We have just had a great Surivor party for my daughter's 12th birthday.  The invitations said Jessie's Survivor Party Be prepared to Outwit Outlast and Outplay at Jessie's 12th Birthday Party on Survivor Island ......(address)....... The party went from 11am to 2.30pm.  It's good to have even numbers to make two tribes if you can.  As the girls arrived I had them draw their own face on a tin can that had been covered with white paper. This was for a target shooting game later. Once everyone had come we drew short straws to put them into an order of popping balloons. There was one balloon per girl which contained a piece of paper with the tribe name.  When everyone had their piece of paper they revealed their tribe name one by one and stood beside the tribal flag which was made with cardboard on a bamboo stake.  I decorated the flags with dots to symbolise Aboriginal art as we are in Australia. The team names were Garrawi (White Cockatoo) and Garadi (Black Cockatoo).  Then they all turned to each other and hugged shook hands etc to get acquainted. Then the girls were all given their buffs (pink for one team green for the other) and they put them on. I found buffs in a shop that even came with instructions of all the ways you can tie them and I think everyone went with a different way.  Then they sat as a tribe and put some face paint on their cheeks - either something tribal like stripes or arrows etc or their initials. The first game was "Know your Survivors".  This was the Outwit game.  Each tribe sat on a straw-style beach mat and were armed with a mini blackboard and chalk. I asked questions in three rounds which were about the party guests.  The guest that it related to had to be silent and couldn't hint to their team mates. Once both tribes had written an answer the party guest would reveal the answer. The girls loved having questions asked about themselves.  Some questions were Sarah has three sisters name two of them; and What is Claudia's brother's name; or What colour car does your Maths teacher drive? All the questions related to personal or school subjects.  The girls were all so excited and even learned some things about each other like future job aspirations favourite things things they are scared of etc.  It also bonded them and got the party off to a great start. The actual scores at the end of the three rounds were written on a large score sheet. The next game was outside and I had put bamboo flares in a semi circle like a tribal council and bought some Hawaiin skirts opened out along our cubby house verandah to be like a hut.  I also had some mini table torchers which I wrapped Hawaiin leis around the base which looked really good.  In front of the torches was one house brick per girl.  This was the Outlast game.  The challenge was to stand on the house brick while doing various movements and not to fall off. It was a bit like Simon says but without the Simon. They had to pat their heads bend their knees turn their heads flap their arms etc until only one girl was left and she was the winner. Their were 8 girls at the party. The one who fell off got 1 point the second to go got 2 points etc to the last girl who got 8 points for her team. This way everyone earned points for their team.  Next we did a Sling Shot challenge which was the Outplay game. This used the tins the girls had their faces drawn on. The idea was to arrange the tins in a line alternating team members. If you hit one of the opposite team you won a point. If you hit your team you lost a point. It was funny seeing the girls' expressions when they were hit by a slingshot. Next we did a Snakes in Slime Grass Challenge.  I blindfolded the girls on their turn and the challenge was to find 6 snakes from a bowl of cold spaghetti. This got really lout but was hilarious.  The rubber snakes were only small (more like worms) about 15cm long and fine so you really had to feel your way along.  While you were searching the tribe mates were allowed to guide you to the snakes.  It was a riot.  Once found the snake goes into a small bowl and the survivor was timed to see who was the winner.  I put the girls in an apron for this game and also had some warm soapy water on hand and a towel to clean up as it's a bit messy. Even though they were grossed out they loved it! We had lunch next. The table was set with another straw mat and the flatware was island-style with straws with umbrellas on them and the food was in rustic wooden bowls. Next we did a Survivor Food Challenge. All the girls were blindfolded at once and put their hand out for a food item. Once they all had the food item they put it in their mouths and had to chew it up show their mouth was empty and guess what the food was. I didn't use anything disgusting but went for different textures sweet and sour etc.  Check for any food allergies before you do this game just in case.  Again points were earned by individuals which went to their tribe. The girls were very keen to get their scores up and see who was in front and it was very close.  In the end I had a lucky dip for everyone.  The tribe that won got to go first with the lucky dip but all the prizes were of a similar value.  You could make an island cake or similar to go with this theme.  I decided to make 12 giant cupcakes in the shape of a number "12" and put a candle on each one. The girls thought they were so cute and it made for easy preparation and serving. The girls got to keep their buffs and instructions on how to tie them.  When the mothers arrived to pick up the girls were so excited to tell them about the games especially the Snake one!"