4-H Camp Counselor Backpacks
Sauk & Columbia County 4-H Camp
Introduction:
In 2007, Karen Nelson, Columbia County 4-H Youth Development Educator, and Jessica Jens, Sauk County 4-H
Youth Development Agent, decided to implement a “camp counselor backpack” with the Jr. Camp program. The
idea of the backpacks had been shared with us through informal conversations with other 4-H staff. We apologize
for not remembering when or with whom this conversation happened and who we stole this idea from, but we
loved it! The Sauk County 4-H Summer Intern, Brianna Stapleton, was assigned the task of creating the backpacks.
Our 2007 camp counselor team helped brainstorm the different games/activities listed in this document. Brianna
completed all of the work to package this teaching tool and created all of the backpack kits. This document will
provide information for you to recreate or adapt the backpacks for your own 4-H camping program.
Need:
Each year we ask our camp counselors to pre-plan and come prepared to lead a variety of group games, icebreakers,
and energizers with their cabin groups. Although time was set aside at camp planning meetings to work on this
task and action plans were created, the follow through on this “assignment” was minimal. Camp counselors are
asked to take on a large amount of responsibility, planning, and leadership in their roles. To help ease the amount
of responsibility placed on them, the “Camp Counselor Backpack” provides activity descriptions and needed
materials for them to use throughout camp. This frees them to spend more time and effort on following through
with their other responsibilities.
Additionally, we’ve had some challenges with counselors picking marginally inappropriate skits to perform during
campfires. The campfire skit book provides a variety of skit descriptions which are all 4-H camp appropriate.
Objectives of the Backpack:
To provide a resource to assist 4-H camp counselors in…
 Including welcoming activities with their cabins.
 Leading group games & activities with their campers during down times (like standing in line for
meals).
 Assisting their cabin groups in selecting and performing a 4-H appropriate camp fire skit.
 Leading reflection activities at the end of each day and camp with their campers (to be implemented
in 2008).
Changes Planned for 2008:
As noted in the objectives, descriptions and material for group reflection activities will be added in 2008. We will
modify this document to include that information when it becomes available (probably June/July 2008).
Inventory of a Camp Counselor Backpack:
1
Games & Activities for 4-H Camp Counselors
Booklet (print following pages, cut apart, laminate as
1
1
1
1
5
3
1
4
1
1
double sided pages, secure with a ring)
Camp Skits Booklet (same directions as above)
4-H Camp Song Book
Soft Sports Ball
Rope
Balloons
Markers
Pad of Sticky Notes
Small Stuffed Animals
Frisbee
Roll of Toilet Paper
Easy Games &
Activities for
4-H Camp
Counselors
Mummy Wrap
Category: Trust building
Materials: Roll of toilet paper, watch
Preparation: None
Instructions: One member of the group is designated as the mummy. The other team members are
given 5 minutes to wrap their mummy with the roll of toilet paper. They should be careful wrapping so
that the toilet paper does not separate or tear. The mummy should be wrapped from head to toe, but
with some leg movement so walking is possible. At the end of 5 minutes, wrapping stops and team
members walk their mummy around the room. Care must be taken to be sure the mummy doesn’t
get hurt or bumped. Campers should gently move their mummies. If another cabin group is working
with you, a race could be held with cabins racing their mummies.
Discussion: How does it feel to be confined and have to rely on others? What times in this game
made you nervous or worried? How careful were the campers? How can we depend on others as well
as use our skills as helpers?
Rainstorm
Category: Time filler
Materials: None
Preparation: None
Instructions: Tell campers that they are about to make a rainstorm with their bodies. Gather
everyone in the circle, and then establish yourself as the leader of the rainstorm. Begin by gently
rubbing your hands together back and forth to make a soft rustling sound. This is the
misting/sprinkling part of the rainstorm. Gradually increase the intensity of the rubbing so that the
sound gets louder. Slowly, move to patting your hands against your lap to get the sound of drizzle.
Again, you will want to increase the intensity of the sound as the storm grows. While still patting your
hands against your lap, begin to move your feet up and down to get the thunder and pouring rain.
Fade out the patting on your lap and increase the speed and loudness of your stomping to make a
really big rainstorm. Let the pouring rain subside, and let the storm drop back to a drizzle by patting
your hands on your lap. As that subsides, go back to rubbing your palms together to make the
sprinkling rain.
Tip: This activity works best if nobody talks, and students simply mimic your actions. Campers will
often want to try again to make the most realistic sounding rainstorm.
Human Knot
Category: Problem-solving, team building
Materials: None
Preparation: None
Instructions: Everyone stands in a circle. Tell everyone to reach across the circle and shake hands
with someone (the person cannot be standing next to them.) After shaking hands, they should not let
go of that person’s hand. Then, tell them to use their free hand to grab the free hand of a different
person – not the same person that they shook hands with the first time. Now that the group is all
knotted up, ask the campers to unravel the knot by unthreading their bodies without letting go of each
others’ hands.
Discussion: What strategies worked best for unraveling the knot? If we were to do it again, how
could we be more efficient?
My Name Is…
Category: Icebreaker, physical activity
Materials: None
Preparation: None
Instructions: Gather campers in a large circle. Tell them that they must think of a movement to
accompany their name. Begin the game by demonstrating a movement with your own name (for
example, say “Peter!” and spin around once.) The next person must repeat that name and
movement, then add their own name and movement. This continues around the circle. The last
person will have to do the names and movements of everyone else in the circle! Help prompt the
campers if they have trouble remembering the names and movements.
Discussion: Which movements and names were the easiest to remember?
Pass It On
Category: Icebreaker
Materials: Softball
Preparation: None
Instructions: Have everyone in your cabin group get in a single file line. Give the softball to the
person at the head of the line and instruct them to hold it between their elbows. They must pass the
softball down the line using only their elbows. If someone drops the softball, it must return to the
beginning of the line and start over. The goal is to get the softball to the end of the line and then back
to the front using only elbows.
Discussion: What was the most difficult part of this game? How could we make it easier?
Tips: If your group really wants a challenge, have them clench the softball between their chin and
their chest and pass it on using only their chin and their chest. Because this method has people get
in each other’s personal space, you will have to watch carefully to see if it is making campers
uncomfortable. This game is also a good team-builder and encourages groups to work together to
achieve a common goal. You may want to pair up with another cabin group and have them race each
other to see who can pass the softball the fastest.
Giants, Wizards, Elves
Category: team building, physical activity, energizer
Materials: None
Preparation: None
Instructions: Before you begin, explain the three rules to the campers:
1. Giants conquer wizards. To be a giant, raise your arms high above your head.
2. Wizards conquer elves. To be a wizard, make a triangle with your arms over your head.
3. Elves conquer giants. To be an elf, place your hands alongside your ears with index fingers extended.
Divide the campers into two teams with a space of about 4 feet between them. Direct each team to retreat
a few feet for a huddle to decide which they will be: giants, wizards, or elves. In their huddles, each team
decides what they will be, plus a backup choice. Then they come back to their 4-feet-apart stance. On a
count of three, each team yells what they are. If one team yells "Elves!" and the other yells "Wizards!," the
wizard team will chase the elves to their safe zone (you can mark these with cones or use a tree or other
found object). Anyone who is tagged becomes part of the opposing team. If both teams yell the same
creature, they do it over using their backup choice.
Blind Shapes
Category: Problem-solving, team building
Materials: Rope, blindfolds for each camper
Preparation: You will need a large open area in which your group can move around.
Instructions: Give instructions before you hand out the blindfolds. Tell campers they will be blindfolded,
arranged into a single file line, and in their hands they will be holding onto a rope. Once everyone is grasping
the rope, they entire group must work together to form a certain shape (a square, triangle, or oval – whatever
you instruct them to form.) After they’ve heard the directions, line them up and blindfold them. Then place the
clothesline in their hands so that each person is holding onto it with two hands. Allow them to move around the
space until they think they’ve correctly formed the shape that you requested them to make. They can talk to
each other as they work to form the shape. Once they’re done moving, go around the room and take off their
blindfolds so that they can check accuracy.
Discussion: Was it hard to form the shape when you weren’t able to see what you were doing? Do you think
the group worked well together?
Tips: If your group enjoys this game, tell them that they’re not allowed to talk to each other when they have the
blindfolds on. This takes away two of their senses and makes communication very challenging.
Minute Mysteries
1. If a plane crashes on the border of Canada and the United States, where would the survivors be buried?
(You don’t bury survivors.)
2. If you have ten cows and all but three die, how many are left? (Three.)
3. Do they have a Fourth of July in England? (Yes.)
4. In the Old West, a man rides into town on Thursday, stays three days and rides out on Thursday.
How can this be? (Thursday is the name of his horse.)
5. There is a man walking down the road dressed entirely in black. There are no lights on anywhere and no
moon. A car with no lights on comes down the road and manages to avoid the man. How? (It’s daylight.)
6. How far can a bear run into the forest? (Halfway, then it is running out again.)
7. The person who makes it sells it. The person who buys it doesn’t need it. The person who needs it doesn’t
care. What is it? (A coffin.)
8. What gets bigger when you take away from it? (A hole.)
9. Two people are out in the desert with nothing around them, not even any tracks. One is dead and one alive.
The dead person has a full backpack and the living person has an empty one. What was in the backpacks?
(Parachutes.)
10. Spell “most.” Spell “boast.” What goes into a toaster? (Bread.)
11. Do the candles burn longer on a boy’s birthday cake or a girl’s birthday cake? (Neither, candles burn
shorter not longer.)
Rush Hour Traffic
Category: Trust game
Materials: Bandannas or blindfolds
Preparation: None
Instructions: This is trust walk adaptation. Everyone partners up and uses their bandanna as a
blindfold for one partner. The person who is the car puts on the blindfold and holds hands up as
“bumpers” right in front of shoulders, thumbs almost touching. The driver stands behind the car,
placing hands on their shoulders. The counselor plays policeman calling for “traffic rolling,” “slow for
school area,” “red light,” “freeways,” etc. The drivers respond by steering their cars through the other
traffic without touching or bumping anyone else. After awhile groups change roles. “Beep beeping” is
encouraged.
Tip: Special emphasis should be placed on caring for your car. Avoid holes, curbs, rocks, roots as
well as other people
Group Juggle
Category: Team building, energizer
Materials: 1 beanbag, several small stuffed animals
Preparation: None
Instructions: Start with everyone in a circle. Take the beanbag and toss it underhand across the circle to someone
on the other side. As you do so say, “Here John!” John says: “Thanks Sally!” Tell them after catching it to pass it
across the circle to someone who has not yet caught it (each person only catches and throws it once.) It’s okay to
ask for someone’s name before tossing it. And, that the most important thing is to remember who they threw it to!!
Ask them to cross their arms once they have caught and tossed it so that everyone knows no to throw it to them
again. The last participant to receive the beanbag should throw it bag to you. Once the beanbag has been tossed
around to everyone and back to you, ask everyone to “Point to the person you threw it too.” This ensures that
everyone will be able to repeat the pattern on the next round. Tell them that you’ll be going around again in the
same pattern and that it ought to go much more smoothly and quickly this time! When the beanbag gets back to
you tell everyone to give themselves a round of applause. Then announce they need to stay very alert because
things are about to get more challenging. Throw the beanbag once again to the same person to get things started.
After it has gone to another two or three people begin pulling the other stuffed animals from your pockets/bag and
tossing it, until there are about 4 things going at one time. You’re doing a group juggle!
Tips: It’s fun to secretly stuff your pockets with the stuffed animals before the activity begins, and start out with just
one that everybody can see. This creates a funny surprise on the third go-round when you start pulling stuffed
animals out of your bag.
Towel Chicken
Category: Time-filler, energizer, ‘magic trick’
Materials: Towel
Preparation: None
Instructions: First, roll up the towel like a scroll. Fold the scroll in half so that the rolls are on the
outside and pull each of the four corners of the towel up out of the center of each roll so that they
stick out a little. Grab each pair of opposite corners and pull firmly away from each other. See the
diagram on the back of the card for visual instructions.
Tips: It’s always good to have some chicken jokes on hand to go with the towel chicken trick.
Suggestions are on the back. Also, campers will probably want to lean how to make the chicken
themselves, so once you get back to your cabins teach them how to do it with their own towels.
Chicken Jokes:
Why did the rubber chicken cross the road? She wanted to stretch her legs.
What do you get when you cross a chicken with a bell? An alarm cluck.
What do you get when you cross a chicken with a pit bull? Just the pit bull.
Why did the chewing gum cross the road? Because it was stuck to the chicken.
What do you call a crazy chicken? A cuckoo cluck.
What do chickens serve at birthday parties? Coop-cakes.
Why did the chicken stay outside during the thunderstorm? Because it was ‘fowl’ weather.
Tag Variations
Category: Physical activity, time filler
Materials: None
Preparation: None
Instructions: Try playing one of the following variations on the game of tag:
Blob Tag: When the tagger tags someone, they join hands to form a tagging pair. They now chase while
holding hands, moving as a "blob." When they tag someone else, that person joins hands and becomes part of
the tagging blob. The members of the tagging blob have to work together to keep moving in the same direction
to achieve their goal. Tips: Break up groups of four into two-person blobs to minimize confusion and steppedon toes.
Tunnel Tag: Tunnel tag is a variation on freeze tag. In freeze tag, kids "freeze" in the position they’re in when
tagged. In tunnel tag, someone has to crawl through a child’s feet to "unfreeze" him or her so they can rejoin
the game.
Vegetable/Fruit Tag: When a tagger approaches a child in this game, he or she must squat down and say the
name of a vegetable or fruit for protection. If the tagger gets you first, you also become "it."
Band-Aid Tag: In this variation, when a child is tagged, he or she places a hand on the spot that was tagged.
The child must keep a hand on that spot for the rest of the game. If the child gets tagged a second time, a
hand must be placed on the second spot. Now the child has used up all the band-aids. If tagged a third time,
the child must go to the "hospital" (the sidelines) and do five jumping jacks to "get well" and rejoin the game.
What Am I?
Category: Guessing game, energizer, time filler
Materials: Sticky notes, marker
Preparation: On each sticky note, write a noun. It can be a place, an object, a color, or a food. If
you want, all of the nouns can relate to a theme, such as 4-H camp. Make sure that there is one
sticky note for each camper.
Instructions: Place the sticky notes on the campers’ backs so that they cannot see their own sticky
note. Tell them that their sticky note could be a place, an object, a color, or a food. They must walk
around, go up to other campers, and ask Yes or No questions about their sticky note. Once they
guess what they are, they can sit down.
Discussion: Which were the hardest things to guess?
Tips: Don’t make the items too difficult to guess, this will make the game more frustrating than fun.
Ship’s Captain
Category: Energizer, physical activity
Materials: None
Preparation: You will need space to move around.
Instructions: The counselor starts as the captain. The captain must call out the orders to the rest of
the players, who are the crew. If a crew member does not follow an order correctly, they are out.
(This decision is made by the captain, who is always right – for the sake of game playing purposes.)
The last player left is the new captain. Teach the action for each command first, and once everyone
has learned them you can “officially” begin the elimination. The orders are printed on the back.
Orders
To the ship: run to the captain’s right
To the island: run to the captain’s left
Hit the deck: crouch down or lay on your stomach
Attention on deck: salute and yell “Aye, aye, captain!”
Three men in a boat: crew forms groups of three and sings Row, Row, Row Your Boat (anyone not
in a group of three is out)
The love boat: crew members grab a partner and dance (anyone without a partner is out)
Clear the deck: everyone must have their feet up off the floor
Scrub the deck: everyone on their knees scrubbing
Captain’s quarters: everyone run towards the captain
Periscope: everyone falls on their back and sticks one leg up in the air
SHARK!: everyone runs to a designated base. The last player to run to the base is eliminated
Sick turtle: everyone falls onto their backs and waves hands and feet in the air
Row the boat: everyone finds a partner, sits face to face, and pretends to row a boat
Birthday Circle
Category: Energizer, teambuilder
Materials: None
Preparation: None
Instructions: Ask the group to place themselves clockwise in order of their birthday months and
days. Give more specific directions and demonstrations if your group is young or confused.
Ultimate Frisbee
Category: Team builder, physical activity
Materials: Frisbee
Preparation: None
Instructions: Create teams with another cabin group and play a game somewhat like football but
with a Frisbee. Players can run anywhere except when they have the Frisbee. Then the must throw
it from where they are.
Elephant
Category: Energizer, icebreaker
Materials: None
Preparation: None
Instructions: Have the group form a circle. If “It” points to you, you must make a trunk with your
arms. The people on either side of you must put their hands by your ears so that the three of you
look like an elephant. Anyone who is unable to do so by the time “It” counts to ten becomes “It.”
Rhinoceros variation: This game is played just like Elephant except that the person “It” points to
puts fists together by the noise with the outer pinkie finger extended up. During the play of
Rhinoceros, “It” may call out either “Rhinoceros” or “Elephant.”
Monkey variation: Played like Elephant and Rhinoceros, except that the person “It” points to must
scratch his or her head with the right hand while scratching the right armpit with the left hand and
making monkey noises. The people to the right and left of the person doing the scratching must put
their hands in the air and sway as if they were coconut palm trees. During the game “It” may point
and call out “Elephant, “Rhinoceros,” or “Monkey.”
Boop
Category: Team builder, physical activity
Materials: Balloon
Preparation: Blow up a balloon.
Instructions: Ask participants to hold hands in a circle. Toss a balloon into the circle. Tell the group
to do anything necessary (without hurting each other and while holding hands) to keep the balloon
from hitting the ground.
Crab football style: This variation of Boop needs no formation but does require that participants
move in crab football style. Demonstrate by sitting on the floor and then using hands behind and feet
in front to move around like a crab. Participants may kick the ball or keep it aloft with their heads but
may not use their hands.
Variations: Add more balloons.
Fun Ideas for Leading Games
Ideas for forming partners:
 Find someone with the same eye color as you.
 Find someone who had the same thing you had for breakfast.
 Start hopping on either your left foot or right foot and find a partner who is hopping with the same foot
you are.
 Find a partner who has a different number of brothers and sisters than you do.
 Find a partner who is wearing one item of clothing the same color as your are.
 Put either your pinky or thumb in the air. Find one other person who is doing the same thing you are,
and that person is your partner.
 Would you rather eat an apple or an orange? Find someone who would rather eat the same thing you
like.
Tips:
 Need blindfolds? Fold up bandannas and tie them around the head.
 If you have icebreakers involving M&Ms or Skittles, do those early on at camp so that they don’t melt in
your backpack and make a mess.
 Throw your towel in your backpack so that you can make a towel chicken.
 Always participate in games with your cabin groups. Try to get the adult chaperones to play too!
Balloon Volley
Category: Team building, physical activity
Materials: Balloon
Preparation: Blow up the balloon before you begin the game.
Instructions: Tell your campers to gather in a circle. Give them the inflated balloon. Tell them they must toss
the balloon amongst themselves, and they cannot let it touch the ground. There are three levels to this game.
Level One: They can pass the balloon using only their heads or shoulders.
Level Two: They can pass the balloon using only their hands or arms.
Level Three: They can pass the balloon using only their ankles or feet.
Give the teams about three to five minutes to pass the balloon at each level, and then give them instructions to
move up to the next level of volleying.
Discussion: Was it difficult to keep the balloon off the ground? Which was the hardest level? Did you learn to
anticipate the actions of the other people in your group?
Tips: Talk about working together as a team and sharing a task. The task shared in this activity is the
responsibility of keeping the balloon off the ground – everyone must help. Relate it to a task that your group
actually shares, such as setting up for a meal or cleaning up the cabin.
Screamer
Category: Energizer, Time Filler
Materials: None
Preparation: None
Instructions: Have the entire group form a circle. Important: everyone needs to be able to see the eyes of
everyone else. Explain that you will be saying two sets of instructions repeatedly, "heads down" and "heads
up." When you say "heads down," everyone looks down. Whey you say "heads up," everyone looks up,
STRAIGHT INTO THE EYES of anyone else in the room. Two possible consequences: if they are looking at
someone who is looking at someone else, nothing happens; if they are looking at someone who is looking right
back at them, they are both to point in a very exaggerated manner at the other person and let out a SCREAM
OR YELL. They are then both "out" and take their places together outside of the circle to observe. Once the
"screamers" have left the circle, the circle closes in and you repeat step two, followed by step three, until you
are down to two people. Yes, they have to do it one more time, even though the outcome is a foregone. These
two people are the “winners.”
Campfire
Skits
Artistic Genius
The scene is an art show where judges are inspecting several canvases that are on display. They
comment on the brightness, color, technique, that is used on the different pictures. They select one
for the prize and comment additionally on the genius, imagination, and the beauty of the picture. The
artist is called up and the winning picture is shown to him. The painter exclaims, "Oh, my goodness!
That got in by mistake. That's the canvas that I clean my brushes on.”
Balloon Orchestra
The players in the orchestra each hold a balloon.
They blow up their balloons in unison, then let out the air in a squeak
at a time to the rhythm of some easily recognized rhythm such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or "Jingle
Bells". To end the skit all fill their balloons with air and let go at the counselor’s signal.
Important Papers
A person should be chosen as “royalty” to sit on a chair on stage. They should begin by yelling out,
“Bring me my important papers.” Someone should rush on stage carrying papers of some kid
(newspapers, books, worksheets – what ever is around) and say, “Here are your important papers!”
The royalty should look at the papers and reply, “No! Those are not my important papers.” The
messenger should rush off stage. Again the royalty should yell out, “Bring me my important papers.”
Another messenger should enter with different papers and say, “Here are your important papers.” The
royalty should look at the papers and reply, “No! Those are not my important papers.” The messenger
should rush off stage. This should continue until all but one person has entered. The last time the
royalty shouts the messenger should enter carrying a roll of toilet paper. The royalty should say,
“Ahhh yes, those are my important paper.”
The Lost Quarter
One person holds up a flashlight like a lamppost. Another person is crawling around on the floor
looking for something. Someone walks in and says, “Do you need some help?” Reply, “Yeah, I lost a
quarter.” The person who walked in gets down and starts looking too. Another person comes in, “Do
you need some help?” Same reply. This person also gets down to help look. This continues until all
but one person has come in. The last person enters and says, “Do you need some help?”
“Yeah, I lost a quarter.”
“Where at?”
“Over there.”
“Why are you looking over here then?”
“Because the light is better.”
Push a Rope?
All of the campers (except the one with the rope) line up in a strait line facing the audience.
Then from off stage, the camper with the rope walks right in front of them pulling the rope behind him.
Well he keeps on doing this, while the campers in the line are looking puzzled and confused,
snickering at him and pointing.
Finally after awhile, one of the lined-up campers asks the camper with rope, "Why are you pulling that
rope?"
The camper with the rope stops and looks at him and says, “Well, have you ever seen a person push
a rope before?”
The Doctor
The doctor should start the skit by standing in front of the audience next to a chair or bench. The first
patient should enter and the doctor should ask, “What is wrong?” The patient should complain of a
particular symptom as they act it out. (Broken arm, stomachache, sprained ankle, etc.) The doctor
tells them to, “Sit in my magic chair.” The patient sits down and the doctor makes some action to
pretend to heal them. (Make a noise, touch the back of the chair, etc.) The doctor then tells them,
“You are healed.” The patient gets up and leaves as the doctor pretends to take on the symptom the
patient had. The next patient enters with a new symptom. The same exchange takes place and when
the patient leaves the doctor now acts out both symptoms. This continues until all but one person
has entered and left. The last patient should come in and when the doctor asks what is wrong they
say, “I have diarrhea.” As soon as the doctor sits them in the chair and starts to heal them the doctor
should run offstage pretending they have diarrhea.
Echo
The counselor announces that he has noticed an echo and he is going to try it out. The following is a
dialogue between the counselor and the echo - a camper out of sight.
Counselor: Hello
Echo: Hello
Counselor: Cheese
Counselor: Cheese
Leader: Bologna
Echo: (silence)
Leader: (to group) It must not be working now. I'll try again. (to echo) This counselor is great!
Echo: Bologna!
Dead Fly
A person should walk out in front of the audience and look down. They pretend to see something on
the floor and pick it up. “Hmm, a dead fly. I’m going to rip one of its’ legs off.” They then drop it back
on the floor and walk off stage. A second person enters and stops in the same place. When they
pretend to pick up the dead fly they say, “Hmmm, a dead fly with five legs. I’m going to pull another
leg off.” They then walk away. A third person enters, stops in the same spot, and repeats the same
actions and lines, ripping off another leg. This continues until all the legs are off. The next person
says, “Hmm, a dead fly with no legs. I’m going to rip one of its’ wings off.” After the other wing and
head are off the last person should enter. They stop in the same spot, pretend to pick something up,
look at it, say, “Hmmm, a raisin,” and pop it in their mouth as they walk away.
The Fisherman
Set this up by having someone sit on a chair pretending they are fishing. Next to him should be a
large bag (garbage bag or pillowcase works) with items in it to make it look full. An announcer should
tell the audience, “This scene takes place on a frozen lake. The fisherman has obviously been
successful because look at his full bag of fish.” The first person walks on stage and exclaims, “Wow!
Look at all the fish! What is your secret?” etc. The fisherman mumbles a reply but doesn’t open his
mouth. The first person says, “I can’t understand what you said.” While he is trying to understand the
fisherman the next person walks on stage. “Wow! What’s your secret? How did you get all these
fish?” The fisherman mumbles again but doesn’t open his mouth. This continues until the whole
group is on stage. Once everyone is there they start to get mad at the fisherman because they
cannot understand him. Finally the fisherman cups his hands under his mouth and goes, “Patooee”
and says, “The secret to my success is that you have to keep the worms warm.”
The Elevator
An elevator operator announces “Ground floor” and opens the door. A passenger gets on and begins
to jiggle slightly as the elevator rises. The elevator operator announces each floor: “First floor,
women’s clothing.” She opens the door and another passenger gets on and begins to jiggle too.
Continue up through as many floors as you need to get your whole group onto the elevator. “Second
floor, men’s clothing.” “Sixth floor, kitchenware,” etc. As the elevator rises higher and higher, the
passengers jiggle more and more. The elevator stops. The operator calls, “Top floor, last stop.”
Everyone starts to jiggle like crazy. “Bathrooms!” Everyone rushes off the elevator and races offstage
toward the bathrooms. The elevator operator shakes her head in disbelief. Suddenly she looks funny
and she too, begins to jiggle. The operator shouts, “Me too!” and rushes after them.
JC Penney
Begin with one person (character A) sitting on a bench or chair on stage. Have the second person
walk onto stage examining an article of clothing, watch, etc. (These items can be props or something
the person already has.) As the person walks by, character A should say, “Hi, how are you?” and
ask, “Where did you get that new shirt?” (or item of clothing.) The person replies, “JC Penney” and
walks off stage. A third person walks onto stage examining a different article of clothing. Character A
says the same thing, “Where did you get that (what ever piece of clothing they are looking at)?”
Character B replies “JC Penney.” This continues until all but one person has entered. The last
person runs onto stage with a blanket or towel wrapped around them. As they pass Character A
asks, “Hey, who are you?” The last person replies, “JC Penney.”
Mysterious Flying Object
One person walks onstage with head titled up at an awkward angle, stops, and stares up at the sky.
The position of this person’s head should not change during the entire skit. One by one the others
walk onstage, notice this staring person, and look up to see what she is looking at. They stay on
stage the entire skit, forming a line next to the person with the crooked neck. Once all are onstage
they comment to one another: “Do you see it?” “There it goes!” “I think I just saw it!” etc. They clearly
believe something is up there and talk excitedly about the mysterious flying object in the sky. The last
person to come on stage asks the person at the end of the line what he is looking at. That person
asks the next person, “So you know what we are looking at?” The question passes down the line,
finally reaching the first person. She is still staring up at the sky and has taken no notice of the people
next to her. She is tapped on the shoulder and asked, “Pardon me, but what is it we’re looking at?”
The first person turns with her head still tilted awkwardly and says, “Oh hi. I didn’t see you all there.
I’m afraid I’ve got a stiff neck today.”
Empty Heads
The participants are lined up. The announcer explains that these remarkable people all have empty
heads. To demonstrate this the first person in line takes a huge drink of water from a glass. His
cheeks bulge out with water. He then pretends to spit the water in the ear of the next person in line.
Actually he just lets the air out of his cheeks, only pretending to have a mouthful of water. As the
“water” enters her ear, the second person balloons out her cheeks to make it look like they are filling
up with water. Practice this. It should look as if the second person’s mouth is filling up as the first
person’s mouth empties. Keep passing the “water” down the line until it reaches the last person. The
last person in line receives the “water” in his ear, puffs up his cheeks, and spits the water into a glass.
This time it is real water, for the last person had a mouthful of water during the entire skit without
letting anyone know.
It it Time Yet?
Have all skit participants sit side-by-side in a row on the floor or on a bench. One leg should be
crossed over the other so everyone is sitting the same way. The person on the end should whisper in
the ear of the next person loud enough for the audience to hear, “It it time yet?” The second person
should whisper the same question to the third person, again loud enough for the audience to hear,
and so on. When the last person is asked the question they should look at their watch. They then
whisper back to the person next to them, “No, it’s not time yet.” This should be passed down the line.
When it gets to the last person with the watch they should reply, “No, it is not time yet.” Again, the first
person sighs, and re-asks the question. On this round the person with the watch says, “Yes, it’s
time.” After it has passed all the way back to the first person the group should look at one another
and all uncross their crossed leg and cross the other leg in unison.
Gotta Go Wee
All participants should line up two-by-two with one chair in front of the next. This represents students
sitting on a bus (but participants are actually standing).One person should stand in the front, acting as
the bus driver, hands on the steering wheel, etc. The person in the very last seat should whisper loud
enough for the audience to hear to the person in the “seat” next to them, “I gotta go wee.” This
message should be passed from person to person until it reaches the driver. The drier should look
over their shoulder and reply, “We don’t have time to stop now.” This should be whispered loudly from
the person in the front of the bus back to the wee-er. The back person should wait a few seconds
and in more urgency whisper to the person next to them, “I gotta go wee.” Again the message is
passed from person to person until it reaches the driver who replies, “Not now.” This message returns
to the back of the bus and for a third time the back person says, “but I really gotta go wee.” When the
message reaches the bus driver the third time the driver should simulate hitting the breaks and
opening the bus door. The back person should rush to the front of the bus, jump out the door with
arms in the air and yell, “Wheeeeeeeee!”
Invisible Bench
One person should be on stage in front of the audience to begin the skit. They should pretend to be
sitting on a bench reading a book or looking around. Person A should enter and ask, “What are you
doing?” The reply is, “I’m sitting on the invisible bench.” Person A should ask, “Can I join you?” The
reply is, “Sure.” Person A pretends to sit on the bench next to the original person. Person B then
enters and repeats the same exchange to the bench sitters. The replies are the same and Person B
joins them on the bench. This continues until all members of the group except one are sitting on the
invisible bench. The last person enters, asks, “What are you doing?” The original person answers,
“Sitting on the invisible bench.” The last person who entered replies, “The invisible bench? I moved
that last week.” All the people on the bench fall on the floor.