Pinata
Target
Army Jeep

Invitations
Put a large target on the front of your invitation with the words: This party’s going to be a blast!

Or write: Aim for fun at Joe’s party.

Put the party information on the inside of the card.

Cakes
Target
Camouflage
Paintball splatters

Decorations
Colors should be khaki, green and black. Hang up a camouflage net or a tarp in the party area outside. Provide lots of places to hide. Set up a sprinkler in the middle of the play area for extra fun. Just think of it as an army party boot camp.

You can print out this army birthday banner and string it up for your party as well.

Costumes/Dress up
Camouflage bandana or hat

Sunglasses

Bandanas of different colors – one for each team, red and blue or green and orange

Games and Activities
Shoot ‘Em Out (ages 3-16)
Provide each guest with a water gun or potato gun or a Nerf gun. I recommend potato guns for guests over 5 years old. Don’t Google it, you’ll find results of the potato canon that shoots potatoes. No one wants potatoes hurled at them in a game. Look on Amazon. The potato gun shoots out tiny pieces of potato. Just give all the guests a potato and a gun and let them have fun. 

Water Fight (ages 3-16)
Put out several large buckets of water with sponges in them. Instruct the guests to throw the soaked sponges at each other. Warn your guests in the invitation so they can dress appropriately for this game.

Food Fight (ages 3-16)
Prepare a table outside with dishes of food for a food fight. Try foods that are smearable like jell-o jigglers, mashed potatoes, or even cooked peas. If you want a traditional food fight, warn the guests on the invitation to dress appropriately. Another option is to provide each guest with a large piece of paper to paint with the food provided. Give each guest an apron or oversized shirt to protect their clothes. This makes a good ending game for your backyard battle party.

Obstacle Course (ages 4-16)
Make an obstacle course through the backyard. Go over a wheel barrow, under lounge chairs, around a tree, through a shallow swimming pool and ride a tricycle a short distance. You can also string a rope along the path of the obstacle course and send the guests through it blindfolded. Add a sprinkler for more fun. Remember, army party boot camp.

Tug of War (ages 5-16)
This is a classic for any backyard battle party. Split the guests into two teams. Mark a line on the ground and lay a rope across it, the middle of the rope on the line. Have the teams tug at either end of a long rope. One team wins when the other team is pulled over the line. You could also make a mud pit to mark the center and the losing team ends up a bit dirty. Warn your guests in the invitation so they can dress appropriately if you choose this version.

Slingshot Battle (ages 6-16)
Give each guest a slingshot and a bag of grapes. Then let everyone have fun. Purchase slingshots or make slingshots from a piece of surgical rubber tubing. You can pick that up at almost any medical supply store.

Waterballoon Dodge (ages 6-16)
Make a large slingshot. You can find directions here. Then launch the water balloons you filled before the party and have the guests dodge (or try to catch) the water balloons. Everyone is going to want to take turns launching the water balloons, though. Warn your guests in the invitation so they can dress appropriately for this game. 

Crafts
Fort Building (ages 3-16)
Build a fort with cardboard boxes. Each team can build their own. Provide duct tape for older guests who may want something a little sturdier. Provide markers for younger guests who may want something more colorful. Either way you go will be great for your backyard battle party.

Build a Lean-to (ages 7-16)
Build a lean-to with a tarp, rope and a couple of bamboo poles or pvc pipe. Each team can build their own lean-to for refuge in the midst of battle.

Camo T-shirts (ages 8-16)
Paint camouflage on a t-shirt. Use green, tan and black spray paint or fabric paints.

Refreshments
Try something that can be eaten on the run…In a backyard battle party game...

Granola bar or energy bar
Sports drink like Gatorade or Powerade
Jerky
Fruit leather
Peanuts