Camp is where the sidewalk ends - nature activities in camps

Camping Magazine, Jan-Feb, 1997 by Faith Evans, Jane Sanborn

There is a place where the sidewalk ends

And before the street begins,

And there the grass grows soft and white,

And there the sun burns crimson bright,

And there the moon-bird rests from his flight

To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black

And the dark street winds and bends.

Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow

We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

And watch where the chalk-white arrows go

To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes, we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,

For the children, they mark, and the children, they know

The place where the sidewalk ends.

- Shel Silverstein

Nothing against sidewalks. They host rollerblading and hop scotching and frying eggs in the swelter of summer. But young people often yearn for a place where the "grass grows soft ... in a peppermint wind" and where they can bare their heads and hearts and explore the home of their birth.

Camp programs have an unparalleled opportunity to influence campers' development as they interact with the camp environment. Young people's best outdoor experiences are usually simple, with nature working as a tool box, artist's palette, and library all in one. To design nature activities, search your own memory and poll your staff and friends to tap a rich vein of memorable encounters with nature.

Have a plan, but leave room to delight in the unexpected learnable moment; in either case, put the children in the center of the experience so they become their own teachers. Try to make activities meaningful by connecting them to the life of the camper. Use firsthand sensory experiences whenever possible. Ask thought provoking questions that stimulate thinking. What happened? What might happen next? And then what? Creating a sense of connectedness between children and their environment can foster empathy and compassion for the present and the future.

Blind Eagle

This game is a favorite with all ages and emphasizes the sense of hearing. It should be played in a forested area or in an area with lots of nearby hiding places.

One person is chosen as the guard, who is responsible for protecting the tribe's horses, represented by a stick or a rock. The other players represent an enemy tribe who try to sneak in at night to steal the horses.

The guard is blindfolded and stands beside the "horses." She counts to 25 while everyone else runs and hides. The guard then removes the blindfold and looks around. Anyone she can see is caught and must come in. (This step is essential to prevent a Kamikaze-style rush on the unprepared guard.)

The guard then puts the blindfold back on and stands quietly while the others try to sneak close enough to snatch the stick. The guard listens intently for any sound made by an approaching thief and points in the direction of any sound she hears. If she points accurately, the noisy thief must freeze in his tracks and make no movement for the remainder of the game. It is often helpful to have a referee to determine whether a thief has been caught.

The game ends when one thief is successful or when all thieves are frozen. A new guard is then chosen and the game begins again.

Deer Stalking

This game is extremely versatile and can be played almost anywhere, indoors as well as outdoors. Two players are blindfolded and designated as the deer and the stalker. The other players form a circle around these two. Within the confines of the circle, the stalker tries to tag the deer by listening for footsteps, breathing, and other deer noises, while the deer tries to keep away from the stalker. The outside circle must be absolutely quiet, for any noise will distract the participants. If the stalker does not catch the deer within a certain time limit, the deer wins the round and two new participants are chosen.

Camera

This activity teaches campers to help each other become more sensitive to their environment. Campers divide into pairs; within each pair, one partner will first be the photographer while the other is the camera. The photographer's job is to find a beautiful or interesting view and then point the camera toward this view. Like all cameras, the shutter (or eyes) is closed until the photographer snaps the picture. Once the photographer has pointed the camera at the picture, she opens the shutter by squeezing his elbow, pressing the top of his ear, or performing another predesignated action. After a number of pictures have been taken, the photographer and camera exchange roles. A fun extension to this activity is to provide each camper with a blank postcard. At the end of their photography session, they can paint or draw one of the photographs on the postcard.

100-Inch Hike

Shrinking our field of perception often adds to our awareness. By closely examining a very small area, campers can discover wonders that they might otherwise overlook.

In the 100-Inch Hike, everyone is given a piece of string 100 inches long. Each participant places it on the ground and carefully explores the area along the string. Things to look for include signs of animals, birds, and insects; distinctive characteristics of any plant along the trail; textures of soil or sand; and different colors. Participants may wish to record their findings and share them with other members of the group.