Make sure that there are enough trees in your chosen location for each pair or group.
Where possible, try and make sure there is a good variety of trees. Mark out a clear boundary for the activity, including a starting location.
Essentials
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Location: Outdoors
- Cost: Free
- Suitable for: Pairs or small groups
- You will need: Blindfolds, access to outdoor space
How to run this activity
Tree hugger
- Everyone should get into pairs or small groups. One person in each pair or group should put on a blindfold.
- From a set starting location, team members must guide their blindfolded teammate safely to a tree.
Make sure everyone wearing a blindfold walks slowly, with their hands out in front of them.
- The blindfolded person should use their other senses to get to know their tree: hug it, smell it, feel for knots or branches, and listen to the leaves rustling.
- Carefully guide the blindfolded people back to the starting location.
- Everyone should remove their blindfolds and try to locate the tree they went to, using what they learned about it.
- After successfully finding their tree, or after three wrong guesses, the teammates should swap around. Repeat by blindfolding another team member and choosing a different tree.
Reflection
This activity was about valuing the outdoors and being active. In this activity you got out into nature and used your senses to learn new things. We rely heavily on our eyes to take in the world around us, but there are lots of things we notice when we use our other senses. When you touched the tree, what textures did you feel? Were there any senses you didn’t use? Everyone tried to find their tree once the blindfold was taken off. How did you do it? You also had to trust your partner when you were blindfolded. How did it feel?
Activity outcomes
Value the outdoors - enjoy being outside, feel comfortable in nature, and feel connected to the natural environment.
Be active - look after your body by being physically active.
Safety guidance
All activities must be safely managed. Do a risk assessment and include hazards such as roads, woodland, bodies of water (for example, rivers, ponds, lakes, and seas), plants, and animals. Take appropriate steps to reduce risk.
You must have permission to use the location. Always check the weather forecast and inform parents and carers of any change in venue.
You’ll probably need more adult helpers than usual. Your risk assessment should include how many adults you need. The young people to adult ratios are a minimum requirement; when you do your risk assessment, you might decide that you need more adults than the ratio specifies.
Think about extra equipment that you may need to take with you, for example, a first aid kit, water, and waterproofs.
Throughout the activity, watch out for changes in the weather and do regular headcounts.
Level up
Change the level of the challenge - can anyone identify any of the trees they found? Try downloading a tree identification app or looking in a book. You could take pictures of the trees to take away and research later.
Take it further
Combine the game with a longer walk or hike around the area to spot more trees, plants and features.
Access guidance
Choose an area that’s suitable for all members of your group. You could visit the area early and remove any large or obvious obstacles.
For anyone that does not want to wear a blindfold, consider closing their eyes or covering them with their hands.
Other activities
Physical contact with the natural world is one of five things that can help people build a better relationship with nature.
Explore our free resources for more activity ideas.
