Alexis McKenney

Activity: Going Camping

Source: D. Buthman (personal communication, September 12, 1990)
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental
disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Equipment Needed: None
Activity Description:

1. Have participants sit in a circle.

2. Introduce the activity by saying, “Hello, my name is _________, I am going camping
and I am going to bring, _________.” As the leader you are stating your name and
that you are going to bring something that begins with the first letter of your name.
For example, “Hello, my name is Mary, I am going camping and I am going to bring
matches.”
3. As each participant introduces his or herself and states what he or she will bring, you
as the instructor reply with either, “Yes, you can bring that” or “No, you can’t bring
that.” The purpose is to allow each participant the time necessary to figure out why
she or he can bring a particular item.
4. Continue the activity until each participant has figured out what she or he can bring
on the camping trip.
5. This activity does not fit clearly into one of the social interaction patterns but is has
elements that align with intraindividual

Leadership Considerations:

1. Many children find enjoyment in this activity once they begin thinking of things they
can bring with them camping. Therefore, you might consider providing hints initially,
then allow the children to play the activity until they can no longer think of things
that begin with the first letter of their names.
2. Adaptation: Children diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder often experience
anger control issues. According to the DSM V, children with ODD are not aggressive
toward people or property, but do demonstrate a pattern of having angry and
irritable moods, are argumentative, and sometimes, vindictive. To adapt this activity
for participants diagnosed with ODD, one might provide more hints earlier on, but
not too many hints, so that they can work on issues of anger control and frustration
tolerance. Positive reinforcement can be given as participants remain focused and
participate actively and appropriately throughout the activity.