Designed to provide youth leaders with fun and wholesome recreation activities for children between the ages of 8 and 18, this handbook includes chapters on games, rainy day activities, dramatics, storytelling, songs, campfire programs, worship and devotions, and inspiration for leaders. Sheet music and lyrics to songs featured in the book are also included. This second edition includes a new chapter on nature games and activities, along with several expanded and updated chapters from the original work. It is intended for use by anyone who works with youth in a recreation setting, from camp counselors and scoutmasters to parents and club advisors.

Roger E. Barrows has taught humanities at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida, for over two decades and has worked extensively with young people at Northeast Music Camp and the Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York.

Roger E. Barrows
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 329
Bibliographic Info: musical notation and lyrics, bibliographies, index
Copyright Date: 2010
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4280-5
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5579-9
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

CHAPTER 1. ICEBREAKERS AND TEAMBUILDERS      3
Icebreakers and Mixers      3
Trust Activities      9
Teambuilding Activities: Initiative or Challenge Games      12
Further Resources      15

CHAPTER 2. GAMES AND ACTIVITIES      16
Indoor, Rainy Day, and Campfire Games      16
Active Outdoor Games      33
Balloon Games      40
Bean Bag Games      41
Tag Games      42
Relay Races      45
Cooperative Games      50
Sports      56
Frisbee Games      57
Further Resources      57

CHAPTER 3. NATURE ACTIVITIES AND GAMES      58
Nature Hikes: Hiking Tips and Hiking Trips      59
Activities and Games      63
Further Resources      74

CHAPTER 4. THEME DAYS      76
All-Day Olympics      76
Pirate Day      77
Paul Bunyan Day      77
American Indian Day      78
Hawaiian Day      79
America Day      79
Indiana Jones Day      80
Field Day      80
Holiday Day      81
Backwards Day      81
Disney Day      82
International Day      82
Earth Day      84
Gold Rush      85
Further Resources      86

CHAPTER 5. RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES      87

CHAPTER 6. DRAMATICS, SKITS AND STUNTS      93
Impromptus      94
Miming      95
Miming a Story or Poem      95
Talent/Variety Show      98
The Rent      98
Shadow Show      99
Miss or Mr. Ugly Pageant      99
Radio Play      100
The Widow’s Grief      101
Is It Time Yet?      101
Tommy Hilfiger      101
The Lost Ring      102
Dead Body      102
Soup Bowl      103
Lunchtime      103
The Cardboard Box      103
St. Peter      104
Doctor’s Office      104
The Briefcase      105
Bus Stop      105
Firing Squad      106
Spitfire      106
News Reporter      106
Emergency Ward      107
Pickpockets      107
The Pie-in-the-Face Routine      108
Nature Hike      108
Brush Your Teeth      109
The Viper Is Coming!      109
Gum to Candy      110
Brains for Sale      110
Echo      110
Heated Controversy      111
Shake the Dime      111
The Black Eye      111
Order of the Blanket      112
Watermelon-Eating Contest      112
Fortune Teller      112
Penny in the Funnel      113
Marshmallow Race      113
Water Cup Race      113
Dress-Up Race      114
Water Balloon Toss      114
Blow Your Nose      114
Cheekie-Cheekie      114
Pudding Feed      115
The Hand Is Faster Than the Eye      115
Bucket Line      115
Psychic      116
The Lawnmower      116
Candy Store      117
Indian Burial      117
Springtime      117
Enlightenment      118
There’s a Bear      118
The Ugliest Creature in the World      119
The Obstacle Course      119
Spoofs      119

CHAPTER 7. STORYTELLING      123
Reading Stories      123
Telling Stories      124
Stories I’ve Been Told      127
Classic Stories and Story-Poems for Reading Aloud      144
More Suggested Readings for Campfires, Rainy Days,
Bedtime, and Other Occasions      192
Books on Storytelling      194

CHAPTER 8. SONGS      195
Music and Lyrics      196
Hiking Songs      251
Echo Songs      254
Motion Songs      256
“To the Tune of …”      259
Further Songs for Group Singing      269

CHAPTER 9. CAMPFIRES      271
Campfire Themes      273
Easy Campfire Recipes      277

CHAPTER 10. WORSHIP AND DEVOTION      282
Devotions on Being Thankful      283
Devotions for the Outdoors      290
Devotions on Friendship and Love      293

CHAPTER 11. INSPIRATION FOR LEADERS      298
What Makes a Good Leader?      298
Secrets of Leadership      299
“If ” (by Rudyard Kipling)      300
Quotations for Leaders      301

Index      315