The Pyramid Knock-Down
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Start with nine large plastic cups, small buckets or empty tin cans for this snowball-pitching contest. Next, build three bases of snow about two feet high and three yards apart, making sure to level off your bases. On each base make a pyramid of three cups, inverted buckets or cans. Then, mark a pitcher's mound about 20 feet away from the bases.
To play, each pitcher takes turns trying to knock down the pyramids in order from first to third base by throwing snowballs from the pitcher's mound. The player who knocks down the pyramids with the fewest pitches wins.
Tip: For younger players, shorten the distance between the pitcher's mound and the bases.
Sledding & Snow Tubing
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Find a hill near your home or campsite and zip down the snow-covered slope with a smile on your face and the wind in your hair. No sled? No problem! You can also use a large inner tube. The best part of this winter activity is that it requires no expensive equipment or lessons--just watch out for rocks and trees.
Sled Pulling Contest
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Kick your sledding adventure up a notch–and give your kids a thrill–by becoming a "sled dog" and pulling them across a field at top speed. For a large group with several sleds, mark out a course and have some races. The winning "dogs" will get a great night's sleep, guaranteed!
Hit the Bulls Eye
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Rather than clobbering each other with snowballs, stage a marksmanship contest instead. Start by gathering a few shades of food coloring and filling some spray bottles with water tinted in several different colors. You'll also need sticks marked with small flags.
Next, stomp a large circle flat in the snow. Draw two or three rings inside the circle with your spray bottles of colored water in order to create a target. Indicate each ring's point value using a numbered flag on a stick. Appoint a keen-eyed official to keep track of scores, and then play until someone reaches 100 points (or until a snowball war erupts).
Tip: Provide each contestant with a bucket for his or her pre-made snowballs. That way, everyone will have the same number of shots. Each player can apply a small splash of food coloring to their snowballs to keep track of where their shots land.
Snowshoeing
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Set out with snowshoes and explore the sights and sounds of a snowy landscape. You don't have to stray far from home, and this is one winter activity that both entertains and wears out the kids! Add an interactive element by playing "I Spy" or trading stories while hiking through the powder.
Find the Flag
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This game is great for sharp-eyed players. Begin by tying a white cloth to a short stick. Then, give each player a chance to hide the stick anywhere inside a predetermined area--such as a yard, field or playground–while the other players look away. A timekeeper will track how long it takes to find the flag each time. Whoever hid the flag that takes the longest to find is the winner.
Top the Snowman
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Start this game by building a nice, big snowman. Feel free to adorn him with a carrot nose, charcoal buttons and a scarf–but the hat comes later. Next, gather a few appropriate toppers for your snowman.
Players take turns trying to land a hat on the snowman's head from 10 feet away. Each time Frosty's topper hits its mark, move the starting line back one foot and go again.
Mini Snowmen
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Little ones may feel left out when they can't help build a standard life-size snowman. Instead, set them loose in fresh powder with mixing spoons, gardening tools, cookie cutters and sand castle molds. They will have a blast creating an entire village on their own.
Ice Sculptures
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This fun idea takes a little bit of advanced preparation. The night before, fill some ice cube trays, muffin tins, cake pans and other containers with water tinted with food coloring. Place your molds in the freezer (or simply set them outside if the weather is truly freezing).
When you're ready to sculpt, gather your colorful blocks and shapes on an outdoor table. Take turns creating free-form sculptures or building more elaborate ice creations.
Tip: You can "glue" the shapes together by dribbling a little room temperature water on them.
Snow Painting
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We saved the most creative and unique winter activity on this list for last. To host a snow painting party, first fill several bowls with water and tint them with food coloring in any and every shade you wish. Then, with eye droppers, turkey basters, squirt bottles or other tools, invite the "artists" to paint on a canvas of fresh, white snow. Award bonus points for especially creative paintings or sculptures utilizing these "paints" and "brushes."
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