Instant energy. Real connection.
Every session,
every age group.
Get every camper playing in 5 minutes flat. No big space. No coaching. No athletic ability required. Just a line that never stops forming.
1-year warranty · Less than 1% return rate · Used at camps in all 50 states
Every camp director knows this moment.
Buses unload. Cabins get assigned. And within the first hour, you can already see it happening: the outgoing campers cluster together, the athletic ones dominate whatever's on the field, and the quiet kid who doesn't know anyone yet hangs back near the edge of the group, hoping nobody notices.
You've got a week, or a summer, to turn strangers into a cabin group that actually bonds. And the camper who never connects on day one is the camper who calls home asking to leave, or who never signs up again next year.
9 Square in the Air was built for exactly this moment.
Why every camper plays. Even the ones who never do.
Anyone can learn it in one round
Hit the ball out of your square before it drops. That's the whole game. Campers learn it by watching for 30 seconds, so there's zero barrier for the new kid, the shy kid, or the one who "doesn't do sports."
Nobody sits out for long
Rounds last seconds, not minutes. When you're out, you rotate into a fast-moving line where the cheering and trash talk are half the fun. Every camper stays in the action, the whole session.
Connection happens on its own
Campers who arrived as strangers end up laughing shoulder to shoulder within a single round. Counselors jump in and play alongside them. The walls that usually take a week to break down come down in an afternoon.
They won't stop talking about it.
9 Square in the Air is always packed out during camp. Because it's so easy to play and it's durable, campers play even if there's only 5 minutes of free time.
It is the biggest hit of every summer. Staff play it during time off, youth come early to play before their session. We never get tired of it. We get to see kids grow in their confidence as they move closer to the middle.
We used it for our staff training team building and it was such a big hit — they started making new rules and teaming up. It made me realize it was worth it to give that to kids at camp too.
It creates a community with fun and without judgment. You can apply it to STEAM programs and communication and initiative games. It allows us to break the ice and create a fun, chill environment.
It's a versatile game. Want something quick before dinner? 9 Square in the Air. Want an organized tournament? 9 Square in the Air. It regularly draws a crowd at our camp.
9 Square in the Air is a great connection game between campers and staff. It's something that's really only at camp, which helps the appeal. Everyone can participate — even the people waiting in line.
It engages a wide range of ages, is easy to explain, allows a large number of people to participate, and moves quickly so no one has to wait too long to join.
It has become our campers' favorite game.
25,000 youth organizations. 4 million players. All 50 states.
9 Square in the Air is the game camps keep ordering more of. Church camps, YMCA camps, 4-H camps, day camps, overnight camps, sports camps. They all use it for the same reason. It gets every camper in the game, it runs itself, and the line never stops forming.
Born in a church.
Perfect for camp.
Steve Otey was a junior high youth pastor in St. Louis when he noticed something that bothered him every single week. The same kids gravitated to the same games. The same groups stayed separate. The students who weren't athletic sat out.
Real connection, the kind camp actually runs on, wasn't happening. So Steve built a game to fix it. Fifteen years later, 4 million people play 9 Square in the Air every year across 25 countries. Camps keep ordering it for the same reason Steve built it: it works for everyone, every time.
Everything you want to know.
About five minutes with two people. Many camp directors have their staff set it up as part of the opening routine, and more than a few told us campers race to help. It packs into three carry bags and needs no tools, so it moves between locations easily too.
Mackenzie at Harbour Ridge Camp says staff play it during their own time off. John at Camp Stella Maris says it has become his campers' favorite game. Jeff at Jefunira Camp has used it for years and says it remains a staple for both camper and staff activities. It does not collect dust.
That's the whole point. No single skill dominates. The rotation means no one is out for long. The waiting line is part of the game. Erin at Camp Ocean Pines points out that even the people waiting feel involved. The shy kid, the reluctant joiner, the first-timer. They all end up in the center square eventually.
Yes. The set is waterproof and built for outdoor use. It also breaks down quickly if you need to move it or store it between sessions. One camp director at Living Water Ministries told us her campers carry the whole setup from one area of camp to another themselves. She called it a team building activity on its own.
Less than 1% of our 30,000+ customers ever return it. Camp Shamineau has multiple sets. Falcon Camp uses theirs so much the grass wears out around it every season. One camp bought a second set because campers were hanging on the first one so much it finally bent. That's a durability story and a popularity story at the same time.
Spread over 5 to 7 years of regular use, that's around $130 a year. Less than most camps spend on a single supply order. And if budget is a real barrier, see the Camp Scholarship section below. We set aside a limited number each season specifically for camps running on tight margins.
Everything you need to get playing on day one.
- Full Deluxe Game Set with adjustable height: 5, 6, or 7 feet
- Indoor and outdoor use, waterproof design
- Packs into 3 carry bags. Sets up in 5 minutes with 2 people, no tools required
- 40+ game variations so it never gets old
- Step-by-step setup guide
- Full gameplay instructions
- Tournament format guide. Run your own bracket events
- 1-year warranty
- PO and Net 30 available for qualified organizations
Ships next business day. 1-year warranty included.
Order for Your CampQuestions? Call (877) 672-3938
We wrote the request for you.
Most camp directors don't have sole authority over a $899 purchase. Copy this, drop in your director's or board's name, and send it.
Ready to send, no editing required beyond the name.
This covers the cost math, the durability track record, and the scholarship option in case budget is tight this season.
25,000 youth organizations and 4 million people can't be wrong.
I believe it is truly a game that builds character and makes communication easier with students and adults of all ages.
All our campers and groups run to play.
The kids were so engaged and learned about community and growth within the game.
We have multiple sets around camp and want to add more. It is a great way to break down barriers and form relationships.
Lots of laughter, communication, and fun.
It is a great interactive and team building game for summer camp. Our campers love it — the Neon set is a huge hit during glow night activities.
9 Square in the Air is the perfect addition to any camp. I try to tell other camps about it.
YEAR
WARRANTY
We stand behind every set.
If something is wrong with the product, we'll cover it under our 1-year warranty. With less than 1% of our 30,000+ customers ever returning it, we're confident your camp will love it.
Two ways to get started.
Camp Scholarship
Apply NowRunning a smaller camp? Tight budget this season? We set aside a limited number of scholarships each month. Submitting takes 2 minutes.
Apply for ScholarshipQuestions before you buy? Call (877) 672-3938. A real person picks up.
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I was a junior high youth pastor in St. Louis when I first noticed it: the same kids gravitated to the same games, the same groups stayed separate, and the campers who weren't athletic sat out. It happened every week, and I couldn't unsee it.
You already know that camp isn't really about the activities on the schedule. It's about whether a camper decides, on day one, that this is a place where they belong. I built 9 Square in the Air to make that answer yes more often, for more of your cabin, not just the outgoing third of it.
If budget is what's holding you back, use the request template above, or apply for the camp scholarship. If you have questions, call us. And if you're still on the fence, order it, run it for a session, and let your campers settle it.
Steve OteyFounder, 9 Square in the Air. Youth pastor first.
9squareintheair.com · (877) 672-3938 · 14248 F Manchester Rd, Suite 125, Manchester, MO 63011
