- Go around the room and have each person say their name (or counselor can call the camper by name) and something he or she looks forward to in camp.
- Pair off for a blind walk -inside the cabin to get acquainted with it and outside for a wider experience.
- Make a cabin mural. Draw whatever comes to mind when we say the word “camp.” Ask them what they felt as they were drawing. Cut it up as a souvenir when they go home.
- Make rules for the cabin that everyone (campers and counselors) agrees to follow and enforce. Rules can be about safety, participation, making friends, etc.
- Go out and find a good fort (a hiding place).
- Have a water fight (please use good judgement).
- Choose beds together and work together to store belongings.
- Send campers off in pairs to meet the directors, nurses, and other staff. Have the campers get staff names and other knowledge of them to report back.
- Set up a scavenger hunt
- Do stuff in a circle – stretch out, squeeze in, tell stories.
- Hide something in or around the cabin or tent and see who can find it.
- Have a tug-of-war with another cabin.
- Find a place to sleep out one night (teenagers).
- Put up some cartoons and have the campers write captions.
- Write postcards home together Counselors can write too.
- Go out and build something together (for example, a castle out of pine cones).
- Tell the funniest thing that ever happened to you.
- Yell together, as LOUD as you can.
- Talk about what your cabin expects at camp.
- Go hiking with a purpose – look for something (make up an adventure).
- Make a cabin flag, cabin yell, password, etc…
Just a thought: While having these experiences, the group should keep in mind what it means to care for property; preserving things for others, such as plants, cabins, equipment etc.