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I attended a workshop on the weekend that was called Growing Up Wild
and participants included Early Childhood Educators, teachers, principals
and a boy scout leader.
![april 30 048 april 30 048](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wYq25RWdts0/UYCSXFU8aaI/AAAAAAAAUbI/TFso_P2msJw/april%25252030%252520048_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
By participating in the workshop I learned several new ideas to play
with children outside and received this fabulous guide packed full of
activities.
![april 30 074 april 30 074](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dYVPZSM2vx8/UYCSY11OfaI/AAAAAAAAUbY/rx4nMRfrAiQ/april%25252030%252520074_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
One game the facilitator taught us was giving actions to trees. I can’t
remember what or if she had a name for the game but I call it “Tree Freeze”.
We warmed up by singing an echo song called “Tall Trees”. Then I
introduced a picture for each tree that we would give an action.
![april 30 076 april 30 076](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6UZcqp0xbuU/UYCSaYAS03I/AAAAAAAAUbo/9jja59gJvF0/april%25252030%252520076_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![april 30 040 april 30 040](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6_gKoM9_Rj4/UYCScZyjfSI/AAAAAAAAUb4/0cdmZQV0PdU/april%25252030%252520040_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
A douglas fir, straight and tall with arms straight overhead.
![april 30 075 april 30 075](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aW6_BTgpAxk/UYCSdz6z-bI/AAAAAAAAUcI/viU4gRFJKw0/april%25252030%252520075_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![april 30 041 april 30 041](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-73NdegaUEQo/UYCSfJD0T9I/AAAAAAAAUcY/1K_UxHEaZMg/april%25252030%252520041_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The hemlock, droopy at the top.
![april 30 079 april 30 079](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AxWJxEEC0RU/UYCShEivevI/AAAAAAAAUco/oB9PaneDzXU/april%25252030%252520079_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![april 30 042 april 30 042](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Gf8yG_6wrtY/UYCSjv13zSI/AAAAAAAAUc4/IfKWNrBOQtk/april%25252030%252520042_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The maple tree, big and wide with lots of leaves.
![april 30 078 april 30 078](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5IzFt1fy33w/UYCSlRwObqI/AAAAAAAAUdI/Qp6Zfb__ovI/april%25252030%252520078_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![april 30 043 april 30 043](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U125f0ZziS8/UYCSmoEVw2I/AAAAAAAAUdY/Sw0MLxj0zEo/april%25252030%252520043_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
A cedar tree, graceful low branches.
![april 30 077 april 30 077](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BElbr93_o0I/UYCSoAHiqpI/AAAAAAAAUdo/ppTIu6yQS1A/april%25252030%252520077_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![april 30 044 april 30 044](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-H1PWfjyZhyk/UYCSpf1NyzI/AAAAAAAAUd4/w-r2AWY5ugs/april%25252030%252520044_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![april 30 045 april 30 045](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CPVwwvqre-c/UYCSquqPXPI/AAAAAAAAUeI/fj2TWjMWlTU/april%25252030%252520045_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The spruce, with prickly needles, reach in then pull back into a fist
and say ‘ouch’.
![april 30 058 april 30 058](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VUHdkwAou5w/UYCSs6fTOkI/AAAAAAAAUeY/9AvMW6xlAGY/april%25252030%252520058_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![april 30 057 april 30 057](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PGwBm87iIn4/UYCSuOkBIHI/AAAAAAAAUeo/pLukKbEqf6o/april%25252030%252520057_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![april 30 059 april 30 059](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9bXGTb6Tsd4/UYCSwL9zzHI/AAAAAAAAUe4/voCsYTU7wwo/april%25252030%252520059_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
We practiced a bit in the classroom. I would say, “Ready?” then call
out one of the trees.
![april 30 067 april 30 067](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IYDkdzbik_g/UYCSyKOsHGI/AAAAAAAAUfI/w0wqF2h3AbA/april%25252030%252520067_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Then we headed outside for a walk, acting out the trees as I called them.
![april 30 071 april 30 071](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kFr1ChMlJnI/UYCS0CnNdEI/AAAAAAAAUfY/LfYmiaFxReU/april%25252030%252520071_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
It’s an easy game to learn and a great game to play on a walk.
You could make up your own actions for the trees that grow where
you live.
Give it a try.