Hosting an After-Hours Nerf Wars Event at Your Library: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re looking for a high-energy program that will have your registration list filled within hours and kids talking about the library long after they leave, Nerf Wars is it.

During my time in youth services, this was hands-down one of our most popular after-hours events. It transformed the library into something magical—a place where kids could laugh, run, strategize, and connect with each other in a space they already loved.

Programs like this matter. Not every family has access to entertainment venues, paid experiences, or structured team activities. Offering Nerf Wars at the library removes those financial barriers while building teamwork, confidence, and a deeper connection to the library itself.

This is a long post, so brace yourself. Here’s exactly how we made it work.

Supplies You’ll Need

• Nerf blasters We advised kids to bring their own (must use standard nerf darts and could not be automatic) but had a few blasters (borrowed from my son) and single shooters on hand for those who didn't have one (Recommendation: https://amzn.to/4tIXRuv)

• Darts These were all provided by the library (Recommendation: https://amzn.to/4c4fJdg)

• Dart Holders Each person received these at the start of the program. We had them all in a big bucket, and they reached in to grab one - this helped us determine teams, fairly! (Recommendation: https://amzn.to/3MREHSI)

• Protective Eye Gear Non-negotiable! (Recommendation: https://amzn.to/4tHtkxi)

• Bandanas For determining teams. We used blue and orange. We also let the kids keep them, because, eww, sweaty!! (Recommendation: https://amzn.to/4aHCEsw)

• Bluetooth Speaker & Microphone For making announcements and music (Recommendation to my FAVORITE: https://amzn.to/3Mw7Frh)

• Whistle For staff to pause gameplay immediately if needed

• DJ Party Lights: Completely optional, but highly recommended for atmosphere! (Recommendation: https://amzn.to/3ZLegRy & https://amzn.to/4qJNFiQ)

• Hidden letters for scavenger hunt mode (spelling NERF WARS in blue and orange)

• Drinks and snacks for intermission

  
  

Staffing: You Can’t Do This One Alone

The biggest piece of advice I can give you is this: have plenty of staff present. This is not a program you can run short-handed. Staff aren’t just there to supervise—they’re part of what makes the program successful.

Your team will be:

• Monitoring safety

• Enforcing rules

• Running music and making announcements

• Managing respawn zones

• And honestly, playing along with the kids. This is the BEST PART!!

  
  

Playing alongside them builds incredible rapport. They love seeing library staff join in, and it strengthens those relationships in a way that sitting behind a desk never could.

Structure and Timing: What Our 2-Hour Event Looked Like

Our Nerf Wars events typically ran about two hours, which felt like the perfect amount of time. Long enough to feel like a big event, but not so long that kids were exhausted.

A typical schedule looked something like this:

• 15 minutes — Welcome, orientation, and rules

• 20 minutes — Game 1

• 10 minutes — Snack and drink break

• 20 minutes — Game 2

• 10 minutes — Break

• 20 minutes — Game 3

• 15 minutes — Free play or target practice

• 10 minutes — Cleanup and wrap-up

Understand that this schedule will need to be flexible! You don't want to end a game in the middle of a close battle, and you don't want kids overheating. You just need to sort of play this by ear.

Also, if you think cleanup ends when the event is over… think again. Nerf darts were showing up on my desk daily—months later. Staff and the cleaning crew kept finding them in the most random places and dropping them off. You definitely have to be okay with that level of lingering chaos. I just kept a basket on my desk and turned it into our official dart return bin. 😊

Registration was required, and we always capped attendance. It might be tempting to let in as many kids as possible, but too many players quickly becomes unsafe and difficult to manage.

Your capacity will really depend on:

• The size of your library

• How many staff you have available

• How visible your play areas are

  
  

Ours filled every single time.

Game Options: Mix It Up

Capture the Flag (The Favorite)

This was easily the most popular option, especially with teens.

Each team wore their color bandana, had a flag at their base, and worked together to try to capture the other team’s flag without getting hit.

If a player was shot, they had to go to the designated “chill zone,” wait 20 seconds, and then re-enter the game. The kids actually loved this rule—it kept things fair and prevented anyone from being out for too long.

Hide & Seek

This works well with all ages. Staff hid the letters NERF WARS, one set in blue and another set in orange. The object was for each team to collect their respective colored letters to spell out the words, without getting hit. Teamwork!

Free Play & Target Practice

Set out various target practice zones and allow free-play. We even set out supplies to make sheilds and forts out of cardboard, which they really enjoyed! Some of the target practice items we used are here: https://amzn.to/3ZGz64F, https://amzn.to/4tHRJ5M, https://amzn.to/4aHr1BA

For elementary age groups, this option was sometimes more successful than structured competition.

Teens, on the other hand, almost always preferred structured, team-based games like Capture the Flag. Because of this, I highly recommend offering separate events by age group if you can.

Atmosphere: This Is What Makes It Magical

We hosted our Nerf Wars after hours, which immediately made it feel special.

We dimmed the lights, turned on DJ party lights, and played loud, fun music.

It completely transformed the space. It didn’t feel like the regular library anymore.

It felt like something exclusive. Something exciting. Something they would never forget.

Don’t Skip the Breaks

Build in intermissions. The kids need them.

We offered simple snacks and drinks—water, juice, small grab-and-go items. These breaks gave them time to catch their breath, talk, laugh, and recharge before the next round. Honestly, some of the best social moments happened during those breaks - camaraderie, high-fives, and strategic planning!

Rules: Set Them Early and Stick to Them

Going over rules at the beginning is essential. We kept ours simple and clear:

• If you’re shot, take a 20-second respawn in the chill zone

• No intentional shots above the shoulders

• No waiting outside the respawn zone to hit players as they exit

• Be respectful of each other

• Be respectful of staff

• Be respectful of the library

• Stop immediately if staff blows the whistle

  
  

Safety always comes first. Always.

Waivers and Administrative Approval

We required parent waivers for our after-hours events, but every library is different. Make sure you check with your administration about:

• Liability requirements

• Waivers

• Insurance

• Safety policies

Follow your library’s procedures.

Why This Program Is So Important

Yes, it’s fun. Yes, it’s chaotic. Yes, it’s loud. But it’s also so much more than that.

Programs like this provide:

• Free access to entertainment

• Opportunities for teamwork

• Social connection

• Confidence building

• A sense of belonging

  
  

Not every kid has access to activities like this outside the library. And teens especially need places where they feel welcome. This shows them the library is theirs. Not just when they’re little. But as they grow up, too.

A Future Idea I Love: Parents vs Kids Nerf Wars

We had multiple requests for a Parents vs Kids Nerf Wars night, and I never got the chance to host one—but it sounds amazing. I can only imagine the laughter, the chaos, and the memories that would come from it. It would be such a fun way to bring families together and connect them to the library in a whole new way.

Final Thoughts

Nerf Wars was one of the most successful programs I ever ran. It brought in new families. It strengthened relationships. It made kids excited about the library. And it reminded me exactly why youth services matter so much. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can offer kids is simply a place to play.

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