Nature Games

A large woods with lots of cover. Make sure everyone has a lot of bug spray! Just for fun, to make it a learning moment, have a discussion about how animals camouflage themselves either before or after the game. One person is IT. IT yells “camouflage” and starts counting to 30, and everyone else tries to run as far away …

Per team: compass, matches, ingredients to make apple crisp, frying pan, grill, cutlery Disclaimer: This activity is strictly for use with groups of young adults with direct supervision from adults! Divide the players into teams of three campers and one adult in a supervisory role only. Give each team a compass and a list of bearings (each team has a …

Paper and pen, tape The leader hides an envelope (the D’Juno!) that has information inside about something in our natural environment (see samples below). The object of the game is to use clues to discover the location of the envelope containing this new information about the outside world, thereby becoming the winner of the D’Juno Award! After the D’Juno has …

Rope (2 6-10 foot long pieces) 1. Place two parallel lines on the floor or ground, ten to twenty feet apart. 2. Count the group off in fours (1,2,3,4,1,2‰Û_) 3. Ones become deer, the others are needs of the deer, which are three: food, water and shelter. 4. Show the groups what the symbols are for each of the needs, …

Blindfold, sticks (either from outside or popcicle sticks) One child sits blindfolded with lots of sticks around him. The rest of the children, one or two at a time, attempt to creep up and steal a stick from him and return safely. If the blindfolded child hears a noise, he points in that direction. I found it is good to …

Per team: Map of area, Pencil and Paper, Whistle (The game is played best in an area with a good variety of wildflowers growing within a reasonable distance of each other.) This game requires the assistance of 8 or more leaders (counselors or adults). These people are ‘planted’ in specific locations prior to the start of the game. Each location …

A set of “food chain cards” -i.e. cards with the name of an animal written on each, such that each animal plays a role in a food chain. Give each player a food chain card. Several chains may be created with the cards and number of people available. When all are ready, have each player find and join hands with …

Whistle Divide the group into three circles, one inside the next. The people in the outer circle are flowers, and remain stationary. The players in the inner circle are insects, and begin the game with one knee to the ground. The players in the middle circle are frogs -they begin the game standing. When the whistle sounds the insects have …

Every player chooses the name of an animal they would like to represent. One player is chosen to become JUDGE NATURE. Animals follow the instructions given by Judge Nature. If animals should happen to die during the game, they go to a designated area called “SOIL”. There, they may be given a task by Judge Nature, such as ‘hop on …

Cards with the name of animals written on each raccoon rabbit deer squirrel wolf weasel fox otter bear mink Divide the players into teams of three people. Each team requires a sandy area where tracks can be made and identified. Each team is given a card. Teams retreat to their sandy areas where they establish a set of tracks that …

Play in a flat area with multiple different trees. 1) Have the kids partner up 2)Have one person in each pair be blindfolded/eyes shut 3)The non-blindfolded person acts as a guide and leads his/her partner to a tree 4)blindfolded person tries to find all the details of the tree without using sight 5)once the blindfolded partner has a good understanding …

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 person 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 …

1 compass 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 is directly north (e.g. a tree, or a doorstep, or a post ). The group then decides on an object that lies directly south, one that lies directly …

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 …

Blindfolds Partners: Find a sound that both partners can make (e.g. meeeee, flaaaaang, etc.) Practice a bit. Partners go to opposite ends of the room, lights are switched off (or give everyone a blindfold), and the two “mates” must find each other by using the sounds. This can be a nature game, by adding that many animals must use similar …

Bandanna (blindfold), sticks on the ground. Explain that the quietest of animals will eat during the harsh winter. If the prey has heard you, you will not be eating this winter. You have one person sit on the ground with a blindfold on. They are the “prey”. They have sticks on the ground between their legs. The rest of the …

Think outside the box! This activity encourages campers to think outside of the box, and works best in forested ares with lots of sticks around. The counselor draws a box in the dirt and selects a unique stick. They then explain that the stick will be hidden somewhere within this box. When the camper thinks they have found the stick, …

Pen and paper Divide the group into teams of 4-6 people. 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 …

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 player per tree. “IT” stands at a centre spot and calls the name of a group. “Beeches” for instance. At this signal, the designated group changes places with one another, running …

Blindfolds and a Noise Maker Divide the players into pairs, and give each pair the name of a herbivore. Each pair is given the opportunity to devise a strategy for 30 seconds before each round of the game is played. One person is chosen to be the carnivore. He is given the noise-maker and a blindfold. The pairs of herbivores …

Blindfolds and Stones 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 feet 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 …

The group assembles in an outdoor area with open fields and wooded edges. Players are asked to stay within outlined boundaries, set by the leader. The leader calls out one of the instructions listed below, and players are given 2 minutes to run and do or find whatever is needed. Everyone gathers in the center of the playing area to …

You will need two trails of about equal length that intercept at the end. Or some sort of version of this. Use an old white bed sheet and devide it into 10 large pieces. On each piece create a story using tracks and any supplement object. For example, use mouse tracks that suddenly end at a hole or at a …

A set of “food chain cards” -i.e. cards with the name of an animal written on each, such that each animal plays a role in a food chain. 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, …