[Elementary School] Games and Recreational Activities to Enjoy at a Forest School Camp
Forest school is a big event for elementary school children.
Some kids might already be bubbling with excitement and feeling fidgety, even though it’s still quite a while away on the calendar.
In this article, we’ve put together games and recreational activities we’d love for you to enjoy at forest school.
We’ve selected options you can enjoy outdoors and activities you can do gathered around a campfire.
Let’s all make the most of this extraordinary experience that’s different from everyday school life!
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- Outdoor Recreation Popularity Rankings
- Recommended outdoor recreation for junior high school students: A roundup of fun outdoor activities
- Great for field trips too! Outdoor recreation and games for elementary school kids: hands-on play
- Recommended outdoor games and recreational activities for lower elementary school children
- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
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- [Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Upper Primary Grades
- Recreation popularity rankings for junior high school students
- No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym
- [Simple but Fun] Penalties That Hype Up Elementary School Classrooms
[Elementary School] Games and Recreational Activities to Enjoy at Outdoor School (41–50)
Yamanote Line game

The Yamanote Line Game is a simple game where players take turns saying words that match a given theme, and its appeal lies in how easy it is because it only uses words.
You really have to picture the theme and pull words from memory, so it tests each person’s thinking skills.
To keep a single round going for longer, it’s best to choose themes with lots of possible answers; to enjoy a variety of rounds, pick themes with limited options.
Coming up with strategies—like saying words early that others are likely to use—can make the game even more exciting.
[Elementary School] Games and Recreations to Enjoy at Outdoor School (51–60)
9-square tag

Nine-Square Tag is a quirky twist on tag played in an area divided into nine squares.
At a cue, everyone on the grid moves one square at the same time.
If the chaser (“it”) lands in the same square as someone else, that person is out.
If the chaser can’t catch anyone within ten turns, they lose.
It’s perfect for camps or indoor gatherings because it works even in small spaces.
Kids and adults can enjoy it, and although simple, it engages both mind and body—great as a lively brain workout.
Give it a try!
Puzzle-solving game

When you think of campfires, songs and dances are the classics, but a great new staple we recommend is puzzle-solving games.
They’re an intellectual recreation you can enjoy even in the dark, ranging from simple to aha-moment challenges—like wordplay puzzles that ask what a string of hiragana is pointing to, or cipher-style questions using arrows and kanji.
They’re fun for everyone from kids to adults, and you can adjust the difficulty to suit the group size and age range.
You can tackle them solo or enjoy them as team competitions—there are many ways to play.
Give them a try!
Say one thing, do the opposite game
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Original Song – WEGO Official – WEGO Wego
It’s funny how you get tripped up even when you think you’ve got it! Here’s an idea for a “Say the same, do the opposite” game.
It’s a great way to get moving even indoors! The rules are simple: while saying the instructed word exactly as given, you perform the opposite action.
For example, if the instruction is “Forward!”, participants should repeat “Forward” while jumping backward.
The key actions involve front, back, left, and right! Since it doesn’t require knowledge or strategy, it’s an easy and welcoming game for first-timers too.
Voice-Guessing Quiz

If you change your voice from how you usually speak, people might surprisingly not recognize you.
The Voice-Guessing Quiz is a game where someone stands behind you and says your name or the same word, and you guess whose voice it was.
You might think it’s that kid’s voice, only to find out it was a completely different friend.
It’s a simple game, but it will give children time to laugh together with their friends.
If the teacher changes their voice and speaks from behind a child, the difficulty might increase.
Making the voice change funny will likely get the kids even more excited.
Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors

Let’s get excited with a rock-paper-scissors game using newspaper! Stand facing each other on a spread-out sheet of newspaper and play rock-paper-scissors.
The loser folds their newspaper in half, and you compete to see who can keep standing on their newspaper the longest.
With every round of rock-paper-scissors, the newspaper gets smaller, making the kids’ hearts race.
It’s sure to get even more exciting as they try hard to stay standing on the shrinking paper.
In this game, because you have to stand on the newspaper, you’re encouraged to maintain balance and be mindful of your posture.
It’s a recommended game even for children who find it hard to keep good posture.
Escape Game
Work together with your group to clear the game! Here are some escape game ideas.
Aiming to clear it with your teammates helps foster cooperation and problem-solving skills! By teaming up to complete challenges like treasure hunts, crosswords, coin drops, and quiz competitions, children can learn the importance of teamwork.
Combining different types of games allows children to develop multifaceted thinking and grow while feeling a sense of achievement.
It’s a great idea for strengthening bonds with peers while improving problem-solving and communication skills.


