“Dart Wars,” as students call it, is an annual game played by the juniors and seniors. Dart Wars began at Highlands in 2014, and this year, it starts on the Monday after Spring Break, April 7.
The game is simple.
Anyone who wants to play, gathers a group of four or five people for their team. The games begin once all the teams are set on the starting date. Each team is assigned another group, either juniors or seniors, and the goal is to find the team’s opponents and eliminate them.
“I remember there were a bunch of rules, and people would team up to get someone out. The way I got out was that I had just gotten home from my baseball game when someone popped out of a bush and shot me,” Health Teacher and 2017 Highlands graduate, Kyle Finfrock said.
Two teams are paired up each week, and the team with the most people left by the end of the week advances. The game is played with Nerf guns, though there are a few rules.
Rule 1: There are 15 minutes before and after school or school-related activities for immunity, meaning players cannot get shot, and if they do, it won’t count.
Rule 2: “The strip rule.” The strip rule states that players cannot get shot if they strip down anywhere. For guys, it is just underwear; for girls, it is a tank top and compression shorts.
Rule 3: Players have to be invited into someone’s house to shoot; they cannot just break into someone else’s home.
Rule 4: For activities not related to school, such as a job, there is no immunity before or after.
This year, a total of 40 teams are participating.
“I’m going to have a set plan with each of my teammates to ensure we are staying safe and out of sight of our opponents,” Ellie Mohr (12) said.
For updates and evaluations, go to @hhsdartwars2025 on Instagram.
With so many teams, there is an obvious question everyone still wonders.
Who will win?
