Meet a Tree

Name and Purpose

Meet a Tree deepens sensory awareness and trust between partners.
Players explore the natural world through touch, smell, and spatial memory rather than sight.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 8-16 | 8-30 players (in pairs) | 20-30 minutes | Outdoor area with at least 10 varied trees within a defined boundary

Materials

Quick-Run Card

Mark boundaries with cones and point out any hazards (roots, slopes).
Players pair up; one wears a blindfold, one is the guide.
Guide leads partner to a tree by gently touching their shoulder and using calm verbal cues.
Blindfolded player spends 2 minutes exploring the tree with their other senses.
Guide leads partner back a different way; blindfold comes off; player searches for their tree. Partners then switch.

Setup and Boundaries

Mark the play area with cones before the activity; walk the boundary with players
Signal: one whistle = pause; two whistles = stop and remove blindfold
Point out roots, uneven ground, and low branches before play begins
Staff positioned within sight lines across the play area

How to Play

Players pair up. Decide who is the guide first and who wears the blindfold.
Guide leads their blindfolded partner slowly to a tree, using only a gentle shoulder touch and calm voice: ‘Step up here. Slow down.’
Blindfolded player takes 2 minutes to explore the tree: texture, shape, smell, any sounds nearby.
Guide leads their partner back to the starting point by a different route.
Blindfold comes off. The player searches the area to find their tree.
Once found, partners celebrate quietly and switch roles.
After both have had a turn, pairs share what helped them recognise their tree.

I-OPt Options

A (Active): Full guide-and-seeker experience in both roles
S (Support): Act as a ‘spotter’ for another pair, gently warning if a path is unclear
Q (Quiet): Keep eyes open, explore a tree independently without the blindfold, and share observations at debrief
O (Observer): Watch two pairs and note what guidance strategies seemed to work best

Inclusion Adaptations

Players not comfortable with blindfolds can close their eyes or simply look down at their feet; staff support this without announcement
Players who use mobility aids can explore a tree close to the start point; guide adjusts the route accordingly

Stewardship Moment

After the activity: ‘You just spent time really noticing one tree. What did you learn about it that you would never have noticed just walking by?’
Remind players not to break bark, branches, or fungi during exploration

Consent

Pre-brief: ‘This activity involves wearing a blindfold and being guided by a partner. For those not comfortable with blindfolds, keeping eyes closed or looking down is another option. Your guide will keep you safe.’
Mid-game check: After the first round, pause. ‘How is everyone feeling? Thumbs up, sideways, or down.’
Opt-out/re-entry: Any player can raise a hand to step to the sideline at any time. Rejoin by telling your partner ‘I am ready.’

Risks and Mitigation

Blindfolded player trips on roots or uneven ground: guides must walk slowly; staff sweep the route before play
Guide leads partner too fast: remind guides that their job is to make their partner feel safe, not to challenge them
Player anxious about blindfold: offer the eyes-closed or look-down alternative without drawing attention to them

Warm-Up Suggestions

‘Palm Print’: players press a palm against a nearby tree and describe the texture in one word
‘Sound Map’: sit in silence for 60 seconds and draw or describe every sound you hear

Debrief Questions

What? ‘How did you find your tree? What clues helped you?’
So What? ‘What was it like to trust someone to guide you? What made a good guide?’
Now What? ‘When in your life do you need to trust someone to lead you somewhere you cannot fully see?’

Cleanup and Reset