Also known as Firekeeper
Inspiration
This game takes its inspiration from the idea of several hungry weasels sneaking into a bird’s nest at night to steal and eat the bird’s eggs. The bird may not be able to see the weasels, but if she hears them, she can still deliver a nasty peck with her beak!
Themes
Stealth, Listening, Strategy, Agility, Balance, Audacity, Awareness
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, Small objects – a few
Hazards/safety
- Players tripping on obstacles. Make sure the playing area is clear of hazards (brambles, roots, rocks).
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 weasels, consider placing extra small sticks, dry leaves, or other obstacles that make noise when stepped on inside the circle.
- In the center of the circle, make a little pile of leaves, then put a small object (like a stone) on top of the pile. The leaves rustle when the stone is touched, so vary the amount of leaves depending on the group’s skill.
- Have everyone stand outside the circle. Explain that in this game, one person will be a bird: a blindfolded person sitting in the middle of the circle with the leaf pile/stones about a foot in front of them. The bird is guarding the egg in their nest. Everyone else is a weasel that wants to steal the egg.
- The goal of the weasels is to quietly stalk into the circle, take the stone, and stalk back outside the boundary rope without being noticed by the bird.
- The goal of the bird is to listen for the weasels. They can “peck” at a weasel and drive it from their nest by pointing their finger where they think a weasel is. Pointing should be a decisive, specific, singular action, not a vague, sweeping gesture.
- Two facilitators should station themselves around the circle and watch the points. When the bird correctly points at a weasel, the facilitators should say “hit.” If the bird points but is not aiming at a weasel, the facilitators should say “miss.” “Hit” weasels should immediately exit the circle.
- There should be a maximum of three weasels in the circle at any one time. Facilitators should point at participants waiting around the circle to indicate that it’s their turn to go. Whenever a weasel is “hit” and exits the circle, facilitators should send in a new weasel.
- When a weasel successfully exits the circle with the stone without being “hit,” the round is over. The successful weasel can be the new bird or choose another volunteer.
Modifications
- Consider having multiple eggs (stones) in the nest.
- For large groups or older/more skilled groups, consider having two blindfolded birds in the nest. They can either sit back to back, each guarding their own nest, or facing each other about 3 feet apart with a single next between them.
- For extra challenge, the egg can be something that makes noise, such as a bundle of keys.