Nature
Games
From: Jim Speirs
Nature game, outdoors
Equipment: A nature trail.
Formation: Scatter
The object of this game
is to allow the players the opportunity to pretend they are animals, trying
to hide from Man.
The group walks a given
distance down a nature trail, while the leader explains the rules:
Each player is given time
to hide along the trail. They may travel no more than 15 feet from either
side of the trail, and may use anything in the natural environment to
provide camouflage.
The leader waits about
five minutes until all players are hidden. He walks the distance of the
trail ONCE ONLY, and tries to find as many players as possible. After
his walk, he calls out, and watches to see where all the successful 'animals'
hid.
This game can be repeated
many times, with different players taking the role of the searcher.
It is fun to talk about
the hiding places that were the most successful, and how animals might
protect themselves from predators.
Nature game, outdoors.
Equipment: Blindfolds, stones.
Formation: scatter.
Half the group is given
blindfolds to wear. These players are placed in scatter formation within
the boundaries of the playing area. A stone is placed between their fee,
but not touching them.
The other half of the group
(the ones that can see) begin to stalk the blindfolded players in an effort
to obtain the stone from between their feet. In an attempt to pinpoint
a stalker, the blindfolded players may point to a sound. If a stalker
is there, the two players switch positions.
Stalkers try to collect
as many stones as possible without being caught.
Nature game, indoors
Equipment: blindfolds, flashlight.
Formation: scatter.
This is a terrific evening
program variation to the original Stalker game. The players protecting
the stone between their feet are given flashlights. When they think they
know the location of a stalker, instead of pointing to him, they flash
the light in the direction from where they hear the noise. Each player
is given three separate 'flashes' of light before losing his stone to
the nearest stalker
Nature game, outdoors.
Equipment: pen and paper.
Formation: small groups.
Divide the group into teams
of 4 to 6. Give each team a large piece of paper and a pen. Each letter
in the word SWAMP stands for another word that describes something in
nature:
S Stars
W Weather
A Animals
M Minerals
P Plants
On 'Go', each team writes
down as many words as it can think of that relate to the words STARS.
The only stipulation is this: They must be able to SEE what they write
down from where they are sitting (e.g., sky is where stars are seen; clouds
cover stars on a dull night). Each team has five minutes to write down
as many words as possible.
The next five minutes are
devoted to the word WEATHER, the next five to ANIMALS and so on until
all letters of the word SWAMP have been given equal time.
At the end of the writing
session, the leader tallies the number of words to see which team has
the sharpest eyes, and the most vivid imagination (some teams may have
to explain their rationale behind writing down certain words - the leader
may not understand how they relate to the 'master' word).
You'll be amazed at the
boy's imagination.
Nature game, outdoors
Equipment: None
Formation: Group
The object of this game
is to discover a friend in nature, without harming any living thing that
might be found in the out- of-doors.
Players are taken on a
short hike during which time each player collects something from the natural
environment (nothing may be broken or picked from any living thing - the
item has to be either lying on the ground or resting on another object
(e.g. stump or log)). Everyone keeps his object hidden from all players.
Following the hike, each
player is given the opportunity to build a small home for his 'friend'.
He is also asked to give his friend a name, and to think of one way in
which he could take care of his friend, if it was still out of it's natural
environment.
When all in the group is
ready, everyone tours the small homes that have been created, and meets
each special friend.
E.g.: 'This is my friend
Twiggy. He is a small branch that I found lying on the ground. I've built
him a house from soft leaves and moss that I found on the ground. If he
was still on a tree, I could take care of him by protecting him from the
wind. I could build him a fence so the wind wouldn't snap him off his
tree. I could also make sure he doesn't catch diseases - I could check
for termites and insects that might harm him."
The friends that are made
are refreshing to everyone.
Nature game, outdoors.
Equipment: None.
Formation: scatter, in a wooded area with several varieties of trees.
Players are divided into
three or four groups such as Sugar Maple, Beeches, Yellow birches, ironwoods.
In an appropriate and defined area, players stand touching their trees
- only one per tree. 'It' stands at the center spot and calls the name
of a group.. 'Beeches' for example. At this signal, the designated group
changes place with on another, running from one beech tree to another.
'It' tries to claim a tree of his own during the interchange. If 'It'
is successful in claiming a tree, the player who is left without a tree
becomes the new 'It'. If 'it' calls 'FOREST', everyone is required to
change to another tree of his team's name.
To end the game, it is
fun to have 'it be it' for four or five rounds of the game calling 'FOREST'
every time. As 'it' beats a player to a tree, that player is eliminated.
In this way, some trees may be altogether wiped out from the forest, as
could happen in our natural environment.
Nature game, outdoors.
Equipment: The Outdoors.
Formation: semi-circle.
The purpose of this game
is to discover the beautiful sounds that can be created by the natural
objects in our environment.
Each player is given 10
- 15 minutes to find objects in nature that make a noise when banged together,
or blown on, or rubbed together. Players bring back their 'instruments'
and a conductor is chosen, who organizes the group into a semi-circular
orchestra.
Each musician is allowed
to 'tune' is instrument, so the rest of the group can hear the different
sounds. If a player can play more than one instrument at the same time,
he is welcome to do so.
The conductor can then
choose a familiar tune with an easy rhythm, and lead his orchestra in
song. Let the players make requests for songs they would like to play;
give musicians the opportunity to work on 'solos' that they can perform
for everyone.
Nature game, outdoors/indoors
Equipment: 1 compass
Formation: scatter
The leader gathers the
group together. Using the compass, they all learn how to determine which
direction is north. Someone from the group is asked to select an object
that lies directly north, (e.g., a tree, or a doorstep, or a post). Then
the group decides on an object that lies directly south, one that lies
directly east, and one that lies directly west.
Everyone assembles in the
center of the playing area. The leader calls out one of 'North', 'South',
'East' or 'West', and everyone runs to touch the object that lies in that
direction. The last one to touch the object is eliminated.
After a new rounds of the
game, play can stop, and objects for the intercardinal points (Northeast,
Northwest, Southeast and Southwest) can be added. Everyone can begin the
game again, as all eight points are used.
A great game to introduce
the skill of orienteering !
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