We love canoeing. And we especially love just messing about in boats. These are some of our favourite games to play when we’re out on the water. We hope you like them too.
For all these games we recommend the following rule: make sure you don’t hurt or break any living things. Only use loose things you find on the ground.
A dizzy challenge on land!
Find a wide flat space. Hold your paddle up above your head pointing to the sky. Look at the end of your paddle and spin around on the spot while looking straight up. Now quickly place your paddle on the ground and try and jump over it! Not as easy as you think!
Racing games
Do you have a ball (or a frisbee)? Throw the ball as far as you can. The first canoe to pick up the ball wins! Throw it again in the direction you are travelling. You’ll get there in no time! Or try some different races. Who can go backwards the fastest? Can you spin your canoe around on the spot? Who can spin their canoe the whole way around the fastest?
Follow the leader
Choose a leader (one person from one canoe). Everyone has to follow that leader’s canoe as best they can. Will you go super straight? Or will you make a path like a snake? For extra fun, everyone has to follow the actions of the leader too: wave your paddle in the air, flap your arms like a bird, or throw your head back and crow like a rooster: Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cows and Cowboys
Every time you put your paddle in the water you have to make a noise: Cows say Moo, cowboys say Yeeha! Start with one cowboy canoe who has to “tip” or “tag” the other canoes (all cows!). Once a cow is tagged it becomes a cowboy. Play until all canoes are cowboys. And remember, you can’t paddle unless you are saying ‘Moo’ or ‘Yeeha’!
Tug of War
Do you have something that can tie two canoes together? Have a tug of war! (A tug of oar?!) A great game to play across a narrow section of a river. The aim is to get your boat to the shore.
Frisbee Tag
While you’re paddling along, try and land a frisbee (or ball) in other people’s canoes. Can you get it in? Watch out: they can hit the frisbee away with their paddles!
Blindfolded Sound Scape
When you’re in a nice place in nature, ask everyone in the boat to stop paddling and be quiet. Put on a blindfold. Perhaps pull your hat down over your eyes or just close your eyes. No peeking! Now open your ears to the sounds all around you. How many different sounds can you hear? Do you recognise any of the sounds? Before you open your eyes, see if you can point to where the sound is coming from: then open your eyes and see if you were right.
Travelling Alphabet
Can your family find something that starts with every letter of the alphabet? Start with something that starts with A. Then when you’ve found something that starts with A, you can look for something that starts with B. Can you make it to the end of the alphabet before the end of the day? (tip: X can be “eX” if you get stuck!).
A Natural Orchestra
When you stop to stretch your legs, try to find a musical instrument in the bush. You might find sticks, stones, seed pods, sand, or brushes that you can clap, slap, rub or shake. See what interesting sounds you can make with different materials. Can you make soft sounds? What about squelchy sounds? Get everyone in your family to introduce their musical instrument and sounds that it makes. Now play some music together – can you be the conductor? Could you make up some words or sounds to go with your instruments?
Nature Art
What kind of artwork can you make from items found in nature? Fallen leaves, sticks, old bark, pebbles, seedpods, flower petals, feathers, sand, shells and more! What could you “paint” with mud? What sculpture could you make with sticks and stones? Can you make patterns like spirals or lines in the sand? What kind of colours can you find to help make your artwork? Is your art smooth or rough? Spiky or soft?
Rainbow search
Find something in nature for every colour of the rainbow. Red, orange yellow, green, purple, blue or even pink. What about black, white and grey? Are some colours easier to find than others?
Mutiny
Is the weather warm today? Perhaps it's time to turn on your Captain! Who is the fastest boat? They are the Captain. Now everyone else has to try and splash or capsize the Captain’s boat!
Thanks for paddling through our favourite canoe games with us! Whether you're crowing like a rooster, spinning in dizzy circles, or playing frisbee tag mid-river, we hope these ideas add a little extra joy, laughter, and connection to your next day out on the water. Remember to tread lightly, play safely, and always respect the nature around you.
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