Canoe Games FUN FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED


I remember my first experience learning how to canoe. The sky was dark, the lake grey. I dipped a few strokes timidly into the uninviting water and wondered when I could go back to shore. Then someone suggested a game. We crashed, capsized, laughed—and probably learned. Sleek torpedo or leaking bathtub, the


canoe itself was all but forgotten. While clambering atop the shiny wet hull or spinning on a dime to evade an incoming projectile, that day I learned the most important lesson in learning to canoe: we do it because it’s fun.


Race to a Dozen PLAYERS: Four players, one taskmaster


YOU WILL NEED: Two canoes, one whistle, two floating balls


HOW TO PLAY: • Players form teams of two per canoe, both teams get one ball


• The moderator calls out a task or challenge, then blows the whistle


• At the sound of the whistle, each team rushes to perform the task


• Teams get one point for being the first to complete the task


• The first team to get 12 points wins


TASK IDEAS: • Switch positions with teammate • Pivot canoe 360 degrees • Jump into water, swim under canoe, and climb back in • Throw ball into other team’s canoe


• Have each team throw their ball as far as possible before going to retrieve the other team’s ball


• When retrieving balls, teams must paddle with butt ends or paddle backward


Gunwale Bobbing PLAYERS: Two YOU WILL NEED: One canoe


HOW TO PLAY: • Two players stand facing each other, balanced on the gunwales; one at the bow, the other at the stern


• Players bob and wiggle to set the canoe bobbing


• Object of game is to make your opponent lose balance, sending him or her for a swim first


• To increase the challenge, try moving further toward the ends of the canoe


Sticky Situation


PLAYERS: At least three solo paddlers or six tandem paddlers


YOU WILL NEED: At least three canoes, a roll of duct tape


HOW TO PLAY: • Set boundaries for the area of play. For example between the shore, docks, buoys, etc.


• Cut two foot-long pieces of duct tape for each canoe. Fold the duct tape partially over onto itself so only four inches of adhesive are exposed


• Stick a piece of duct tape to the bow and stern of each canoe


• The moderator instructs the canoes to spread out and begins play with a whistle


• Object of game is to grab as many pieces of tape as you can from the other canoes


• Moderator ends game with a whistle • The team with the most tape wins


Ultimate Canoe Frisbee PLAYERS: Minimum eight


YOU WILL NEED: Minimum four canoes, one floating Frisbee or soft football, one whistle


HOW TO PLAY: • Using existing boundaries or buoys, approximate a football field, with end zones about 30 metres apart


• Divide players into two teams


• Object of game is to score points by completing a pass in the other team’s end zone


• Play begins with teams racing from their own end zone to pick up the Frisbee floating at mid-field


• Players can take only five strokes when their boat has the Frisbee before they must pass to a teammate


• When the Frisbee is passed, the receiving players must catch it inside their canoe


• If the receiving players miss the pass, the Frisbee goes www.canoerootsmag.com 47 to the other team to continue play


• When a goal is scored, the other team gains possession and begins play from mid-field


• If the water is warm and the group is enthusiastic, you can play full contact (read: capsize) ultimate, but only against canoes in possession of the Frisbee


• First team to reach 10 points wins


Clowns PLAYERS: As many as you can! YOU WILL NEED: One canoe


HOW TO PLAY: • Object of game is to pile as many people as possible into a floating canoe


• Players must enter the canoe from the water by climbing in while the others balance the canoe


• Try having competitions: boys versus girls or kids versus adults, or just see how many you can fit while someone takes a picture


The Paddle Game PLAYERS: The more the merrier YOU WILL NEED: One paddle for each player


HOW TO PLAY: • Players form a circle, standing shoulder-width apart and facing inward


• Players rest the blades of their paddles on the ground in front of them, holding the butt ends of their paddles at arm’s length in front of their chests.


• A moderator calls commands—one to the right, two to the left, etc.


• Players must let go of their paddle and move in the prescribed direction to grab their neighbour’s paddle before it falls


• If a paddle falls to the ground, the player who was holding it and the player who didn’t catch it leave the circle.


• To increase the challenge, have the players step back so they are farther apart


• If all but two are eliminated, these last players try to catch their own paddle after letting go and spinning around; first once, then twice and so on until there is a winner.


» VIRGINIA MARSHALL is the editor of Family Camping


PHOTO: GRAHAM GENGE


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