Stalking and Commando Tag
This game focuses camper's
attention on their sense of hearing but also helps them to concentrate on how
they move through the woods. Introduce
campers to animals' sensitivity to noises around them and how animal senses
make them aware of their surroundings.
If we want to see animals we must be quiet in their presence in order
not to scare them. Or as Robert Lynd said, "In order to see birds, it is necessary to
become part of the silence."
Instruct campers on how to walk quietly by raising one foot and bringing
it down onto the surface gently but completely before applying any weight. Some people prefer to step with their toes
first and roll the rest of the foot onto the ground (the weasel walk), but
others place their heels down first and roll forward (the fox trot).
Ask for a volunteer to serve
as the first listener, and form a circle twenty to thirty feet around this
person in a grassy meadow. The person in
the center of the circle must close his eyes and be ready to point at any sound
coming from a person trying to sneak up on him.
The rest of the campers prepare to sneak up on the center person when a
staff member points towards one of them.
Continue the game until someone successfully touches the center person
without being heard by him. At this
point, the successful sneaker replaces the person in the center of the circle
and the game continues.
Repeat the same game in a more
complicated habitat where there are other obstacles such as leaves to crack
under the feet. Lead the campers in
moving in this new environment by more carefully placing the feet on solid
surfaces and choosing the direction from which to sneak up on the center
person.
At Kirchenwald,
we move from the sneak up game into commando tag to test out the campers'
newfound stalking skills in a natural situation. Start with a discussion of camouflage and the
benefits of alternating areas of light and dark when hiding in a forest
environment. Lead the campers in
applying natural camouflage made out of ashes, soil, and other materials.
Begin the game itself by
establishing some fairly large and general boundaries for a game of tag. Divide the group into two teams, and give one
team paper cups that they will use to splash water on prey to capture
them. Explain that the predators will
try to sneak up on prey individuals and splash them with water. Prey are of course allowed to run if they are
discovered, but for the most part staying still is the best strategy for prey
in this game. A prey individual who is
splashed with water is considered captured and is out of the game for the rest
of that round. With those directions,
give the prey a few minutes to hide in the woods and then send the predators to
try to find them. Remind the predators
that their goal should be stealth to be able to locate a hidden prey animal
without being noticed. Allow the game to
continue until the predators catch as many prey as
they are likely able to do. Play the
game a number of times, switching sides occasionally so that both teams
experience life as prey.
After the game is over, the
campers will probably be very excited and in desperate need of a shower before
the next meal. However, take a few
moments to debrief the game. Ask about
the respective difficulties of being predator and prey, and the strategies of
each. The prey's role is especially
similar to humans' relationship to God.
One of the many names of Christ is the "Lion of the tribe of