When the weather is nice, it?s just great to be outdoors. It?s even fun to be out in the snow. But no matter what the weather, it?s so important to get kids outside and active again instead of always cooped up indoors. Here are a few of the great ideas to get active outside and for special events.

Chain/Amoebae Tag
This game is played like a normal game of tag with one person as ?it?. The difference is that once you are ?tagged? you link hands with the person who is ?it? and together you try to ?tag? people. The chain/amoebae will get progressively longer as the game continues.

Tug of War
All you need for this is a long, thick piece of rope and two teams. Each team is stationed on either ends of the rope. Draw a line on the ground between the two teams. The goal is to pull the opposing team over the line.

A variation of the classic tug of war is a 4-way tug of war. This is played using a circular rope and four teams. Each team holds onto one part of the circle and tries to pull the other teams over. Alternately, you can also use two ropes tied together in the middle to form a cross. Each team then has an end of rope. Mark an ?X? in the middle of the four teams. The teams then try to pull each other across the middle.

Scavenger Hunt
Make up a quick list of relatively easy to find objects. You may want this activity to be played individually or in teams. Give everyone/ each team a list and send them off. It?s a race to see who can find all the objects and bring them back first. You can include things that can be found both in and around your community/building.

Leaf Relay
This is an activity, which combines physical activity and cleaning. It is an outdoors fall activity. Divide participants into teams. Each team chooses a team leader. Team leaders each get a bag. Participants run along a designated path, pick up a handful of leaves and return to their group leader to fill up a bag. Make sure the group leader also gets a turn to run.

Check your local phone book yellow pages under the following headings to find activities and leaders in your community.

Associations (Kid Sport etc.) Bicycles Bowling Dancing Exercising Fitness Centers Garden Golf Gymnasiums

Health Martial Playground Recreation Skate Sporting Sportswear Swimming Yoga