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Refill Your Bag of Tricks - camping games

Camping Magazine, March, 2000 by Sandy Cameron

Playing the same old game over and over? Add these group games to your bag of tricks.

Crossed Hands

This game puts a spin on the old saying "the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing" and is sure to leave campers laughing. Before you begin, you will need to gather about twenty to fifty small objects such as coins, dice, marbles, keys, etc., depending on the size of your group. Divide participants into groups of about ten and have them sit in a line on the floor or ground facing the other group. Place the objects on the floor by one end of the line. The person sitting here will take one object and pass it to the person next to him using only their right hands. This person will pass it to next person being sure to use only their right hands. The end person continues to pass items down the line. When the items reach the other end of the line, the last person changes hands and passes the items back up the line using only the left hand. When items return to the starting place, the end person places them in a pile being sure not to mix them with the items still to be passed. Players continue simult aneously passing items up and down the row until all items have been passed.

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Circle Pass

This versatile game can be tailored to your group. Have campers sit in a circle on the ground or floor and give one camper a small ball, bean bag, or other similar item. One player or adult leaders stands outside the circle. This person calls out a letter and campers begin passing the ball around the circle. The camper that was initially holding the ball must name a designated number of items before the ball comes back to him. For example, campers must name five items and the leader calls out "B." The camper might respond "ball, bat, butterfly, boy, button." When he finishes, the leader calls out another letter and the person holding the ball at that time must name five items beginning with the called letter. The leaders should pay attention to who is holding the ball and try to ensure that all players have a chance answer.

The number of items campers must name can depend on the size of the group and their age. A larger group may call for more items and a smaller group, fewer. Younger campers could name only four items. As campers progress at the game, increase the number of items they must name or ask them to name animals or vegetables or another category of items. This game can be different every time you play.

Around the Circle

This game is good for grade-school aged children. Have campers join hands and stand in a circle. One camper is "it" and stands outside the circle. "It" walks slowly around the circle, and then taps two campers holding hands on the shoulder and shouts "around the circle." "It" takes one of their places. The two tapped campers run in opposite directions around the circle and try to be the first one back to the empty space by "it." The first camper back joins hands with "it." The other camper becomes "it" and walks around the circle to tap two other campers.

Funny Faces

This game doesn't require any props and will delight campers. Have campers stand in a circle. On cue, campers look down at their toes and then up at another camper in the circle. If that person is looking at someone else, the camper does nothing. If both campers are looking at each other, they make funny faces at one another. Play continues. Campers must look at only one person and cannot change their gaze midstream.

This activity can also be played as an elimination game. If two campers are looking at one another, they are out. Play continues until only two people remain.

Let's Pretend

This game gives campers the opportunity to use their imaginations. Campers stand in an open area. The counselor or other group leader calls out a scene or an event, such as a picnic in the park, a snowy day, or the Fourth of July. Individually or in groups, campers act out what people do on the called day. For example, for a snowy day, campers might pretend to build snowmen, throw snowballs, or curl up inside with a book and a cup of hot chocolate. For the Fourth of July, campers might pretend to watch or take part in a parade, eat watermelon, or view fireworks. After a few minutes, call out another activity and see what campers come up with.

Refill Your Bag of Tricks - camping games

Camping Magazine, March, 2000 by Sandy Cameron

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