Winter Time Games

Where I live the snow has fallen. We are in full-fledged winter up here in the Great White North. With the snow comes some problems when it comes to wide games or camp games. So I thought it would be thematically appropriate to compile a list of games with winter in mind!

Sparks

Being only five and six, Sparks can't play the most complicated of games. Therefore you have to keep the difficulty down but the running to the max!

Snow Tag

This game is pretty easy: beforehand go out and drag your feet in the snow to create lines. Have these lines cross at different points and make the area larger depending on your unit size. Then tell the girls that one of them is "it" and that they can only run in the dug out lines. Then let them run. You can make variation by adding a freeze tag component, adding more taggers and/or making the tagged girls hold hands with the taggers. This games is a lot of fun!

Jumping the Icebergs

This game is fun to play and even more fun to watch! First, divide your group into teams. Put hula hoops of various sizes (your icebergs) in front of each team of girls. The "icebergs" can be close, far apart or even zigzagged. The girls have to "cross the ocean" by jumping into the hoops from one end to the other. The girls go one at a time and if some falls in the "water" that girl has to start again. If the girls finish quickly then you can space out the icebergs, add more or make it so when a girl misses the entire team has to go again. Good game for competitive girls!

Brownies

Moving up a branch, the Brownies still don't have the longest attention but they can now handle more complex games.

Climb the Mountain
This game is a good reflex game. Get the girls to make a snow pile then have them stomp down the surrounding snow.  You just made your "Mountain" and "Valley". Have the girls stand around it and when you call "Climb the Mountain!" the brownies jump on the pile. When you call "Walk the Valley!" the brownies jump onto the packed snow. If you say "Climb the Mountain!" when the girls are on the pile and a brownie moves then she is out and vice versa. If you say "Climb the Valley!" or "Walk the Mountain!" and anyone moves, they are out. If the unit has a problem with elimination then they can complete a task like doing jumping jacks or answering a question to get back in the game. The game is also great if you have limited space.

Ice Cube Race
This is pretty much like the egg race but you use an ice cube instead. I prefer this way since it's less messy. You can do it relay-style or with obstacles. Super simple but super fun!

Guides

Guides is where the real fun begins. Now is when the complex games really start to shine through. Here are my two faves!

SnowblindChoose one girl to be the "Snowgirl". She arms herself with a pool noodle and closes her eyes. The rest of the players crouch on the ground, eyes open, and wait for the snowgirl to start the action by chanting: "Snowgirl, snowgirl  all in white, blinding everyone in sight!" While she chants, the other girls run around. They must hold a pose by the time the chant ends. Now the snowgirl moves around while the other players remain in their poses. Still "snow-blind", the snowgirl tries to tag one of the players with the noodle. When she succeeds, the tagged girl becomes snow-blind as well and she must join forces with the snowgirl, who gives the noodle to her and stands behind her with their hands on her shoulders. They two then say the chant and the game continues. The game ends when only one girl is left. It's really funny to watch!

Glowstick Race
This is a game of my own invention and is best played in the dark. Split the girls into teams and have leaders or older girls stand at stations. Each station has a task, from running games, to team building games, to trivia questions. Once a team completes a station, they get a glowstick and are lead to a new station. The team that receives all of their glowsticks first wins. Good game for camp!

Pathfinders

The fourth and final part of this collection are the oldest and quickest. The Pathfinders can play the most complex of games and it is probably the hardest group to play games with. The trick is to make it worthwhile.

Ghosthunters

This game is quite long to set up but is a great strategy game and teamwork activity. You start by telling the girls this story:

“One hundred years ago two bandits met in this area to divide up their loot. One bandit felt that the other cheated her and while wrestling over the loot, they fell in the river and drowned. The local town council, fearing that the ghosts are frightening people away has called on expert ghost hunters (the players) to exorcise them. The ghosts will disappear completely if they can be surrounded by a group of people holding hands. However the ghosts are very shy and if disturbed by people will separate and move to another area. The task is to locate the ghosts and exorcise them by surrounding them. Players must make a plan to exorcise the ghosts."

Then, two leaders, walk around. About every 45 seconds to a minute they come together and "reenact" the scene together. The group's job is to surround the ghost and if the leaders think the girls are too loud they separate and the girls have to start over. It may seem complicated but the payoff is worth it.

Prison Break
This game is another night game. Stomp down the snow in a small circle; This is your "prison". A few girls patrol around the prison (at a fair distance) with flashlights as "guards". The girls are placed in the prison and have to sneak out and get to a safe location (I recommend a hot chocolate station) without being caught by the prison guards and being thrown back in prison. This can be a day game but that makes it harder to escape. This game is fun for an end of the day activity.

So this concludes my winter game compilation. You can use any of these games for any age group and change them any way you want to suit your unit. I made reference to this lovely list HERE. I hope you enjoyed these games and I will see you next week!