The Tape Game

Catchy name, huh?

Supplies: Masking tape, tray of some kind (cookie sheet or plate) 

Preparation:  Make lots of tape rolls. Tear a piece of tape about an inch long. Roll it backwards, sticky side out, so it sticks on itself in a circle. Place it on the tray so it doesn't touch other rolls.  Make one for each player.  I make lots because we like to play several rounds.

# of players:  2-40+

Ages: 1-100yrs

Object: Be the player to collected all the tape.

Playing the Game:  Each player will take a tape roll and stick it to the end of their nose.  On the signal "GO" everyone will try take someone else's tape by getting it to stick on their tape.  You do this by touching noses. No hands.  Once your tape is gone, you are out.  There is just one winner. 

Be aware that people will be in your space so consider the group and check the comfort level of being nose to nose with strangers or your boss. 

Here is another description of the same game, plus more fun things to do while camping.  http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activity/masking-tape-jousting.html

Colorful Campfire

This fire was at Lake Powell in Southern Utah/Northern Arizona.  All there was to burn on the vast shore line was sand and tumbleweeds.  The kids (the cousins) in this picture got stuck a few times gathering up the tumbleweeds, but they make a tremendous blaze.  For fires on a smaller scale, there are different ways to add color and sparkle.  You can toss a pinch of sugar into the fire for a crazy effect. A bit of flour or powdered creamer will add pizzaz to a campfire program or story.  There are so many ideas that can be found online.  

For adding fun to the fire, check out these links:  

http://guidezone.e-guiding.com/bvfmagic.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trzDg-ZqFM0 
http://www.campfiredude.com/

I love quiet moments around a campfire, listening to the crackle, with the cool air and night sounds at my back.  I love to talk and sing with family and friends and cook something on a stick; a marshmallow, or starburst or even just the stick.  But I am also aware of the destructive power of fire if it is not respected.  

Our neighborhood won't recover for many years from the devastation caused by a wild fire that blew through our little canyon two years ago. Homes were gone in a few minutes and in a few hours 66 homes were destroyed.  Even the cement foundations were cooked into dust.  Metal was melted into puddles.  There were some narrow escapes, but it was a miracle that no one died.  Many animals died.  

The smell was incredible as the trucks loaded with remains drove down the road to dispose of horses, goats, cats and dogs.  I suspect there were wild animals too.  We have many deer that wander through the yard.  Our house was spared due to a change in wind direction.  Others were saved by firefighters.  It was hard to feel happy that our house was still standing when so many neighbors were homeless.  

 So love the fire and always use caution.  

This picture is just one section of the fire. It looks like a burned hillside, but there used to be homes.  Many have been rebuilt now but the hillside is still burned sticks that used to be cedars and junipers.

Father, Jesus, Spirit - Campfire Round

This is a favorite Girl's Camp round that is fun to sing around the fire right before bedtime.  It seems to calm everyone and hopefully end the day.  Listen to the sound recording to get a feel for the tune and where the parts come in.  Yep, it is being sung by real girls campers.

Father, Jesus, Spirit

(Girl's Camp-Campfire Round)

Father I adore you,

and I lay my life before you,

How I love you.

Jesus, I adore you,

and I lay my life before you,

How I love you.

Spirit, I adore you,

and I lay my life before you,

How I love you.

by Terrye Coelho

Dip, Dip, Dip

Ages: 6+

Number of players: 3 -15~

Supplies: concentration and reflexes

Object: be the last player in the circle

Stand in a circle. The leader will put their hands together (like praying hands) and use them for a pointer.  Aiming at someone in the circle, they say "dip, dip, dip".  That person will pass the "dip" on by aiming their hands at someone else and repeating "dip, dip, dip".  And on and on the dip is passed randomly through the circle. 

Meanwhile, the two players standing on either side of the person who is saying "dip, dip, dip" will put their hands together (praying hands again) and do a sideways tree chopping motion toward the person saying "dip, dip, dip", but say  "dippity, dippity, dip", instead and at the same time.  There will be a rhythm and it has to be maintained.  If you mess up and break the rhythm you step out of the circle and the game starts up again where it left off.  When you are down to two players, they do a "rock, paper, scissors" play off to decide the winner.  Then, everyone hops back in the circle and you go again. 

Details:  "dippity, dippity, dip" begins after the first  "dip, dip, dip" is passed. The first one is just to begin the game.  Once the rhythm is broken and you start the game back up.  Be ready for when someone dips the person next to them. It gets exciting.

Intents s'mores

The intense (In-tents) S'more Challenge -  

Click on the campfire tab.

Invite your fellow campers to "The In-Tents S'more Challenge" 

See who can come up the most delicious, the most creative, the biggest, the healthiest, the camper's favorite or the most inventive s'more.  Come up with your own categories or have rules like the s'mores must incorporate a kit kat or a snicker bar.  But it must always be cooked on a fire with a stick and involve a marshmallow. Let your imagination take control creating campalicious "in-tents 

s'mores".  

Nutella and Banana S'mores

For all-out indulgence, try peanut-butter cookies with Nutella, sliced banana, and marshmallow.

http://www.sunset.com/food-wine/kitchen-assistant/new-smores-recipes-00400000043561/page8.html

http://www.buzzfeed.com/twopoodles/recipes-for-camping-food?sub=2337116_1274773