JustforFun
Games for Campers of All Ages Team activities that you can lead with no equipment
Squirrel & Trees (Three Deep) You’ll need a large, flat playing space for this active game. Begin by inviting three players to link elbows. These are the ‘trees.’ Next, you’ll need two more play- ers. One to be the Fox (the one chasing) and one to be the Squirrel (the one being chased). At any time, a Squirrel can join one of the trees by linking elbows with one of the outside players. The person on the other end of the tree must now detach (no more than three in any tree) and becomes the new Squirrel. For variation, the Fox can also join a
tree at any time, and the person displaced becomes a new Fox. Or, you can have multiple Foxes and Squirrels at the same time. If you’d like to include a little aero- bic activity in your session, this activity should provide the elevated heart-rate you desire.
Map of the World For this get-acquainted activity, all you need is a flat open space that is large enough for the entire group. Begin with the group standing in a circle around the playing area. Depending on the demographics of
your participants, you can designate the space as a map of the local area, the sur- rounding province, the country, or even a map of the whole world. After explaining the layout (including which way is north!), invite participants to stand in the location where they were born. After looking around and introducing them- selves to other ‘locals’ ask everyone to
now stand where they would like to vaca- tion next. After arriving at this location, encourage participants to share what they would like to do on their vacation. You can ask any number of additional ques- tions like: Where did you go to school/university? Where would you like to retire? Where do your relatives come from? Name one place that you haven’t visited yet that you would like to. What is the biggest city that you have ever visited?
The Story of Your Name Everyone has a story related to their name. Some of us are named after anoth- er member of our family, or perhaps even someone famous. Our middle names are significant too. For this activity, invite everyone to share the story of their name: How they came to have it, if they like it or not, who else has their name, etc. Encourage them to end with the phrase, “Please call me…. [INSERT NAME OF CHOICE].” This way, everyone will have the opportunity to say how they like to be addressed, and what is positive about their name.
Box the Leader As the leader, begin this activity by stand- ing in the centre of the group. Next, split the group into four sub-groups, and invite them each to line up along the edges of a square or box. The line facing the leader is given the designation north. The other three are east, south and west. This game is even more fun and creates great energy when each sub-group has a cheer, chant
By Jim Cain
or yell, like: “Way Up North!” or “West is the Best!” The leader now moves to a new position, and assumes a specific pos- ture (e.g., standing at attention, a yoga stretching move, balanced on one foot). The first sub-group to move to their cor- rect position (with each member in the correct order) assumes the same posture, and recite their chant, cheer or yell, wins that round.
Walk and Talk Here is a kinesthetic version of ‘three things in common,’ which I greatly prefer to the ‘standing’ version. With a partner, two people take a short stroll together. During the walk, the goal is for them to identify three things that they have in common. For example, you and your partner may have seen the same movie recently, or visited the same restaurant or read the same book. Encourage partici- pants to ‘dig deep’ in this activity. The more unusual the commonality, the bet- ter.
Coffeepot Here is a classic 1950’s party game that is still worth playing today. Invite one per- son to think of an activity that they enjoy. An example would be playing video games. Other members of the group are allowed to ask them questions, but must use the phrase ‘coffeepot’ instead of the actual name of the activity, which they do not yet know. Suitable questions include: “Do you
coffeepot on weekends?” “Do you cof- feepot alone or with others?” “Where do you coffeepot?” The goal is for the mem- bers of the group to identify what the activity is, using only their questions and the replies from the secret keeper.
CC
Dr. Jim Cain (www.teamworkandteam-
play.com) is the author of Teamwork & Teamplay, The Revised and Expanded Book of Raccoon Circles, A Teachable Moment, and Teambuilding Puzzles. He is a former executive director of Association for Challenge Course Technology, senior consultant to the Cornell University
Corporate
Teambuilding Program and director and creative force behind his company, Teamwork & Teamplay.
14 Canada Camps Spring 2010
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