For my 13th birthday party and my sisters 14th birthday party, we decided to go with a party theme based off the tv show "survivor". We didn't want to have a sleep over, and the party went for about 3-4 hours,and the first party had 10 guests, the second had 8. To host the party, we used a hall. Any hall would do, but one that is warm, and preferbly has a stage not that high off the ground would be perfect. Infact, it doesn't need to be a hall, but having everything in one room would be prefered. We then procededed to decorate it, survivor style. We had on hand large (and I mean large) pictures of animals. We got as many plants as we could and set them up around the edges, so not to make it hard to navigate, but provide a jungle-type theme. For the tribal council area, with the help of a few tables and sheets we fashioned just below the stage the place where you would vote secretly without anyone else seeing you, and on the stage, we made tried to just add items that would make it as tribalish as we could. As in, we got large masks, stuck them up to the wall, plants etc. Basically, use your imagination and whatever you have on hand.   For confession cam, set up an area similar to the voting section, hidden from view, but easily accsesable so anyone can go in during down time to confess. However, we had it set up so we had time after each event/voting for the guests to confess in turns, as we only had one camera.  For invitations, we got brownish type paper, burnt it a bit on the edges and sent it out to people, telling them the usual party infomation, and requesting they dress survivor-style.  When guests arived, they were greeted by the host, and split into two teams and told the rules. The host in our case was the other sibling- but this could be anyone. As long as they are out-going or willing to be so that they won't be afraid to be in the face of the guests and camera. They must also be willing to speak survivor style, as in, have a pretty good knowledge of how the game in played on television, how the host acts, how he speaks etc. The rules were simple. The party took place in events: Generally one activitey, and then tribal counsel for the losing team. During the games, the winning team would score points, which were kept as a tally on the black board we had so everyone could see. There were, however, individual points awarded through out the game for say doing the best in a game. The two people of the overall winning team with the most points go into the final voting round. We also included however secretly at the end the person who had the most points of the losing team also got to go through to the final round. However you decide to do this doesn't matter, as it can be changed to suit your needs. But, to combat the fact that people were getting extra points, that is why you had tribal council. The losing team would go to tribal council. We had immunity set up in the way that when there, the team voted by show of hands who they thought should get immunity, and the person with the most votes (or if its a tie, rock-paper-siccors or whatever other form you may have) got it, and was exempt from getting voted for. We gave a necklace to the winner to wear as their immunity, After this, everyone individualy voted, talking to the camera about why they voted for who they did etc. Then, the votes are tallied, just like on survivor. Before everyone comes, they are given a cup of water (like the torches on survivor) the person voted off by the tribe must empty their cup of water into the bucket, then walk back to their hut on their own. Then, the team follows behind. The person voted off looses points. While this is happening, we had the other team stay in their huts. To add spice to this, we also had someone from the winning team stay at the back of the tribal council meeting and observe what took place, that way they could feed infomation back to their tribe about who is liked most etc. We gave them a funny outfit to wear while in there, too, to add to the atmosphere. At the end of the party, the overall winning teams top two people go through to the final voting round. Then, the person with the most points from the other team also goes through to the voting round (or however you set it up). Everyone then votes on who they think should be the winner. The final winner off this then gets the overall prize (for us, we had a cheap $2 bug catching net filled with lots of other cheap items that cost less than $10 all up, you could have whatever, or nothing at all) and if you feel like it, give prizes out to others as well. Of course, they were the ones who out wit-out-played and, well I've forgotten the rest but yeah. This is why throughout the game, encourage people to form pacts with one another. This way, people could stragetically win/lose games. For instance, if someone made a pact with the other team, they could take turns sabotaging their team secretly during the games so that they lose, yet strive for individual points, etc. Basically, encourage strategy, as this adds a whole new depth to the game and competitiveness that otherwise wouldn't be present. For our games, we had at first create your own shelter. We gave each team colours, and they had to, with the equipment provided, create the best shelter that would protect them and looked nice and showed their team colours well. We provided them with chairs, boxes, some stuffed toys and streamers. It doesn't matter what you provide. This will be the teams home base for the game. We then had games that involved team effort, like moving an orange from one side of the line to the other only using your chin. We had the infamous food challenge, and for the worst bit, we had pretend dog food. It is actually possible to trick everyone into thinking it is real dog food. It is, just put it in a dog food can, and hype everyone up. A good idea here for individual points is to make it that if you eat a certain amount you get one point, then maybe 2, 3 or 4 depending on how much more you eat. We also had games where you had to work together in partners, like life boats (where you have a sheet of newspaper and you must both walk in different directions to the music, then when it stops, quickly both get on it. Each time, it gets smaller and smaller) and we also had balloon volley ball. There are many games you could have for this, the choice is yours. We decided to go with team challenges as a theme as you can probably see but, but you could do whatever. Be sure to film this if you can, and remember to have the host be hosting it and talking about it as its happening, giving encouragement etc. Its quite fun to look back on! (Espically if you edit it into a survivor theme)   We had just normal party food half way, where guests mingled (also allowed time to form pacts) before getting back into the game again. We made the normal party food designed in a survivorish way, however. Eg, for candy, we had gummy worms. Depending on what you have available already (eg a large enough space, decorations etc) this can be a VERY cheap party to host. Main costs are food and party favours. It was a blast, both parties have been considered by the guests they've ever experienced. They were so good, that this year, instead of creating a new type of party, I'm just going to edit this one to make it pirate themed instead. Its a blast, and great for all ages, as long as everyone can get into it!