Embedded Files
Rump Bump
Rump Bump
Type: Active/Trail Game/Limited contact
Age: 2nd-7th grade
Group size: 4 or more
Supplies: none
Instruction: (great for speeding a group’s progress) The challenge for the group is to stay an arm’s distance from the person ahead of them (no farther) but also to avoid running into the person ahead of them. The leader of the group begins to jog down the trail and campers must keep up! Suddenly, the leader stops and everyone tries to halt without running into the person in front of then. If anyone bumps, they get sent to the back of the line. Repeat, rotate leaders, and have fun!
I Spy
I Spy
Type: Calm/Trail Game/No Contact
Age: K-7th grade
Group size: 2 or more
Supplies: none
Instruction: As you hike along, stop at different points to play ‘I Spy.’ Introduce the game as an exercise in observation. Each round starts with you or a camper selecting one thing they see on the trail and saying ‘I spy with my little eye, something that is ______.’ Fill in the blank with a color, a texture, a size, etc. Campers ask yes/no questions until they get the object. Rotate through campers as you play.
Memory
Memory
Type: Restful/No Contact
Age: Any
Group size: 4 or more
Supplies: Hiking Necklaces
Instruction: Lay out all of the necklaces in a grid, face up. Let campers observe the grid for 15-30 seconds. Tell them their job is to try and remember where all of the cards are. Turn all of the necklaces over and then start quizzing campers ‘Where do you think Hydration Helper is?’ Call on a camper, if they get it right, they get the job. If not, turn the card back over and someone else guesses for the same job.
Flash Flood
Flash Flood
Type: Active/No Contact
Age: Any
Group size: 4 or more
Supplies: None
Instruction: As you hike, tell a story about the area being prone to flash floods. You can hear them coming, but it’s a skill that’s taken time to develop, you doubt the campers will hear one coming. Since it’s part of your job to keep campers safe, you’ll yell out ‘flash flood’ if you hear one approaching and all campers must jump as high as they can to avoid the flood.
If it’s safe and the area allows for it, you can direct campers to jump onto higher ground, logs, rocks, etc.
Flying Squirrel
Flying Squirrel
Type: Active/No Contact/Trail Game
Age: 2nd-7th grade
Group size: 4 or more
Supplies: none
Instruction: As you hike along, tell a story about flying squirrels discovered in the area. They’re sneaky and fast and not everyone can spot them. You have been trained as a squirrel spotter and will warn the group when you see one by yelling ‘flying squirrel!’ When you call out, then all need to crouch down immediately in order to avoid getting hit.
Animal ID
Animal ID
Type: Active/Optional Contact
Age: Any
Group size: 4 or more
Supplies: Animal Characteristic clues
Instruction: Split the group into two teams.
You’ll begin reading out characteristics of a particular animal that someone spotted on your expedition. Once a team thinks they know what animal is being described, the team must complete a tunnel relay.* Once any team begins the tunnel relay, the instructors should stop reading characteristics of that animal. In a tunnel relay, you line up with your legs spread apart. The person in the back must crawl through everyone’s legs, run to and touch the turn-around point, run back, and then crawl through everyone’s legs again. Then they are able to answer the question.
If you are correct, you receive two points. If you are incorrect, the other team has an opportunity to steal the points and also an opportunity to hear the other characteristics of the animal before answering. An additional bonus point will be awarded after each round if the team answering the animal question can also come up with a way that humans can help protect and respect this animal’s habitat.
The team with the most points at the end wins.
*Change it up: Have each team complete an over-under relay instead. All players except for the runner make a bridge on their hands and knees on the ground. The runner must go over the first player, then under the second, and so on.. Once the runner has gone over and under everyone on their team, they have to run and touch a turnaround point and return to their spot in line by going over/under every member on their team between the end and their spot.
Hot Seat (Hiking Edition)
Hot Seat (Hiking Edition)
Type: Restful/No Contact
Age: Any
Group size: 4 or more
Supplies: None
Instruction: Pair campers up and give a question that both campers will have to answer to one another while walking along the trail. Ex: What is your favorite snack while you’re in the outdoors? What is an experience you've had outdoors that had made you nervous (or scared)? When all campers have had a chance to give their answer to their partner, have campers change partners and give them a new question to answer. Continue providing questions and changing partners as you hike along to your next destination. This is a great activity to help campers get to know each other better! Try to partner campers up with other kids they don’t know well or haven’t been interacting with very much in order to encourage further community building in the group!
Important Note: Questions should be age appropriate and should encourage campers to practice sharing about themselves and being curious about their fellow campers while not crossing any boundaries. Let campers know that if they are not comfortable answering a question, they do not have to. Instructors should use wisdom and err on the side of caution when considering question topics (while also encouraging and empowering campers to connect with their group and practice vulnerability).
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