TEAMBUILDING/NON-COMPETITIVE GAMES

The focus here is non-competitive, team and confidence-building games where EVERYONE has fun. No one is singled out or eliminated. The goal is to work with your team (whether it's you and a buddy or half your camp) and have fun!!! Safety: Always check the play area for hidden dangers (sticks, rocks, holes, etc).

Set boundaries for running games such as Blob Tag or Scavenger Hunts.

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GIRL SCOUT TO GIRL SCOUT  [or Daisy to Daisy, Camper to Camper, Snow People to Snow People!]: Have the girls buddy up. The caller announces directions such as: elbow to elbow; knee to knee; back to back. Each set of buddies touches as directed [ex: girl 1's elbow to girl 2's elbow] and waits for the next direction. After 3 times, the caller says: "Girl Scout to Girl Scout" and the girls change buddies. The caller continues giving 3 sets of directions followed by "Girl Scout to Girl Scout". After a few rounds, the caller can also mix up the directions such as: elbow to knee, shoulder to back, etc. Ask them occasionally to buddy up with someone they haven't been a buddy with before.

(This game works equally well with a small group as a large. It can be played to fill a few minutes or go on for 20. Adjust according to your group).

MUSICAL SIT-UPONS: plays like Musical Chairs except 1) Play this outdoors on the grass & someone can sing, 2) Use sit-upons instead of chairs and 3) although you do take away a sit-upon after each round, no one is eliminated, instead they can buddy up!

DAISY, DAISY, JULIETTE: Remember Duck, Duck, Goose?  

DRIP, DRIP, DROP!: Same thing again but played with a cup/jumbo sponge filled with warm-ish water.

MUSIC MAGIC: Remember the game where someone hides their eyes while you pick an object that's 'it'? As the person walks nearer you say "You're getting warmer" or "You're getting colder" ? Same idea but you have buddies or patrols hide their eyes, the leader picks the object, then the remaining girls sing louder or softer as the buddies/patrol walk together nearer or farther away from the object. This is a great way to reinforce new songs you've been teaching them.

BLOB TAG: Basic tag game but when 'It' tags you, you join hands and work together to tag the next person. The third person also joins you. When a fourth person is tagged, divide into two groups of two. Each group now continues to tag people, gathering a third, and splitting with the fourth.

NATIVE AMERICAN SUN & MOON GAME: You will need two pine cones, one piece of twine or cord about 18 inches long, and two short sticks about 10 inches long. Tie the twine around the middle of each pine cone, leaving about 6-8 inches between the two cones.

Have kids pair up and using the stick, toss the cones back and forth, using only their sticks to catch the strung pine cones. Levels of difficulty can be increased (distance, etc.) as the players gain more skill. You can also play solo, or if more than two are playing, try tossing in a circle. Good for all sizes - preschoolers to adult!

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