As winter drags on and springtime approaches, one thing I look forward to is the leaves returning to the trees. This game is a great way to welcome back the leaves and turn an ordinary walk in the woods into a fun and educational game.
Number of players 4+
Ages: 6+ (or reading age if playing alone)
Space: A forest
The game requires a little bit of adult preparation ahead of time. The adult should identify by type as many different types of trees as possible, ideally five or more. Then, fasten a card on one or more trees of each variety within a certain designated area. Ideally, the cards can be designed by the children ahead of time, with the help of adults who can find pictures of the different leaves on the web or in a book. In the traditional Japanese version of the game, each card has a verse about the tree as well.
The main object of each card is to have a number. Each player is provided a card or slip of paper containing a list of numbers corresponding to those on the trees. So, if there are fifteen different types of numbered trees, there should be fifteen numbers on the card.
The players, armed with cards and pencils, wander over the designated area looking for the different types of trees. Whenever a player finds a number on a tree, if the player knows the name of the tree writes it on his card opposite the number.
At a signal (a bell, whistle or horn) all the players assemble. The host or hostess then reads the correct list, each player checking their card. The player who wins has the largest number of tree names correct on his or her card.
Playing this game has some surprising results. Most people have no idea how many different types of trees can be found on a short walk through the woods.