Foam Cannon Party Ideas for OSHC and Vacation Care These School Holidays

It’s day six of the school holidays. The craft box is empty, the sprinkler has lost its charm, and the children have started inventing games that involve the furniture.

Enter the foam. A foam party is one of those activities that makes children of every age shriek with delight, and it looks fantastic in photos (see our photo gallery for inspiration). Here’s how to run one with a foam cannon that works for mixed ages and a busy OSHC or vacation care program.

Why a foam cannon suits a service

One-off hire is fine for a birthday. A service needs something that can run session after session. The Monty the Monstar Foam Cannon is compact, projects foam up to 5 to 6 metres, and sets up in 15 to 25 minutes on a flat surface or tripod.

The cannon uses a mains-powered transformer that outputs 27V DC, while the fan and pump operate at 24V. The transformer must be positioned away from the wet area and kept dry. The system also includes a GFCI/RCD safety device and an emergency stop button. For a broader overview of setup and safety, see our foam party guide.

A 90 minute foam party you can run as is

•         0:00 to 0:15: Welcome, shoes on, sunglasses on, and the foam zone rules.

•         0:15 to 0:30: Foam launch and free play.

•         0:30 to 0:50: Foam games and challenges.

•         0:50 to 1:10: Dance party in the foam.

•         1:10 to 1:30: Rinse-off, snacks, photos and wind-down.

Six foam games for mixed ages

•         Foam Freeze Dance. Start the foam and the music together. When the music stops, everyone freezes. The funniest statue wins.

•         Foam Countdown Blast. Gather the group just outside the zone, count down from ten, then launch.

•         Foam Obstacle Dash. A quick course of cones and hoops that finishes in a foam burst.

•         Find the Foam Treasure. Hide large waterproof objects in the foam for smaller children to find.

•         Foam Team Relay. Teams race a course, tag the next player, then finish through the foam.

•         Bubble and Foam Dance-Off. Thirty seconds per group to show off their best moves.

Keep it safe and manageable

•         Choose level ground. Use a flat, stable outdoor area with good drainage. Foam can make surfaces slippery, so avoid steep, slick or cluttered areas.

•         Keep the power supply dry. The mains-powered transformer should stay well away from water spray, runoff and rain.

•         Keep the foam zone clear. Do not place obstacles, glass, exposed stakes, cables or other items where the foam could hide them.

•         Supervise actively. Have one qualified adult operating the cannon and another supervising the children in the foam zone.

•         Split larger groups. Short sessions by age group make it easier to manage space and keep the area from becoming overcrowded.

•         Walk and dance, don’t dive. Foam does not cushion a fall. Keep movement controlled and do not allow rough play or diving.

•         Watch the weather. The operating manual says not to use the cannon in rainy weather.

Planning your foam liquid

The cannon comes with one bottle of Foam Liquid to get you started. If you’re running sessions across a whole holiday program, it’s worth working out your liquid needs in advance.

Always follow the approved dilution instructions for the liquid you are using rather than guessing the mix. You can also keep the Foam Liquid Safety Data Sheet accessible for staff before the event.

Add colour, but keep it separate

Foam and colour work brilliantly in the same program, but keeping them as separate activity zones makes the event easier to manage. Try a colour powder throw or colour station before the foam session, then move the group into the foam zone for the finale.

For the theme and photos, you can also add rainbow sunglasses or a Race Kit to the day. Sunglasses are an event accessory rather than safety eyewear, so normal supervision and foam-zone rules still apply.

A short clean-up checklist

•         Switch off the machine and let the foam settle.

•         Rinse down surrounding surfaces if needed.

•         Check the area for cups, rubbish and event materials.

•         Wipe down nearby tables and signage, then pack the machine away carefully.

Availability

The Monty the Monstar Foam Cannon is $1,395 inc GST and is now available for pre-order.
Quantities are limited, so we recommend pre-ordering early if you’re planning a summer or school holiday event.