| In many parts of the country, Thanksgiving Day is | | | | last one to be eliminated is the winner. |
| early enough in the winter season that the weather | | | | Turkey Hunt |
| is still relatively nice. Why not take advantage of the | | | | Prepare for a turkey hunt by collecting or drawing |
| outdoors and escape the heat of a house that has | | | | turkey shapes and adhering them to sturdy paper. |
| been warmed with a hot oven all morning? In addition | | | | You can use magazine cutouts, stickers, or have |
| to enjoying each other's company, it is a good idea | | | | each of the children make their own unique turkey. |
| to have some games to play (especially if you have | | | | After a good number of turkeys are made, assign |
| already eaten your Thanksgiving meal and are | | | | one member of the group to be the leader. |
| regretting that extra drumstick or dinner roll that you | | | | Everyone leaves the yard except for the leader who |
| ate). Playing outdoor games is also a good way to | | | | stays behind and hides all of the turkeys around the |
| give the kids in your group a chance to let out some | | | | yard. The other players return and act as hunters, |
| of the energy that they may have had stored up | | | | looking for turkeys and bringing them back to the |
| from being cooped up inside all day. There are almost | | | | leader who tallies how many turkeys each hunter has |
| limitless options when it comes to outdoor activities. | | | | gathered. The hunter who is able to collect and |
| By simply using a little creativity, you can turn these | | | | deliver the most turkeys to the leader wins. |
| traditional outdoor games into Thanksgiving Day | | | | Pumpkin Race |
| inspired games that everyone can enjoy. Here are | | | | The pumpkin race game is a game that is traditionally |
| some ideas to get your creative juices flowing: | | | | played at country fairs, but can very easily be |
| Play T-U-R-K-E-Y | | | | adapted and played in just about any front yard or |
| All that you need is a basketball and a hoop to play | | | | park. To play this game you will need two large |
| this game that is more traditionally known as | | | | pumpkins and two sturdy sticks. The first two racers |
| H-O-R-S-E or P-I-G. To begin, have all the players line | | | | line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned |
| up and assign an order by which everyone will take | | | | on their sides. On count of three, the racers use their |
| their turn. The first player shoots the basketball from | | | | sticks to roll the pumpkins to the finish line. The |
| anywhere they wish. If the player makes their shot, | | | | imperfections of the pumpkins present some |
| the person who is next in line behind them must then | | | | challenges that make this race very entertaining to |
| try to make the shot from the same spot. If the | | | | watch. In order to include younger players, you may |
| person misses the shot, they are assigned the first | | | | want to adapt the rules and allow the little ones to |
| letter in the word turkey. It is then the next person's | | | | use their hands to roll the pumpkin instead of the |
| turn to shoot, shooting from the same spot as the | | | | sticks. You can include more people by making the |
| person before them if that shot was made, and | | | | pumpkin race a relay where the pumpkin is rolled to |
| choosing a new shooting position if the shot was | | | | another team member who runs and rolls the |
| missed. This continues until people begin accumulating | | | | pumpkin back to where the first player began and |
| all the letters of the word "turkey" as a result of | | | | where the third team member can be waiting to |
| missing shots made by the person before them in | | | | continue the relay until all team members have had |
| line. Eventually everyone in the groups is eliminated | | | | their turn rolling the pumpkin and the last team |
| after missing enough times to spell T-U-R-K-E-Y. The | | | | member crosses the finish line. |