Other names
Inspiration
Contrary to what most people believe, most bats are NOT blind, but have quite good eyesight, which they use to some degree in addition to their echolocation to find and capture prey. However, their hearing is exceptional, so that’s what we are going to focus on in this game: using hearing to hunt.
Themes
Stealth, Listening, Balance, Evasion, Strategy
Group size
6-12 players
Timing
5-10 min/round
Play area
Any clear area
Energy
Med (walking, stalking)
Age range
8+ years
Start formation
Circle
Equipment
Boundary rope, Bandana (one)
Hazards/safety
- Players tripping on obstacles. Make sure the playing area is clear of hazards (brambles, roots, rocks).
- The bat hitting people with their hands. Remind the “bat” to NOT flail their arms around rapidly, but rather to move smoothly and slowly, like they’re underwater or doing tai chi. They should also keep their hands low so they don’t poke someone in the eye.
- “Moths” should NOT climb onto other people.
Instructions
- Create a game boundary by placing a large rope on the ground in a circle about 12 feet in diameter.
- To make the game more challenging for the moths, consider placing extra small sticks, dry leaves, or other obstacles that make noise when stepped on inside the circle.
- Have everyone stand inside the circle. Explain that in this game, one person will be a bat, and everyone else is a moth that the hungry bat is hunting.
- Everyone starts off INSIDE the circle. The bat will be blindfolded (“blind”). When the facilitator says “go,” the bat can move around the circle, trying to tag moths with their hands. The bat should be SAFE in their movements: not flailing their arms around rapidly, but rather moving smoothly and slowly, like they’re underwater or doing tai chi. They should also keep their hands low so they don’t poke someone in the eye.
- If the bat gets close to the boundary rope, the facilitator should whisper “boundary” to keep the bat inside the circle.
- The moths can move around inside the circle to avoid the bat. Crouching, crawling, and lying down are all fine; climbing onto other people is not.
- If the bat touches a moth, or if a moth steps outside of the circle, they are out and should immediately exit the circle. From then on they can help say “boundary” when the bat gets too close to the circle rope.
- As the game proceeds, the facilitator can progressively reel in the boundary rope to make the circle smaller (giving the moths less room to avoid the bat).
- Using “echolocation”: three times during the game, the bat can say “bat,” and all the moths still in the circle have to quietly say “moth.”
- The game is over when the last moth is tagged by the bat. The last moth to be tagged has the option of being the next bat, or selecting the next bat from those who volunteer.
Modifications