Iganyana Bush Camp

Consider your location when choosing which games to employ. Some of these can only be done on the ground and are not suitable for the activity deck or the concrete surface of the dining room. If you are in one of these locations, you may opt to regroup in the gaming areas or behind the braii, in which case you may need to share that space with another group.

Thumper (any surface)

• This is a great first ice-breaker activity, as it can be used to reinforce "nature names" from the Name Game. But, at your discretion, it does not have to use nature names. Players can create their own animal identity especially for this game.
• Everyone, including you and the teacher, sits in a circle with their legs crossed
• Create a symbol with your hands that signifies you name game nature name (or just thumper identity) and demonstrates it to the group as an example of what they each must do.
• Give the students a moment to think of their own symbol.
• One by one, going around the circle, each child demonstrates his or her symbol, for everyone else to remember.
• Demonstrate how to begin with your symbol and end with the symbol of another player.
• When another player sees their symbol, they must give their own symbol, then the symbol of another player other than the one that just "called" them.
• This is done while everyone is "thumbing" their knees with the palms of their hands.
• Start the thumping slowly, then encourage them to speed up by thumping more rapidly as the game progresses.
• It is best is this game is just palayed for fun for a while as an "ice-breaker," but as a free time activity, this game can be played competitively as "Thumper Elimination," where players that get confused or give bad symbols are eliminated from the game until only the top three "Super Thumpers" remain.

Team on a T-shirt (rag) (ground only)

• You must have an old ‘t-shirt", large rag, or piece of cloth handy for this one.
• Tell them that sometimes we need to work together as a team at Iganyana Bush Camp and that this game is good practice for that. (This game serves as a good precursor for many other games (below) that require touching, especially if you see that your students are shy about touching each other.)
• Lay your rag down on the ground, spread out and flat.
• All the students (no adults) must stand on the rag. No parts of feet, or other body parts may touch the ground. They must hold their positions for ten seconds (or whatever brief amount of time you choose) without falling or touching the ground.
• Once they have been successful, start again, but this time fold your rag in half and repeat the process!
• This can be repeated as many times as you can fold the cloth and maintain student enthusiasm.

Knots (any surface)

• This is also a team-building exercise, like the one above. Emphasize that this game requires teamwork and a patient, positive attitude. For team building exercises, it is better if you and the teacher do not participate and give advice only sparingly.
• All the students stand in a circle (You and the teacher should remain outside.)
• All students put both hands in the middle of the circle with arms stretched out so that all the hands are touching. They then grasp hands with two different people, other than the people standing next to them. They may not be holding both hands of one person.
• Once they grasp the hand of someone, they may not let go until the game is finished.
• Now they must now all attempt to "untie" the "knot" they have made and from an untangled circle. (It is possible that more than one circle will be formed.)
• IF it seems necessary, coach them form the sidelines, But try to refrain form teling them how to solve the problem as much as possible. They may need some advice at first, or if they get stuck and don’t know what to do. Try to encourage the teacher to do likewise.
• Remind them to be patient problem-solving team players, as this can take a while.
• During free-time, this game can be played as "Knots Competition" with more than one team racing to untie the knot first.

Make a Bug (ground only)

• This is another teamwork game.
• All the students must create one big "insect" with their bodies. Everyone must be connected in some way to the insect.
• Depending on the number of children in the group, tell them the maximum number of feet and hands that may be touching the ground (example: four feet and five hands)
• The bug must be able to stand for fifteen seconds (or whatever brief amount of time you choose) with no other body parts touching the ground.
• Once they have successfully stood, they must now attempt to walk! (This usually results in everyone falling on the ground in a heap of laughter, if they haven’t already done so!)
• Depending on the size of your group, you may want to break up them up into two groups.

Lap Sit/Walk (Tshongololo) (any surface, but ground preferable)

• This game is similar to the two above, but as sitting in each others’ laps may feel a bit awkward, it is not recommended that this game be played first.
• Everyone stands in a circle, facing the centre, shoulders touching.
• Tell them to turn to the right so they are facing the back of the person ahead of them.
• Tell them to take one, two (or how ever many necessary) steps toward the centre, until they are squeezed tightly together.
• Now, they are ready to create a tshongololo who is biting his own tail.
• To do this, they must all attempt to sit down in the lap of the person behind them at once when you count to three.
• If they are successful, they must now attempt to walk!

Mating Game (surface depends on version – see below)

• For this game, you must have labelled index cards ready. You must have two cards labelled identically for each animal you choose. Try to avoid picking different animals that look, sound or move similarly, depending on which version you choose. If you choose the audio version, you must also have an activity group set of blindfolds and you must choose vocal animals.
• Before passing out the cards, make sure you have the correct number of pairs. (If you have an odd number of students, the unpaired child could serve as an example of how extinction occurs when the last member of an animal species cannot find a mate.)
• Tell them that in the natural world each species of wildlife has a way to attract and recognize potential mates of their same species and that this game is about how that might happen.
• Tell them that wildlife cannot read or speak. so they must not show the cards they are about to receive to anyone else and once they receive their card, they may not speak again until the end of the game. Tell them that one other person in the group has the same card that they do.
• Shuffle the cards and pass one out to each of the students (only).

VISUAL VERSION: (any surface)

• No one may make any sounds.
• Give the students some time to think about how they will mimic the way their animal looks and moves.
• When you say go, they must act like their animal and look for their mate.
• Tell them that when they think they have found their mate, they still may not show each other their cards. They must approach you together and show you their cards privately, If they are the same card, they may retire from the game and watch the others quietly. If not, they must resume their search.
• When the last couple has found each other, the game is over. If there is an animal species headed for extinction, make a note of how sad that is.

AUDIO VERSION: (ground only)

• Explain that some animals must find each other in the dark ,or in such thick bush that they cannot see each other. How do they find each other then? (By calling)
• No one may make any sound until you say go.
• Ask the teacher to help you put on the blindfolds.
• Give the students some time to think about how they will mimic the sound their animal makes.
• Remind them that different species do not mate with each other, so they must choose their partners carefully.
• When you say go, they must call like their animal and go searching for their mate, shuffling slowly, with their hands out in front of them. No peeking! Tell them that you and the teacher will steer them away from obstacles.
• Tell them that when they think they are sure they have found their mate, they still may not show each other their cards. They may remove their blindfolds and approach you together and show you their cards privately, If they are the same card, they may retire from the game and watch the others quietly. If not, they must put their blindfolds back on and resume their search.
• When the last couple has found each other, the game is over. If there is an animal species headed for extinction, make a note of how sad that is.

AUDIO-VISUAL VERSION: (any surface)