The 175 Best Camp Games: A Handbook for Leaders »

Laura and Mary Fraser are accredited teachers who spent a combined 16 years as camp leaders and activity program directors. Kathleen Fraser is an editor, writer and the parent of grown campers and camp leaders. The Frasers live in Mississauga, Canada.

Bernice Lum is an award-winning artist and illustrator of 40 books, including 3 Little Firefighters, Mighty Maddie and Stuff to Hold Your Stuff.

Games for kids 4 to 16, plus tips on keeping them fun and fair for all participants.

Kirkus Reviews

Three former campers, leaders and now full-fledged teachers have compiled a treasure-trove of games and activities suitable for children in early-elementary- through upper-middle-school grades. While the title indicates "camp," the ideas are appropriate for a number of situations, from schoolyard play to gyms, backyards and community centers. Divided into five large categories-"Break the Ice," "Take It Easy," "Get Them Moving," "Run Them Ragged" and "Wet and Wild"-the games are also coded for certain features such as "Rainy Day," "Brain Games," "Everybody Wins" or "Team Builder." Clear, easy-to-follow instructions include number of players, equipment and game plan, augmented by Lum's humorous cartoon illustrations and completed with extra hints and tips for leaders in shaded sidebar-style notations. Tips range from "modifying for abilities" to "peaking games," in which suggestions are given for ending on a high note before kids get bored or frustrated. While most games are universally appropriate, a quick guide by age range would have been appreciated. Nevertheless, a great resource. (bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. YA)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Break the Ice

My Name Is Aaron and I Like Aardvarks

Dress Me

Hula Hoop Pass

Name Dropping

Blind Man's Bluff

Move Your Butt

Frozen Ts

I Love Marmalade

Team Jump Rope

Name Ball Bounce

Life Raft

Go!

Ho!

Human Knot

String Toss

Darling, If You Love Me

Shoe Pile

Leadership Activities

Cooperative Rocks

Nuclear Reactor

Minesweeper

Helium Stick

Pass the Ball

The Elephant Game

Leaky Pipes

Take It Easy

Buzz

Black Magic

Charades

Junior Charades

Pictionary

Going on a Picnic

This Is a What?

Twenty Questions

Two Truths and a Lie

I Spy

What Has Changed?

Total Recall

Rigmarole

Pass the Slap

Crambo

Dumb Crambo

Look Up, Look Down

Heads Up, Seven Up

Drama games

Broken Telephone

Who's the Leader

Human Machine

Red Ball, Yellow Ball

Master and Servant

Improv Games

Freeze

Bus Stop/Park Bench

Sitting, Standing, Lying

Party Quirks

Murder Wink

Up, Jenkins!

Electricity

King's Keys (aka Pirate's Treasure)

Soh Koh No (aka Ah Soh Koh)

Silent Ball

Scavenger Hunt

Backwards Scavenger Hunt

Blow Soccer

Overnight Camp

A Little Night Music

Feelings on the Floor

Star Pictures

Flashlight Tag

Werewolf Tag

Thorn and aRose

One-Word Story

Get Them Moving

Spiderman

Speed Rabbit

Parachute Games

Fruit Salad

Cat and Mouse

Shark Attack

Chute Ball

Color Exchange

Parachute Golf

Ford Angular Gear Box

Kitty Wants a Corner

Animal Game

SPUD

Just for Juniors

Doggy Doggy

Simon Says

Follow the Leader

Catch

Beans


Mother, May I?

Duck, Duck, Goose

Flying Dutchman

Group Sculptures

Hot and Cold

Horses, Knights and Cavaliers

Lemonade

Guard the Castle (aka CN Tower)

Jump the Creek

Larry, Curly, Moe

Atom

Human Ladders

Evolution

Wax Museum

Steal the Bacon

Musical Games

Musical Chairs

Cooperative Musical Chairs

The Shark

Rikki Tikki

Dance Freeze

Star Strike

Tunes on a Topic

Limbo Contest

Theme Days

Crazy Costumes

Zany Food

Relay Races

Over-Under Relay

Tunnel Relay

Blind Artist / Blind Writer

Balloon Pass

Ice Floe Race

Orange Pass

Leapfrog Relay

Beach Toy Relay

Beanbag Balance Race

Run Them Ragged

Ship to Shore

Dragon Tails

Red Light, Green Light

Chuck the Chicken

Crab Soccer

Frolf

Tag, You're It

Pairs Tag

Beanbag Tag

Manhunt

Blob tag

PacTag

Slow Motion Tag

Category Tag

Frozen Tag (aka Freeze Tag)

Lightning Tag

Toilet Tag

Cow-Tipping tag

Hot-Dog Tag

Fox in the Henhouse

Giants, Wizards, Elves

Chocolate Factory

Candy Corners

Octopus (Run Like Chewbacca)

Traditional Games

Capture the Flag

King of the Castle

Red Rover

British Bulldog

Cops and Robbers

Predator Prey

Chicken Fight

Sword in the Stone: Supreme Master of the Universe

Hide and Seek

What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf?

Streets and Alleys

Ultimate Frisbee

Foosball Soccer

Dodgeball

007 Dodgeball

King's Court Dodgeball

Dragonball

Ball Master

European Handball

Speedball

Dryland Torpedo

Wet and Wild

Drip Drip Drop

Firefighter Relay

Wet T-Shirt Relay

Water Limbo

Water Balloon Toss

Wet Potato

Battleship

Swimming Games

Marco Polo

Colors

Sharks and Mermaids (aka Sharks and Minnows)

Water Polo

Still Pond

Musical Kickboards

Fisherman

Torpedo

Stuck in the Mud

Tips for Leaders

Key to Game Icons

How to Start Games

Peaking Games

Play the Game

Equipment

Modifying Games for Abilities

Inclusion is for Everyone

Bending the Rules

Tips on Training Leaders

Evaluating Leaders

Creating a Daily Program

Sample Programs

Smog Days

Transition Games

Lost for Words

Shy Kids

Also Known As (AKA)

Dealing with Rule Breakers

Lights Out

Dealing with Homesickness

Energizers

Age Groups

Birthday Party Plan

How to Create Even Teams

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Modifying Games for Themes

How a Relay Race Works

How to Create a Kooky Relay

Group Challenges

Ways to Make a Relay More Difficult

Pros and Cons of Elimination Games

Ways to Choose It

Setting Boundaries

Supervision and Safety

Stay Safe in Sticky Situations

Supervision and Hide and Seek

Lost Child

Dealing with Boring Betty, Competitive Charlie and Lazy Linda: Encouraging Equal Play

There's More to Life Than Circle Dodgeball

007 Clap Game

Modifying Games for Number of Participants

Water Safety

Sun Safety

Acknowledgments

Bibliography

Index