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Well I like kids games too, so I wouldn't restrict this just to the kids...have two categories! I still love to color and I'm not bragging but I can do much fancier things now than I could as a kid so I think the adult submissions would be quite interesting. So here is how you pull this off...and it is quite simple. Do an online search for free coloring pages. Pick one (or two) and print a pretty good stack. Tell everyone about your contest and how long it will run, post it on Facebook, post fliers, get the word out! Have kids and adults pick up the coloring sheets and get to work. You may even want to set up a table in your office/community area with crayons--or markers. Post the contest submissions...

I'm not sure if this is a halloween party idea, but I think it would a lot of fun regardless.  The general idea is you tell your residents to make their own camouflage outfit, and that they can blend in to whatever setting they like.  Of course, you have prizes for the best camo outfit, and then if you are close to a wooded area, have everybody go take a picture and see who blends in the best. (About the picture:  Yes, that is me several years ago creating my own pathetic camo.  Hopefully some of your residents will be able to do better!  I also included some pictures of some other neat camo outfits, and check out Liu Bolin and his amazing disguises!)

Charades is a great game for any group of people who just want to get together and don’t mind laughing at themselves. It takes very little to set up and can be held in your community center. If you know anyone who is shy, then you know it is sometimes hard to get everyone in a group to participate. So to start this off, try only having your staff act out the clues and allowing your residents to guess! You could also use your facebook page to gather ideas for teams to act out—just make sure they know to keep it clean! Or, maybe gather suggestions from residents for a week prior to the event in your office. Again, make sure someone reads through these ideas before you use them just to make sure they aren't inappropriate! Pair this with other games and events to...

Ready, set, hike! Looking for great football party ideas? Invite your residents over for the big game! Whether you're gathering for a college bowl game, a regular season game, or looking for some Superbowl party ideas to spice up the big day, read on for some football party ideas sure to help you score big with your residents! Football Party Invitation Wording -- Here are some ideas for catchy football theme party invitation wording to rally the crowd: • "Come to our tailgate, ready to eat, then cheer for a team that can't be beat!" • "The flip of the coin, the sounds of big hits, and a football party you won't want to miss!" • "Are you ready for some football? Help us cheer our team on to victory at our tailgate party!" • "The Goal is Fun at our Football Party" • "He...

This party is a dream come true for any young child who longs to be old enough to have a sleep-over! Guests arrive in their pajamas, take part in a round of fun bedtime activities, and enjoy a bedtime snack before heading home for a good night's rest in their own beds. Musical Sleeping Bags: Have every child bring a sleeping bag or blanket. Set up everyone's rolled-up sleeping bag or blanket in a circle on the floor and play a lullaby. Have the kids walk around the circle carrying their stuffed animals. Remove one of the sleeping bags or blankets and explain that when you stop the music, everyone must quickly snuggle with their pet on one of the pallets. Whoever can't find one is out of the game, but he or she can remove the next pallet when the game resumes. Continue in this manner, allowing...

I just read the Amazing Race event idea by Apartment Life and was inspired! I love their idea, and here is a different spin on that event. The general idea is to expose the residents to a variety of cultures as they “race around the world”. Obviously, you are not buying them tickets to travel the globe, so Apartment Life suggested having an event with all sorts of dishes from different cultures! I suggest another version of that event, so instead of just one day event, you could run this event over a period of several days or weeks! The “race” would actually be a race to different restaurants in the area, with different food types at each one. The first person to have a meal at each restaurant wins a prize of some sort. What’s great...

The Spring Fling Party should be held outside by the pool, tennis courts, or any open outdoor space. Serve chili dogs straight from the grill with lemonade to put everyone in that spring has sprung mood. Set Up: Prior to the event choose 9 or 18 targets across the complex that you will have the residents travel through. Mark these targets with balloons so they are easy to see from the prior target. Also, create score cards so you can see who got the best score. For added competition, figure out PAR numbers for what it "should" take to get there. Game Play: Begin in the clubhouse and have people break into groups of 4 to 6. Send out groups in waves with 5 minute intervals. Players will then take turns throwing their frisbees trying to hit the targets in as few throws as...

You must be extremely brave to try this event, but I believe this could be an amazing way to develop an incredibly strong sense of camaraderie among your residents! But here is the part that will scare off all but the most adventurous – it involves your competitors. Yes, this is an event that spans not just your community, but also your local competition. So what is this idea? Olympic Games Against Your Competition This Olympic festival will be several competitions over several weeks, and can encompass a variety of different events, such as sports, cooking, or other competitive situations. The basic idea is that each community forms a team that represents that community, which of course means that each team’s goal is to beat the other communities in the area. This not only inspires connections between the teammates, but...

Since exams are this week, we hosted a study party in our small clubhouse. We pitched it as an opportunity to study someplace quiet. We offered healthy snacks like dried fruit, trail mix, nuts and granola bars as well as some sugary candy. I think the biggest draw for our residents was that we also offered free coffee and energy drinks. In order to make the party as convenient as possible we extended office hours until 9 so people could use our wifi and printers for last minute studying. We will definitely do this again in the spring!

The Amazing Race is an outstanding reality competition show. The television show features teams of two people who travel the world together searching for clues while completing Detours and Roadblocks along the way. Follow these steps to throw an Amazing Race party that allows your guests to sample and appreciate the many customs and cultures the Amazing Race contestants experience during each season Decorate your clubhouse with a travel theme. Visit your local travel agency and ask for travel posters, maps and flags of different countries to hang on your walls. Scatter inexpensive toy planes, trains and taxis on tables, and play a selection of international music before The Amazing Race episode begins. Prepare food whose origins are found in countries around the world. Consider serving such ethnic foods as crepes, hummus and flatbread, moo shoo pork and bratwurst, and for dessert, a tray of Italian cookies. Divide your...