So you’re planning a company outing. Whether you’re in charge of planning an event for your team, department, or even the whole company, this is one task you want to knock out of the park. When done right, team building events can have a powerful impact on morale, communication, and employee retention. If you’re not sure how to plan a successful work outing for your team, not to worry! We’ve got your back with these tips for a well-executed event that will earn rave reviews around the water cooler or breakroom. 

Start early.

When planning an event for your company, it’s always best to start a couple of months early if possible. That gives you plenty of time to finalize the budget, discuss goals and requirements for the event with other stakeholders, and then announce it to the employees. You’ll want to give teams enough of a heads up that they are able to incorporate the event into their schedules and make any necessary changes to meeting times, project schedules, etc. 

Consider the logistics.

One of the most important aspects of planning any group event is managing the logistics. Consider factors like capacity, parking, and distance from work to ensure the outing will be convenient for everyone and to schedule the day’s activities appropriately. You should also make sure employees know what the company outing is so they can dress accordingly. For bowling, comfortable business casual (or just plain casual!) clothing is fine, as long as guests have socks to wear with their rented bowling shoes. 

Choose a venue that multi-tasks. 

Think about the elements of a successful work event; entertainment, food, drinks, atmosphere. Selecting a venue that fulfills several of these needs will make your event planning tasks much easier. 

For instance, when you book an event at our bowling alley and entertainment center, you’ve got entertainment on lock. In addition to bowling, our entertainment options include laser tag (a perpetual favorite for team building events), bumper cars, and an arcade. We even have kids activities if you choose to host a company event for your employees’ families. 

Don’t worry about the menu; our kitchen serves up a range of party foods, from appetizers to entrees to desserts. There’s no need to deal with a catering company because we can help you create a menu that your group will love. And forget hiring bartenders—we have a full-service bar for any adult beverages your party requires.  

Here at Mid County Lanes in Middletown, we have years of experience helping our clients host crowd-pleasing events, so don’t stress! Just give us a call at 302-378-0677 to discuss your organization’s group event needs, or fill out our online form and we will contact you. 

Bowling is one of our classic American pastimes, so most people have bowled at least a game or two at a birthday party or after-work hangout. However, a few casual games at the bowling alley won’t necessarily teach you everything you need to know about the game if you want to become a better bowler. Whether you’re new to the sport or want to level up from social bowling to league play, we’ve got some “Bowling 101” tips to help you out. For starters, these are the basic types of bowling shots.  

Basic Bowling Shots Explained

• Straight shot – This shot is what most people start with. It’s the most basic bowling shot, and it’s as simple as it sounds; you just visualize a straight line and try to throw the ball along that path to the pins. Of course, you don’t want to roll your ball straight down the lane and split the pins, so it’s best to angle your straight line towards the pocket on either the right or left. However, even if your straight shot hits the pocket, it may lack the force and spin necessary to send pins flying and get you a strike. That’s why you will eventually want to learn how to throw a hook. Of course, there’s a time and a place for everything, so if you have just one or two pins left standing, a straight shot may be just what you need! 
• Hook shot – Also known as a curve ball, this shot starts out moving straight down the lane, but once it’s closer to the pins it curves or “hooks” into the pocket, picking up speed and energy. This allows the ball to strike the pins with more force and at the perfect angle to send pins flying into each other, which ultimately increases your chances of a strike. The key to mastering a hook shot is putting a little “twist” on the ball as you release it, giving it a boost of centripetal force that creates the hook you’re looking for. While the hook shot is harder to learn, once you’ve got it down it can do wonders for your bowling game. 

Practice pays off, so visit us for open bowling in Middletown or check out our bowling specials! 

With school back in full swing, there are a million different sports teams and after school programs for our kids to join. How do you choose? Once you choose, is your child on to something new the next week? After school programs and sports teams may seem like an endless amount of carpool and laundry duty. However, there are several benefits in having children participate in some sort of afternoon program.

Benefits of after-school programs

• Leadership skills and camaraderie. Any after school program will feature a different group of people than their daily classrooms. Once they build relationships with these kids, they will feel a sense of belonging which leads to improvement of self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Improved social skills. With more time being around peers and new faces, your child will become more comfortable talking to and getting to know people.
• Exercise. After school programs can help to build a routine as well as healthy, active habits which kids will carry on to their adulthood.
• Opportunity to explore new interests. After school programs give children the opportunity to try several different activities, hobbies, and sports. This gives kids the ability to try new things without the parents having to invest time and money into something they are not sure will stick.
• Time management techniques. Students participating in an after-school program obviously have a busier schedule. This will help these children learn and develop time management skills. They will need to learn how to get their work done if they want to participate in the fun.

Here are some things you can do on your own to help with some of the items mentioned above without an after school program:

• Help plan a classroom, youth group or scout outing at Mid County Lanes.
• Encourage your children to meet one new friend at any of our Family Fun Galaxy.
• Have a family outing with your best friends and their kids regardless of the age difference.

However your children are spending their afternoon, we hope they have as much fun as we do at Mid County Lanes.

Not sure what to wear to the bowling alley? Not to worry! Check out our tips for what to wear bowling from the pros at Mid County Lanes. 

First and foremost: SOCKS! 

That’s right, even if your outfit doesn’t call for socks, you really need to bring socks with you to wear with the bowling shoes you’ll be renting. Thick, absorbent socks are best. If you forget to bring socks, head over to our pro shop to pick up a pair. 

Get comfy

Bowling requires a range of movement, so make sure you wear something comfortable and easy to move in. Avoid super tight or restrictive clothing that could make it difficult to bend over, walk, or swing your arms. The bowling alley is a place to relax and hang out while enjoying some friendly competition, so don’t feel obligated to dress to the nines. 

Don’t get caught

No, we’re not advocating sneaking around. Don’t get caught on your clothes or jewelry! Large or excessive rings and bracelets can get caught on your shirt when swinging your arm to take a shot, or even fly off down the lane! Remember, you should never walk on the lane – if you need assistance, let an employee know. 

You should also avoid wearing any clothing that has a lot of bits and bobs you could snag while bowling. Avoid severely oversized clothing and anything with lots of zippers, loops, cords, or trailing pieces. 

Now that you know how to dress for the bowling alley, it’s time to have some fun! Join us for open bowling or sign up for one of our Middleton bowling leagues.

Summer break seems so long when school lets out, but blink and you’ll miss it! Don’t let a whole summer slide by without planning some fun family activities in and around Middletown. Read on for some ideas to keep your family entertained, from the experts at Mid County Lanes and the Family Fun Galaxy. 

Get out of the heat. 

When looking for summertime family activities, it’s important to consider how you’ll beat the heat. Choosing an indoor activity is a smart way to avoid sunburns, bug bites, and heat stroke. At Mid County Lanes, your family can enjoy bowling, bumper cars, laser tag, and much more in the comfort of our indoor, air-conditioned facility! 

Explore Delaware’s natural beauty. 

Take a short trip just 30 minutes away to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge to experience the untamed beauty of Delaware’s wetlands and get a look at native species like the piping plover, horseshoe crab, and many more.

Celebrate the tasty peach. 

Mark your calendar for the Middletown Old Tyme Peach Festival on Saturday, August 17th. Hosted by the Middletown Historical Society, this local festival offers a bushel of family fun, with a parade, kids’ activities, art and historical exhibits, a peach pie contest, crafts, games, and of course, plenty of fun fair food featuring the star of the show – peaches! 

What are your favorite summer activities to do with your family in Middletown or elsewhere? Whatever you do to fill these summer days, enjoy the quality time with your family. And remember, we’re always here with fun events and bowling specials to keep the good times rolling. 

Company outings have gotten a bad rap over the years, with many folks associating them with trust falls and other obnoxious activities designed to force closeness. These days, however, corporate outings and events have come a long way! There are plenty of options to choose from, but are company outings worth it? Check out some of the benefits of corporate outings and team building from your friends at Mid County Bowling in Middletown, DE. 

Company outings improve morale – if you choose the right activity. 

Most of us spend a large part of our waking hours at work, so maintaining a pleasant environment is an important part of managing any workplace. When employee morale is good, the workplace runs more smoothly, allowing your team to overcome the day-to-day frustrations that can plague any business with good humor and teamwork. 

Sometimes that rapport develops naturally over time, but you can help it along by planning fun company outings, giving your employees a chance to get to know each other outside of their job titles and responsibilities. 

How to plan a company outing employees will actually like

Choosing a fun, casual activity that everyone can do is key! Bowling is a great choice because it’s fun, accessible to people of various ages and abilities, and gives players plenty of time to chat with each other. Plus, a little friendly competition is a good ice-breaker!  By building rapport among employees, you’re facilitating better communication and a more team-focused attitude. 

Whatever your corporate outing activity may be, remember to keep it relaxed! At Mid County Bowling, we have plenty of experience hosting group events and would love to help you plan a company outing that gets employees talking, laughing, and enjoying each others’ company. Call us today at 302-378-0677 for more information, or check out our group bowling rates. 

No matter what activity you’re participating in, there are some general rules of etiquette and safety—both written and unwritten. The same goes for bowling. We’re here to teach you or your children basic bowling etiquette and safety.

We hope the following tips will promote a safe, exciting night of family fun and friendly competition.

• Don’t eat or drink on the wooden flooring around the lanes (called “the approaches”). The approaches need to stay clean for easier ball movement. If a spill happens on the approaches, no worries! Just let someone at Mid County Lanes know so we can clean it up immediately.
• One ball at a time please. I know we sometimes get those two pin splits and someone wants to try the double ball move but this can cause some serious damage to our equipment. If a ball gets stuck half way down the lane, instead of throwing another ball, get one of our staff and we will retrieve the stranded ball.
• Don’t bowl when the sweep is down. The sweep is the mechanical arm the cleans the pins off after each turn. When you’re in a heated game, the sweep may seem to take a while. However, please do not bowl while the sweep is down as it could break the sweep or the machinery altogether.
• Find a ball that is right for you. If you choose a ball that’s too heavy, you can drop the ball on your foot or behind you during your backswing. If you choose a ball that’s too light, the ball could go flying across lanes or up in the air.
• Remember basic bowling etiquette. The major bowling etiquette rule is not to bowl when the people in the lanes on either side of you are winding up to bowl or are mid-bowl. Make sure to wait until your neighbors are finished before you begin.

We hope these few basics will make your family feel confident when walking into the bowling alley for family fun night! Check out our hours and events so no one misses out on the fun.