Tag: running games

Running Games

Children love tag.

Seriously how many variations of tag are there?

They will always ask to play tag.

One of the best versions out there I have ever played is never-ending tag.

Never Ending Tag

  1. Everyone is it.
  2. If you get tagged you sit down and don’t move. Remember who tagged you.
  3. If you tag someone at the same time as they tag you then you play rock-paper-scissors to break the tie. Loser sits.
  4. When the person who tags you gets tagged you get up and can play again.

A mentor can call ‘jailbreak’ at any point and everyone is up again.

Fox Tail

What Time is it Mr. Wolf?

Red Light/Green Light

Watch Tower (Ghost in the Graveyard)

Adapted version of a classic children’s game. I learned this game at nature camp.

Setup: We’re going to pretend we are wild animals and __________ is a Park Ranger. They are new to the job and they have left their food at the bottom of their Watch Tower. (dump out a pile of bandanas) You can only steal the food when the Park Ranger isn’t looking. If you get caught you must drop the food.

How to play:

  1. Choose an area where there can be good hiding spots. Make sure everyone is aware of where the boundaries are. It could be in your yard or a field. (It is best played outside). Designate an area as the “base” such as a tree where players are safe from being tagged if touching it.
  2. Choose one person to be the “Tower Keeper” and the rest are the “wild animals” The tower keeper then hides somewhere and the other players stay at home base.
  3. The Tower Keeper turns their back and shouts, “Watch Tower” and slowly counts down from any number they choose. 10-9-8-7-6 etc etc.
  4. The animals then try to run from their base to the watch tower and back before the tower keeper gets to 1. Players can hide anywhere. They do not need to stay at their base.
  5. When the tower keeper gets to 1 they turn around quickly and anyone they can see has to drop their food and return to their base.
  6. The object is for the animals to get to the base without being spotted.

Additional Running Games:

  • https://ultimatecampresource.com/camp-games/tag-games/