A local group formed on Facebook has given community members an opportunity to discover a new way to have fun while exercising with friends.
Turlock Nerf Group organizes monthly events consisting of multiple games involving foam blasters with the goal of promoting a fun reason to get out of the house, interact with other individuals in a safe environment, and exercising in a way that feels more like a game instead of a chore.
Group creator and blaster enthusiast Wally White oversees the growing group while also organizing the free to attend events.
“Since the whole pandemic, so many people have been stuck at home without a reason to go outside. With everything being so serious lately, why not do something fun? Running around playing with blasters is a great way to remember that it’s alright to be a kid, even when you’re a grownup,” explained White when asked about what helped drive the creation of the group.
While those with an interest in foam blasters may initially be drawn to the group, there is also an exercise aspect to the events that may interest those who are less familiar with the hobby.
“Wear comfortable running shoes. You’re going to be active so keep that in mind. Bring some water to stay hydrated and if you have blasters, bring your blasters,” White said.
“You don’t need the most expensive stuff to be the best with this and to beat the people who have the most expensive stuff at an event. Blasters can cost just a few dollars or hundreds, they don’t have to be fancy or expensive in order to have fun and enjoy an event.” Continued White.
While some may find the idea of running around and competing against others with foam blasters to be intimidating, the group has made it a point to create an environment that is welcoming to players of all types.
“With each of the different games that are played, different play styles are completely okay. You have some people who are more stationary and holding ground while others run around and advance. You can curtail your playstyle to whichever position is better fitted for you and how you’re feeling and it’s totally fine,” explained Peter Khalar, community member and event attendee.
While the group is still relatively new, there has already been a list of rules established in order to ensure that everyone who attends the events are safe and on the same page in terms of what is and is not allowed at hosted events.
While the entire list of rules can be found on the group’s Facebook page, some of the more notable listings include the following;

• Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a guardian who is over the age of 18 and is responsible for them at all times.
• Eye protection must be worn at all times with no exceptions.
• No all-black or military themed outfits or uniforms allowed.
• No using terms such as ‘gun,’ ‘bullet,’ or ‘kill’ in order to avoid alarming the surround communities.

In addition to the rules listed on the group’s Facebook page, there are also housekeeping tasks at every event, allowing the group to help the local community.
“We clean up all of our darts every event to make sure we aren’t creating a mess. If you shoot a dart, you pick one up. We also make sure to pick up any mess like garbage or dog poo before any event so we have a clean site to play while also helping the city keep the local parks clean,” said White.
The group recently hosted a humans vs. zombies themed event which was aimed at all ages and took place on Halloween. The event had a turnout of 12 people.
“My kids love getting to do something with the family that is also something that they find interesting. They are loving the opportunity to be able to play a game with all of the adults,” said community member Michelle Khalar, one of the attendees at the latest event.
While the group is still growing, there are hopes among the members that more people try out the hobby and become interested in the local group.
“I think this is a good group for people who may be interested so they can go out and try it just to see if they like it. It’s definitely a place where if someone has interest, the best thing they can do is show up and give it a shot,” said Peter Khalar.
The group also is hoping for growth in order to expand on the type and frequency of events that take place.
“I really would like it to be something where if people are serious enough about it, we could have some mod parties, we can help each other,” said White. “I really want it to develop into something that can last.”
The next listed event for the group is a PG-13 Starwars vs. Star Trek themed event taking place on November 21. Turlock Nerf Group encourages anyone interested in the upcoming event or any future events to check out the information posted on their Facebook page.