Water guns have come a long, long way. When I was a kid, they cost about seventy-five cents and held maybe a third of a cup of water, were hard to fill, and squirted a tiny stream that went a couple of feet away.
When my husband and oldest son got their supply lists for an upcoming canoe trip, Stream Machine hydrobolic water launchers were on the list. My favorite part about these guns is that they are so easier to load with water. It’s basically a large syringe. To fill the gun you stick the end in water and pull back on the handle. In just a few seconds the gun is full. There are no little plastic parts to stick back in, no tubes to screw in, and no more trying to get a stream of water from the faucet or hose to go into a teeny opening. For water, you can stick the end into a swimming pool, or lake, or ocean, or even a bucket in the backyard. And that means the kids are traipsing in out of the house to fill their water guns. The guns are so easy to fill that the kids even use them to water their plants. They say it’s easier than filling up the watering can.
The water launchers work great. The stream does go for a long distance, which means you don’t have to be right up on someone to get them. The launchers say they blast for seventy feet. I’m not sure it’s quite that far, but it covers a lot of our yard. You can shoot the water in short bursts, or go for a long blast. The blasts are impressive, but the force of the water isn’t enough to hurt. I still wouldn’t use these with very young children though, and I’d caution the kids not to aim for faces and eyes. The brand we bought is recommended for children five years old and up.
When the kids play with these water guns, they do get soaking wet, but that is part of the fun. And I’m positive that the scouts will have great fun getting each other wet.
Also See:
The Ultimate “Dad Wins” Water Fight