Depending on the reference scripture being used)

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THE HUNT BEGINS 

 

For this event, participants will not be looking for clues, objects or places...they will be looking for Wally (There will be 29 Wally's) 

Once they find a Wally, they will write down the number from the back of Wally's shirt and the coordination letter from the front of his shirt.

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These numbers and letters will be used to solve the mystery scripture on the back of the map pamphlet. 

 

WALLY'S

Who is Wally? Wally is a volunteer dressed in stripes...hanging out and blending in with all the other Wally's in the neighborhood.

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"Wally" may be riding a bicycle, roller skating, sitting on the porch, playing basketball, visiting with neighbors, or simply hanging out on the corner with friends.

 

All "Wally's" are dressed the same...they are all dressed in stripes...the stripes are all the same color...and they all have the same name...Wally!

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Families will drive up and down the designated streets...looking for Wally.

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This is the perfect event for your teens to participate in. However, make sure that there are plenty of adults hanging out to keep a close eye on them.

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Ask your Wally's to get creative...they can ride their bikes up and down the street, roller skate, skateboard, play basketball (if it is a home of someone they know), visit with neighbors, sit on a porch, or hang out on the corner talking with their friends. Have them use their imagination to come up with some fun ideas.

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Wally's should not hide...but they can be a little hard to find. 

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Wally's should have a mask with him...and be willing to pose (socially distanced) for pics with each family if they request a picture.

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STRIPED OUTFITS

All Wally's must be dressed with the same color stripes. You can accomplish this by purchasing white sweats and a white sweatshirt and using red tape to make the stripes of purchase white disposable painters coveralls and taping or painting the stripes on them. I have seen the coverall range from $3 - $5 each for the thin ones...which is all that you need.

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If you can't afford either of these options, do some brainstorming to come up with some fun...easy to spot...alternatives. 

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Below is a sample of what I have referred to... painter's disposable coveralls.

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SAFETY

• If you are hosting your event in a neighborhood, try to include some streets where your members live. Designate their house as safe zones by placing a flag or marker in their yard. 

• Ask your safe zone families to speak with other neighbors requesting that they sit outside their homes and watch the fun...or look out occasionally to make sure that all is well.

• Ask for adult volunteers to park their cars throughout the area to

keep an eye on everyone.

• Set up a drink or snack area throughout the map area and have adults pass out snacks, keep an eye on the Wally's, and provide a safe area for youth to come to if necessary.

• Recruit some adult Wally's to mix in with the children.

• Request police drive by's throughout the event

• Host your event while it is still light. (4-6 pm approx) 

• Create photo op areas where families will stop to get their pics taken. Photographers will be an extra set of eyes

• Have your Wally's buddy up or stay within eyeshot of one another

• Instruct Wally's not to enter any homes (except designated safe homes)

 

USE YOUR IMAGINATION

All of my ideas are to get you motivated...and inspired.

Don't look at an event and say that it doesn't fit your church...or that your church can't afford to do it. Instead, take it and tweak it to fit.

Add to them, take away from them however you like.

I add some teaching and scripture but I purposefully leave most of that to you.

I want them to be adaptable to everyone...every denomination, every church.

Add your lessons, your scriptures, your inspiration to make them fit your church!

There are several lessons that can be taught with this activity...such as:

• Being unique

• NOT having to look like everyone else.

• Seek and you shall find

• How God looks at the inside...not the outside.

• Samuel...God looks at the heart

 

HOSTING THIS EVENT AT YOUR CHURCH

This would be a great event to host at your church once COVID-19 is a thing of the past. Families...youth or kids (perhaps with a parent)...could search your campus on foot to find the Wally's. It would take a little bit of tweaking but it would be a load of fun!

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