Embedded Files
Belly Button
Belly Button
Type: Restful/No Contact
Age: Any
Group size: 4 or more
Supplies: 2 soft objects for tossing (bean bags, stuffed animals, balls, etc.)
Instruction: You'll need 2 different soft objects such as bean bags, stuffed animals, balls, etc. Group up in a circle & before you start go around the circle and have campers introduce themselves. To begin, one person tosses the bean bag to another, and as they toss they say “Here you go, ___!” The camper that caught the bean bag must say “Thank you, ___!” Campers need to cross their arms if they’ve already had the object. Continue until everyone has had the object. Challenge campers to repeat the same pattern. Once they have mastered it again you can add in additional objects or have one object start the pattern in reverse. Alternatively, after saying “Here you go, ____ and Thank you _____” you can have each camper answer a question about themselves. When you challenge them to repeat the pattern, you can give them a new question to answer. Serves as a name game and an icebreaker!
Dance Move!
Dance Move!
Type: Restful/No Contact
Age: Any
Group size: Any
Supplies: None
Instruction: Learn each other's names and have a dance party! Ask each camper to say their name and show off their signature dance move. After each person performs, go around the circle and have everyone mimic the dance move of each camper while saying their name.
My Name is ____ and I like to _____
My Name is ____ and I like to _____
Type: Restful/No Contact
Age: Any
Group size: Any
Supplies: None
Instruction: Great way to learn a bit about your campers! Ask each camper to say their name and one thing they love to do. Add in some movement by asking them to act out the activity. For example, a camper says "My name is Jeff, and I like to mountain bike!" while pretending to ride. Once someone says and acts out their activity, everyone will repeat "Your name is ___ , and you like to ___!" while mimicking the action." After everyone has a turn, test their memory and see if a camper can go around and repeat what everyone’s name and activity was!
Tarp Drop/Waterfall
Tarp Drop/Waterfall
Type: Restful/ No Contact
Age: Any
Group size: Any
Supplies: a tarp, sheet, or blanket big enough to hold between two groups of people
Instruction: Split the group in half, with groups standing on opposite sides of a tarp held so that they cannot see each other. Each group quietly chooses someone to come stand close to the tarp, while everyone else stands farther away. The instructors holding the tarp count down, and drop the tarp, so that two people should be looking at each other. Whoever says the correct name of the other person first, wins, and brings that person to their team.
When the Wind Blows
When the Wind Blows
Type: Restful/No Contact
Age: Any
Group size: 4 or more
Supplies: None
Instruction: Have the campers sit in a circle and choose one camper to be in the center. The camper in the center of the circle will say, “when the wind blows…” followed by something that (s)he likes to do (“I like to swim in the ocean”). If the campers on the outside of the circle also like to do the same thing, then they need to get up and find a new spot in the circle. The person in the center will also look to find a spot in the circle. The camper that is left without a spot in the circle then becomes the one in the middle. Use this game as a way to have the campers get to know one another better and find points of connection.
SPUD!
SPUD!
Type: Active/No Contact
Age: Any
Group size: Any
Supplies: a dodgeball sized ball
Instruction: Campers stand in a circle with one person in the middle, who is holding the ball. That person throws the ball up in the air and yells a name. If your name is yelled, you have to retrieve the ball as quickly as possible and yell SPUD! If your name is not called, you run as far away from the ball as you can until you hear the person yell SPUD, when you have to freeze. The person with the ball is granted 2 big steps in the direction of their choosing, and then they throw the ball underhand to try and tag someone with the ball. That person they throw the ball at now gets to be in the middle of the circle and throw the ball up in the air to call a name. A new name must be called every time.
Pro-Tips: Campers often struggle to be loud enough for others to hear what name they yell or when they yell SPUD. As the instructor, stay close to the center of the circle, and repeat loudly the name of the camper that needs to get the ball, and help yell SPUD when a camper picks up the ball that’s been thrown. Also be clear that we are throwing the ball straight up in the air, not in a specific direction.
Bean Bag Toss
Bean Bag Toss
Type: Restful/No Contact
Age: Any
Group size: 4 or more
Supplies: 2 soft objects for tossing (bean bags, stuffed animals, balls, etc.)
Instruction: You'll need 2 different soft objects such as bean bags, stuffed animals, balls, etc. Group up in a circle & before you start go around the circle and have campers introduce themselves. To begin, one person tosses the bean bag to another, and as they toss they say “Here you go, ___!” The camper that caught the bean bag must say “Thank you, ___!” Campers need to cross their arms if they’ve already had the object. Continue until everyone has had the object. Challenge campers to repeat the same pattern. Once they have mastered it again you can add in additional objects or have one object start the pattern in reverse. Alternatively, after saying “Here you go, ____ and Thank you _____” you can have each camper answer a question about themselves. When you challenge them to repeat the pattern, you can give them a new question to answer. Serves as a name game and an icebreaker!
Hot Seat
Hot Seat
Type: Restful/No Contact
Age: Any
Group size: 4 or more
Supplies: None
Instruction: At the beginning of each day at camp, pick 1 or 2 campers to put in the "hot seat". During morning circle, in the van, during lunch, and/or any other suitable moments during the camp day, have each camper come up with a question to ask each person in the "hot seat" (instructors can also ask questions too). By the end of the day, each camper should have asked each person in the "hot seat" one question. Share with campers that the purpose of the "hot seat" is to have campers creatively come up with questions that will allow the whole group to get to know each other better. Explain to the group that if a camper does not want to answer a question, they do not have to. By the end of the camp session, all campers should have had the opportunity to be in the "hot seat". Instructors may include themselves in the "hot seat" if they'd like.
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. Make sure the questions are asked in a controlled group setting so the session can be mediated by an instructor. Instructors should set boundaries for questions and give examples of suitable questions (while still leaving room for creativity from the campers).
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