Here are two active games for groups such as Cubs or Beavers.


This can be played in a hall or meeting room. The four walls of the hall are given a name: ‘Mayfly’; ‘Stonefly’; ‘Damselfly’; and ‘Dragonfly’. When the leader calls out one of these names, everyone runs to the named wall. If the leader calls ‘Rat-Tailed Maggot’, everyone lies on their backs with one leg straight up in the air like the maggot’s breathing tube; if ‘Flatworm’, everyone lies on their bellies; if ‘Shrimp’, run around in circles; if ‘Hog-Louse’, crawl around on hands and knees; if ‘Caddis fly’, stand with hands together above head to mimic the roof-shaped wings; and if ‘Captain’s Coming’, everyone curls up on the floor with their arms over their heads to hide from the Trout.


This can be played in a hall or, preferably, outside. Players form four teams and the teams are named ‘Mayflies’, ‘Stoneflies’, Caddis flies’, and ‘Shrimps’. One player is chosen to be the ‘Trout’ and stands in the middle of the playing area; the teams can all start at one end or two at each end. The leader calls out the name of one of the four invertebrates and the members of that group have to run to the other end of the playing area without being caught by the trout. If the trout catches an invertebrate, it grows: i.e. they join hands in a chain. The game continues until all the invertebrates have been caught by the growing trout.

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