Outdoor and Camping Stalking Games
Children Can Play to Gain Awareness, Improve Skills and Senses
Jul 28, 2009
Many traditional and native games were intended to teach children the skills of a warrior, hunter and stalker. Here are some stalking games that children will enjoy.
Follow the Drum Beat
This game requires a large, open outdoor area, without dangerous obstacles. One child is the drummer and the rest of the children are blindfolded. The children spread out and the drummer beats the drum, not constantly, but sporadically. The blindfolded children follow the beat of the drum. As a child gets closer, the beat gets softer. When a child finally reaches the drummer, he joins the drum march. Game play continues until all children have found the drummer.
Will-o’-the Wisp, a Trailing Game
This game is appropriate for a camping trip or can be played in a large woodsy backyard. It needs at least four children. Send two children a few minutes in advance with a flashlight. The light should be flashed every 60 seconds. The children with the light can take turns flashing the light or one can go off without the light in an attempt to foil the stalkers. The game ends when one of the light bearers is caught. In an unfamiliar area, an adult may want to have a whistle to call the children back to camp, if it seems they have wandered too far.
Follow the Chalk Arrows
Here is a good game for a suburban subdivision or safe city neighborhood. This can be played with two groups of children. The first group sets out with a piece of chalk and a certain destination, whether a neighborhood park or the starting point. Every 15 to 20 feet, the starters draw an arrow showing which direction they went. The arrow can be on a tree, a rock, not too obvious, yet not actually hidden. If the starters make it to the destination, without being caught, they have won the game. If the stalkers catch them, then they are the winners.
Magic Music
This game can be played indoors or outdoors. First an object must be hidden. The children are told to start looking for it while an adult plays a flute or other musical instrument. When a child get close to the object the music gets louder; as they get farther away, it gets fainter. The one to find the object holds it up and ends the game and gets to hide the object for the next game.
Stalking the Deer
This is a popular scouting game. One child is the deer and goes off to a predetermined area, preferably wooded. After the children count to 100, they start moving towards the deer, but the goal is to not be spotted by the deer. If the deer sees a stalker and identifies him, the stalker must stand up. After a set time, the deer blows a whistle and all stalkers must stand. The stalker who is closest to the deer is the winner.
Stalking games can improve a child's alertness and particularly the sense of hearing. Exciting games can give children an incentive to get outside and get some exercise. There are plenty of old-fashioned games that are easy to learn and fun to play.
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