Cat Eye Flashlight Hike

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Cat-eye Hike for Family Reunions or Parties

One of the most requested activities at our  family reunions is a Cat Eye hike.  You do a Cat Eye hike in the dark so it’s a  perfect activity for a “camping” family reunion. We have also done cat eye hikes in apartment complexes and residential areas.  We’ve done cat eye hikes with family reunions, girls camps and for kid parties.  It’s a fun activity but does take some time and thoughtful strategy to set up.

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How to Organize a Cat Eye Hike

This hike is best done when it is very dark. Cut cat’s-eye shapes (squares work fine too) from reflective tape, available in the Family Reunion Helper store. Another product you might want to consider is “Trail Tacks”.  They are basically just thumb tacks with a reflective paint on the top.  They are visible for up to 200 yards and are great  for sticking into wooden fences etc. You will probably want to use a combination of the two products- tape and tacks.  Just be considerate of others when you set up the hike- you don’t want to be shinning flashlights into peoples windows or causing  damage with reflective tape or tacks.

 

It is best to set up your hike the night before guiding groups on the hike. Put cat eyes on markers or apply cat eyes to index cards and then use the cards to mark the trail. We like to set up our hikes the night before the cat eye hike is scheduled.

How to Set Up a Cat Eye Hike

When making the trail, place the eyes in such a manner that you can see only one more set of cat’s eyes from the location of one set. Hikers will shine their flashlights on the first set of eyes and then run to the second set of eyes where they will shine their flashlights around the area until they locate the next set of eyes. They will continue searching for eyes and following their path until they arrive back at camp.

If you have a large group, instead of a mass start, send groups of ten or so at a time. You can group hikers as children, teenagers and senior citizens.  Every participant will need a flashlight- you will want to remind your family members to bring a flashlight on your reunion invitation.

If camping, have S’mores for hikers when they complete the hike.

Sardines a Silly Hide and Seek Game

 

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Sardines, a fun game for large groups

This is fun hide and seek game for large groups so it’s perfect for family reunion.  Just think of “Sardines” as the opposite of “Hide and Seek”.The object of the game is to find the person hiding and hide with them.  “Sardines” is best played in a large area with many hiding places such as a campground, large yard, field, or park.

How to Play Sardines

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First choose someone to be “it”.  “It” hides while everyone counts slowly to 20. When they’re done counting everyone hunts for the “it”. When they find “it” they hide with him/her until the last person finds the hiding group. This person now becomes “it” and hides.

Sardines is especially fun with big families and groups.  It is a fun game to play in the dark. There is no advance preparation needed. Sardines is a good game to keep in your game repertoire to play when  you need a filler or when you need a game for the kids in the family so the adults can get a little down time- just don’t forget to “seek” for the kids after they “hide”.