The Wilderness Games

May the woods by ever in your favor! 

The 2nd Lyman Woods Wilderness Games are underway. Tributes completed two training camps this week, where they learned all sorts of survival skills to help them in the Lyman Woods Arena during the Wilderness Games Overnight Challenge at the end of July.

Keep reading to learn more about The Wilderness Games and see what we've been up to!

"The Wilderness Games" is our theme for Trailblazers camps (ages 10-14) this year. Based off The Hunger Games series of books & movies, the camps are comprised of 5 different skill camps focusing on wilderness survival, all leading up to a big challenge day and overnight camp out!

DAY 1: Hunting & Trapping

The tributes learned all kinds of skills, including how to make cordage from plants, set twitch-up snares like Gale's, walk silently like Katniss, and, of course, how to camouflage like Peeta!

DAY 2: Shelter

Day two saw the arrival of two more tributes. Tributes learned many techniques for building shelters to keep them protected from the elements, the Gamemakers, and other tributes.

These tributes designed this very sturdy shelter without man-made supplies!

Making use of the surrounding tree canopy to protect themselves from rain!

This time, the tributes were challenged to build a shelter without using sticks or logs

Check out that fire ring!

Just big enough for one!

Using a tarp, just like the sheet of plastic Katniss had

They also participated in team-building & cooperative games -- it's a fierce competition in the arena, but teamwork and alliances can make all the difference!

Trying to flip the tarp over while standing on it

Working together to cross the lava river

Even if you participated in The Wilderness Games last year, sign up again! We've got all new activities planned; you can register or learn more by clicking here, or call the Interpretive Center at 630.963.9388 for more information.