This is a great warm up name game for younger participants. Set up the group in a circle. Choose one participant to go into the middle and squat down with their arms covering their head (as if they are covered in a box). You can use this variation of the Jack in the Box nursery rhyme. You can also change …
Read MoreIce Breakers
Ice Breakers are a great way to get people to learn each others names, find out interesting things about one another, and help people begin new relationships.
Aside from name games, ice breakers provide a way to establish common ground between participants, get everyone moving, and create a inviting environment.
These type of activities are especially important on the first day of camp - in fact, leading fun ice breakers helps counselors set ground rules, ease camper anxiety, and start the day off on the right foot.
2 Truths and a Lie
Object: learn something about others… it is fun! Ask each person in the group to think of two true facts about themselves, and one lie. Each person in the group takes a turn telling the group their three items. The group then has to agree on which fact they think is a lie. Once the group announces their decision, the …
Read MoreAstronaut
Try to get the kids to figure out the trick. Camp Leader says: Û÷Im going to outer space. And im going to take aÛ_’ The leader picks out an object/animal/food that has the first letter in their name. (ie. Melinda would take a Marshmallow. Josh would take a Jacket.) And so on. Pick three people that know the trick and …
Read MoreBeah Ball Pass
A blow up beach ball or soccer ball of some sort that has more than 5 sections on it. Kids should be able to read as well. To get to know a little bit about your campers or for campers to get to know peers. Buy a beach ball or soccer ball with more than 5 sections on it. Take …
Read MoreBibbity Bibbity Bop
Something to mark the boundaries One person is in the middle of the circle. He walks up to someone in the circle and says, “Bibbity Bibbity Bop”. That person must respond with “Bop!” before the person in the middle says “Bop”. If the person in the circle is too slow, or doesn’t say “Bop” at all, he switches places with …
Read MoreBippity Boppity Boo
In Bippity Boppity Boo, everyone stands or sits in a circle with one “It” person in the middle. The “It” then walks up to a person and says either “Me, Bippity Boppity Boo,” “You, Bippity Boppity Boo,” “Left, Bippity Boppity Boo,” or “Right, Bippity Boppity Boo.” If the “it” person says “Left, Bippity Boppity Boo,” then the person must correctly …
Read MoreBreakout Bonanza
To begin this virtual name game, divide the meeting participants into pairs and assign each pair a breakout room. While in the breakout room, the participants will ask their partner questions to get to know them better. When the breakout room time ends, participants will take turns introducing their partner to the rest of the group.
Read MoreBring It Up
For this virtual name game ask participants to find an object that is in their space. Ask that they choose an object that cannot be seen. It can be something interesting or personal that can tell more about themselves. Choose one person to go first. They describe the object using three sentences. The rest of the group can makes guesses …
Read MoreBubble Gum Art
Give each participant a piece of bubble gum to chew, a toothpick and an index card. Allow them 10 minutes to chew the gum, place gum on index card and then design something on index card using only the toothpick as a tool – no hands. Each person takes a turn going around the circle showing off their art. The …
Read MoreCampfire Social
campfire sticks campfire sitting logs,chairs The objective is to understand what campers want most out of camp, and to introduce them to other campers The object of this activity is to get every camper socializing. Each camper takes a stick (washed or unwashed) and raises it up and says their name, where they’re from and what they want out of …
Read MoreCan You Remember?
A fire ring with benches works best, And not a lot of repeat names, as it confuses many. To let kids learn each others names and what they like. Everyone gets in a circle. Choose someone to start. They say “My name is (Name here) and I like (object that starts with the same letter as their first name).” Then …
Read MoreCandy Ice Breaker
Enough candy for each camper to at least have 5 pieces. Good first day activity… Gets each camper to get to know each other. Put about enough candy in a bowl for each person in the room to take at least 5 pieces, (for larger groups take 3). After that is done tell everybody they can grab 1-5 pieces of …
Read MoreCaption This
Participants have access to photos or pictures from a phone or other media device and creativity. Get people interacting with each other, and laugh. With the availability of cell phones these days I used this activity with a group of Teachers as an Icebreaker before Professional Development. Each participant is asked to find a picture on their phone then find …
Read MoreCharade Introductions
This is a virtual name game for groups who are meeting virtually. Choose one participant to act out three things that are true about themselves without using their voice. The rest of the group will guess the actions that are being performed.
Read MoreChivalrous Couples
To have fun and to get everyone relaxed among new people. One person with a loud voice will stand on a chair or other high place so that they can be seen above the heads of the group. After you have explained the game and everyone is ready the person on the chair will call out one of the following …
Read MoreChoose a Picture
Choose a picture from your phone that is meaningful to you. Explain your picture and share it with your group. You will get to know a little piece of the people in your group.
Read MoreClump
Have everyone stand at least five feet apart, so that when you spread out your arms, you’re not touching anyone else’s arms. The leader then shouts out: “Clump of [some number]” Everyone then has to huddle together in a group huddle or “clump” of that many people. There should usually be people left over because there aren’t enough people to …
Read MoreCoka Cola
A large crowd Getting campers quiet. Great for quieting down a large crowd The counsler says coca then all campers shout cola then everyone says shhhhh.
Read MoreCompass Name Game
Have participants stand in a circle. One volunteer stands in the middle of the circle and starts the game as the “caller.” The caller points at a member of the circle and says one of the following: You, Me, Left, or Right. Based on which direction the caller says, the person being pointed at must correctly name that person. “You” …
Read MoreCrocodile Race
Form teams of 4 – 10 players. Each team stands in a straight line. One person is the leader and all of the others on the team need to put their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. Then the team should crouch down, forming the crocodile. The different crocodiles then races out to a point …
Read MoreCross If YouÛ_.
Have everyone sit in a circle with you in the center. You can either sit in chairs, or have place markers (bookbags, etc) behind each person. Name off something you have, have done, or can do (ie ÛÏCross if you have ever jumped out of a plane, if you own a dog, have blue eyes). Those people that can give …
Read MoreDouble-Whammy Name Toss
1) Start the activity with the traditional name toss. 2) Once the group has successfully completed the task, instruct them to pass the ball in the exact REVERSE order. 3) Once the group has successfuly completed that part, introduce a second ball or object of a different color/style/shape. Instruct the group that they must pass the ball in the original …
Read MoreDrumroll Please
This name game is simple but can be very energizing! Sit the group in a circle. Start the drumroll against your legs or the ground in front of you. Call out a name of a person across the circle. The drumroll stops and the person who just had their name called can make a funny pose or shout out something …
Read MoreDucks and Cows
This is a great way to divide a large group into two smaller groups. Players close their eyes while one person goes around tapping them on the shoulders designating them either a duck or a cow. On a given signal, players keep their eyes closed and must find other members of their duck or cow team by “mooing” or “quacking.”
Read MoreElbow Tag with Names
This high energy name game requires a large space free of hazards! Start by giving everyone a partner. The pairs link arms and stand in the space with at least a few feet between them and any other pair. One pair will start the game. They will unlink their arms. Choose one to be the tagger and one to be …
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