NATURE ACTIVITY
BANDANA TRAIL
Here is a nature activity that works well with a small to medium size group. It is a great game to help you to learn how to see. Oh, I know what you are thinking, you already know how to see! Are you sure? Can you see the little things in nature that most people walk right by and never notice? Most of what we experience in the world comes through our eyes. The catch is, we miss a lot because we have not been trained to see. Computer games, videos, and TV do not teach us to see. They are only lines on a screen. Real seeing in the natural world is an art. With a little practice you can open up new worlds for yourself in nature by learning how to use your eyes.
Let’s get started. Gather up several bandanas or pieces of cloth of many different colors. Find a trail in the woods if possible, or use an area in or around your house. This activity will work anywhere. One person will place the bandanas along the trail, or around the house and yard. Put them where they can be seen, but not too easily. After this is done the rest of the group, one at a time will walk down the trail, or around the house, and see how many bandanas he or she can find. Do this without moving your head from side to side. Look straight ahead and try to catch the bandanas with the corners of your eyes. This is called using your peripheral vision. Owls are great at this and you can be too!
To make it more interesting, try different colored bandanas and put them in new places. Also, make some easy to see and some hard. It doesn’t matter how many you actually find. What is important is to practice using your sense of sight in a new way.
Any questions before you begin?
“I would like to say something.”
“Hi, Moon Bird. Can we talk later? I’m trying to get the children started on this nature activity.”
“I know, Bob, but I have a suggestion.”
“There will be time for suggestions later, let’s play the game and then talk things over, OK?”
“Well, Bob, I have a thought that will help.”
“All right, Moon Bird, what is it?”
“First of all, I need a headline.”
“Another headline? But they are soooo hard to do!”
“Please, Bob. For the children.”
“OK, Moon Bird. You’re right. What should it say?”
“It should say Non-Nature Trail, in green, please.”
“Like this?”
NON-NATURE TRAIL
“That looks good, Bob.”
“OK Moon Bird, now will you tell me why we are doing this?”
“Sure. It’s simple. The nature activity Non-Nature Trail is similar to Bandana Trail. They can both be played in the same place, so we can give out two games at the same time.”
“Good thinking, Moon Bird. How does it go?”
“In the Non-Nature Trail you must place objects along the trail, or around the house, that don’t fit in. Then, as people are walking down the trail or around the house the goal is to find these objects. Use a bottle cap, or a piece of paper, or a plastic cup, or anything at all.”
“That’s a good game, Moon Bird, but how is it different than Bandana Trail.”
“In this activity you are allowed to move your head back and forth, so it is easier to do. It will help you wake up your sense of sight and get ready to see like an owl. You have told them about Owl Eyes, haven’t you, Bob?”
“Well, Moon Bird, I’ve been wanting to do that, but you see, I’ve been kind of busy and…”
“That’s alright, Bob, you can tell them about Owl Eyes another time."
Thank you, Moon Bird. Now let’s turn it over to the kids! Time to go out and try either one or both of these nature activities. We would like to know how these nature activities went for you. Where did you play these games? Was it in the woods, or around a house, or some other place? Were you able to see any bandanas or other objects? What colors stood out? Which ones blended in? If you played both games, which one did you like better? Why?If you fill in the simple form below, one of us will respond directly to you and answer any questions you may have. We will also give you suggestions for more nature activities. Ask your parents if it is ok to send us the form. We will not give your email to anyone for any reason.
Moon Bird read about this activity in a book by Joseph Cornell called Sharing Nature With Children. For a review of this book, click here.
For another nature activity, click here.
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