Sound Seekers

Name and Purpose

• Sound Seekers builds listening, stillness, and spatial awareness.
• Players practise patience, sensory focus, and cooperative awareness in a low-gear activity.

a.k.a.

• Stone Guard, Blindfold Stalk, Night Senses

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 10-16 | 10-30 players | 15-25 minutes | Medium outdoor area or gym, flat and clear of obstacles

Materials

• Blindfolds (one per half the group)
• Smooth stones or beanbags (one per blindfolded player)
• 4+ cones for boundary markers
• Buddy pairs confirmed before play begins
• Flashlights for evening variation

Quick-Run Card

1. Mark boundaries with cones. Pair each player to a buddy before play.
2. Half the group puts on blindfolds and stands in scatter formation, a stone or beanbag between their feet.
3. Seeing players (Seekers) move quietly to collect stones without being pointed at.
4. Blindfolded players listen and point toward sounds. If a Seeker is there, roles swap.
5. Round ends after 5-8 minutes or when all stones are claimed. Count and celebrate.

Setup and Boundaries

• Mark a clear play area with cones; remove any tripping hazards first.
• Each blindfolded player has a sighted buddy standing close by for safety.
• Signal: 1 short whistle = pause; 2 whistles = stop and remove blindfolds.
• Evening variation: replace pointing with a flashlight flash (3 flashes per player).

How to Play

1. Divide into Guardians (blindfolded) and Seekers (sighted). Each Guardian has a sighted buddy nearby.
2. Guardians stand in scatter formation. A stone or beanbag sits between each Guardian’s feet, not touching them.
3. Seekers move as quietly as possible to reach a stone.
4. Guardians listen carefully. When they hear movement, they point toward the sound.
5. If a Seeker is within arm’s reach of the pointed direction, that Seeker and Guardian swap roles.
6. Seekers who collect a stone without being caught keep it for the round.
7. Second Circle: any player who wants a lower-intensity round joins the buddy line and supports their Guardian partner verbally, without pointing out Seekers.
8. Round ends on the whistle. Count stones, then swap all roles for a fresh round.

I-OPt Options

• Start: A (run as a Seeker), S (be a buddy/guide for a Guardian), Q (be a slow-moving Seeker at walk pace), O (watch one round before joining)
• Mid: A (active Seeker or Guardian), S (buddy support role), Q (Guardian using stillness only, no pointing), O (count rounds from the side)
• Late: A (swap roles), S (help reset stones between rounds), Q (walking Seeker), O (judge whether a point was accurate)
• End: A (final round as Seeker), S (help collect and count stones), Q (reflect with a partner), O (share one observation at debrief)

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players not comfortable with blindfolds may close their eyes and keep one hand on a cone instead of wearing a blindfold.
• Players with hearing differences can use vibration cues (a light tap on the shoulder from their buddy) instead of relying on sound alone.

Stewardship Moment

• Use natural stones already on-site if possible. Return them to their original spots after play.
• Reflection: “What did you notice about sound in this space? How do animals use silence to survive?”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “This game involves wearing a blindfold and listening carefully. For those not comfortable with blindfolds, keeping eyes closed or using a cone as a guide is another option. Your buddy stays close the whole time.”
• Mid-game check: After the first round, pause. “Thumbs up, sideways, or down. How is everyone feeling with the blindfold?”
• Opt-out/re-entry: Raise both hands to step out at any time. Call “In” to rejoin as a Seeker or buddy.

Risks and Mitigation

• Collision between blindfolded players: spread Guardians at least 2 metres apart at the start.
• Tripping over stones: use soft beanbags instead of hard stones on hard surfaces.
• Disorientation from blindfold: sighted buddy stays within arm’s reach of their Guardian at all times.

Warm-Up Suggestions

• Sound Freeze: everyone walks around, eyes open; on the whistle they freeze and identify 3 different sounds they can hear.
• Trust Lead: pairs walk together around the space, one with eyes closed, guided by a hand on the shoulder.

Debrief Questions

• What? “What senses did you rely on most?”
• So What? “How did it feel to trust your hearing when you couldn’t see?”
• Now What? “When in daily life do you have to rely on listening rather than looking?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Collect all beanbags or stones and return to storage or original spots.
• Gather and fold blindfolds.
• Remove cones and check the area for any left items.