[Elementary School] Games and Recreational Activities to Enjoy at a Forest School Camp

X gyro

I tried playing the mysterious sport “X-zyLo” without knowing how to use it, and it was so hard that I really struggled.

The X-Gyro is a piece of playground equipment that isn’t exactly super well-known yet.

Any teacher who brings this along is sure to become popular with students asking, “What’s that? What’s that?” The X-Gyro, which looks like both a ball and a Frisbee, was apparently invented by students at Baylor University in the United States.

Its structure uses the same method for generating lift as the invariant airfoil of a biplane… but putting the technical stuff aside, it’s just fun to throw and play with.

It might even take a few hours before you can play a normal game of catch with it.

It’s very light, so even female students can throw it easily.

I am a tree.

Guaranteed to be a hit! A classroom activity that boosts imagination: “I Am a Tree.” Enjoy this game while supercharging your quick thinking and creativity!

This game really boosts your imagination and is very fun.

First, someone starts by saying, “I am a tree,” and then everyone else becomes characters related to that tree.

Then the person who first became the tree chooses one person to stay.

Everyone else leaves the stage, and then everyone becomes something associated with the person who remained.

It’s fascinating how the story keeps changing depending on how people make connections, and it has a strong improvisational feel—you can really see how each person thinks, which makes it very interesting.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Cops and Robbers

[Tag] “Otagai” If serious adults play cops and robbers for real, it’s way too fun!!

Cops and Robbers, abbreviated as Keidoro.

It’s one of those classic tag games.

The hugely popular show “Run for Money” is essentially this Keidoro reworked into a TV program.

The simple thrill of chasing and being chased is just so fun.

Unlike tag with one chaser versus many, this starts with an equal number of police and robbers.

If you play it on the spacious grounds of a forest school, it’ll definitely get exciting! Since it might not always end decisively, it could be good to set a time limit, like “whichever side has more players after 60 minutes wins.”

kick the can

Kick the can

Vacant lots tucked into the gaps of town were part of the classic Showa-era landscape—like the park with concrete pipes you see in Doraemon.

Back then, such empty spaces were packed with kids playing kick-the-can.

How about we all try kick-the-can together on the spacious field at the forest school? Some students might be playing for the first time.

Think of the rules as “hide-and-seek with a can at the center.” There are lots of local variations, so be sure to agree on the rules before you start.

If you have a big group, it’s fine to have multiple taggers!

Boccia

People with disabilities and those without follow the same rules… Elementary school students in Takamatsu City experience the Paralympic sport “boccia”

Boccia is an official Paralympic sport.

Its appeal has been gaining attention, and I’ve heard that now not only people with disabilities but also nondisabled people enjoy playing together.

Since it doesn’t require a large space like baseball or soccer, it’s easy to play even on a school campgrounds.

Often called “curling on the ground,” the sport mainly involves throwing balls, so differences in physique aren’t much of a concern.

It seems like everyone could have fun together even in mixed-grade groups from lower to upper grades! You can buy boccia balls online.

Tail tag

When college students played tail tag super seriously, it ended up looking like an action battle scene lol

If you’re going on an overnight camp, you’ll definitely bring a towel or two.

There’s a fun game you can play with those towels called “Tail Tag.” The rules are simple: tuck a towel into the back of your waistband and try to snatch each other’s “tails.” You can compete in teams divided up for camp, or go full free-for-all—either way, it’s guaranteed to get everyone excited.

For elementary school kids, you might add handicaps to balance out size differences, like “boys can’t run.” Since it requires no special preparation, you can play anytime, and it’s also handy as a quick time-filler activity.

If you’re unsure what to play, this one’s highly recommended.

Squirrel in the Tree Game

Tree and Squirrel Game

Some places call it the “Tree and Squirrel Game.” You might remember playing it in kindergarten or daycare.

It’s a classic icebreaker that helps you get friendly even with people you’ve just met.

First, form groups of three and assign roles: two people are the tree, and one person is the squirrel inside the tree.

When the caller shouts “A hunter is coming,” the squirrel inside the tree moves.

When they shout “A woodcutter is coming,” the two people forming the tree move.

When they shout “The wind is coming,” all three players move and form a new “tree and squirrel.” The person who calls out the cues is “it.” It’s a recreation game you can enjoy even without a large space, and of course it’s suitable for all grade levels!