Nature Games at the Centre for Urban Ecology
Love a good board game? Interested in nature? The Centre for Urban Ecology now has a growing collection of nature-themed board games and card games that have been specially chosen for the ecological concepts embedded in the game play.
Read about the game selection and learn about related events and other opportunities to come out and play.
Now Recruiting: Volunteer Nature Game Hosts
Are you a Humber College or University of Guelph-Humber student looking for a fun volunteer opportunity?
Apply to be a Nature Game Host for the Humber Arboretum!
The Humber Arboretum would like to host some afternoon or early evening events where students and community members can come out, meet some new people, learn a little about the Arboretum, and have fun playing nature-themed board and card games. But we need your help to make it happen.
What You Will Do
First, the Nature Game Hosts will:
- take part in scheduled sessions with other volunteer hosts and Arboretum staff to learn to play all of the games in the Centre for Urban Ecology's collection (see the games below)
- learn a little bit about how the content of the games connects to local nature
- learn a little bit about the Arboretum, so you can give an introduction and answer basic questions
Then, once we're all ready, the team will decide on some good times to hold game events at the Centre for Urban Ecology. At this point the Nature Game Hosts will work together to:
- help Humber Arboretum staff plan the events, including bringing your ideas on how to make sure the events run smoothly
- set-up for each event, greet attendees, and get everyone signed in/seated at their game
- be prepared to provide a basic introduction to the Humber Arboretum / answer any questions (staff will also be present to support you)
- circulate around the room to provide instruction/guidance on how to play each game OR sit-in at a table and play along (depending on event attendee numbers)
- be prepared to help players make connections between the games they are playing and the natural world just outside the Centre for Urban Ecology windows
- help clean up after each event
What You Will Get
- a volunteer role you can add to your resume
- an experience you can add to your Co-Curricular Record
- the opportunity to be part of a pilot project and help develop new programming at the Arboretum
- the chance to meet other students from a variety of programs
- a little more knowledge about local nature
- an excellent intro to the Arboretum which can help you decide if you'd like to take part in Learning by LeadingTM
- fun times playing games!
We Are Looking for People Who:
- are Humber College or University of Guelph-Humber students from any year or program
- when they see someone standing off by themselves at a party or function, will go over and start a conversation; you want to make people feel comfortable and welcome
- care about nature and the environment and want to learn more about them
- will have a few hours free many weeks (both to learn the games and help out at events)
- love to play board games and card games! (and are good at learning and remembering the rules)
Apply Now
We are accepting applications now and will be selecting hosts on a rolling basis as applications come in. So fill out the application form as soon as possible if you're interested.
If you have any problems accessing the form, require an alternative format, or have any questions you'd like answered before you apply, you can email Humber Arboretum Communications and Marketing Officer Marilyn Campbell at marilyn.campbell@humber.ca
The Games Collection
These games were chosen for the Centre for Urban Ecology's collection because of ecological concepts embedded in the game play. We will be adding more information about each game as we play them and get to know them better.
Birds of a Feather: Western North America
About the Game
From the publisher:
"Birds of a Feather flock together in this quick and family-friendly, award-winning card game about spotting and watching birds. You’ll travel to different habitats along the western coast of North America to admire the gorgeous birds living there, trying to outsmart your opponents as you go. Try to anticipate the crowd to see more birds than anyone else and to be crowned the best birder!"
Age: 8+
Players: 1 to 7
Time: 20 minutes
Notes from the Arb
Although this game features birds from the Western coast of North America, there are still many species included who also live in or visit the Toronto area. Keep your eyes peeled during the game AND in the Arboretum for Red-winged Blackbirds, Belted Kingfishers, Hooded Mergansers, Brown Creepers, Common Yellowthroats, American Bitterns, Ospreys, and Northern Goshawks.
Ecosystem
About the Game
From the publisher:
"Build your own ecological network in Ecosystem, a biologically-derived card drafting game. Players choose, pass, and arrange eleven different card types consisting of organisms ranging from bees to bears and environments like streams and meadows. Earn points by aligning animals with habitats where they most flourish.
Biodiversity is rewarded while monocultures are penalized. Each time you play, you build a one-of-a-kind ecosystem, striving to balance the delicate connections between all living things."
Age: 10+
Players: 2 to 6
Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Endangered: A Game of Survival
About the Game
From the publisher:
"Endangered brings a team of wildlife conservationists together toward safeguarding animal populations amidst ecological threats. Empower your cause through a majority vote from legislators, all before the time is up.
As one of the conservation team – zoologist, philanthropist, TV wildlife host, lobbyist, or environmental lawyer – you’ll plan a course of action to protect an endangered species. Build animal populations, minimize ecological threats and build influence among legislative ambassadors, according to your team’s unique abilities and problem solving.
How quickly can your team intervene to save the lives of a wildlife species?"
The base game includes two scenarios - trying to save tigers or river otters.
Age: 10+
Players: 1 to 5
Time: 60 minutes
Notes from the Arb
So far one foursome of Arb staff have managed to save tigers from extinction, but only playing by the "easy" rules. Do you think your team can do better?
This is a great game to introduce the complex dynamics of wildlife conservation. And it's a great experience to be playing towards a common goal!
Wingspan
From the publisher:
"You are bird enthusiasts—researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors—seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats (actions). These habitats focus on several key aspects of growth:
- Gain food tokens via custom dice in a birdfeeder dice tower
- Lay eggs using egg miniatures in a variety of colors
- Draw from hundreds of unique bird cards and play them
The winner is the player with the most points after 4 rounds."
Age: 10+
Players: 1 to 5
Time: 40 to 70 minutes
Notes from the Arb
So many of the birds in this game can be seen in the Arboretum! This is a great game for birders and the bird-curious alike.
Cascadia
About the Game
From the publisher:
"Cascadia is a puzzly tile-laying game featuring the habitats and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest! In Cascadia, players take turns building their terrain and populating it with wildlife. Players must create a diverse and harmonious ecosystem - each animal species has a different spatial preference and each habitat must be placed to reduce fragmentation and create wildlife corridors."
Age: 10+
Players: 1 to 4
Time: 30 to 45 minutes
Notes from the Arb
Although this game is set in the Pacific Northwest, some of the animals featured are also found here in Ontario. In fact Red Foxes and Red-tailed Hawks can be seen right here in the Arboretum!
Nature Fluxx
About the Game
From the publisher:
"In the wild, you must adapt to survive! Will you win by having your Bears Eat Fish? Or will someone change the Goal so that their Frogs and Insects can make Night Music? Play ecology themed Actions and Rules like Scavenger or Composting, but watch out for Creeper cards like Forest Fire, that can hurt everyone! Discover a little about how things go together, with Nature Fluxx - the nature game of ever-changing rules!"
Age: 8+
Players: 2 to 6
Time: 10 to 40 minutes
Photosynthesis
About the Game
From the publisher:
"Welcome to the world of Photosynthesis, the green strategy board game! Plant and shape the ever-changing forest as you cultivate your seeds and your strategy. Take your trees through their life-cycle, from seedling to full bloom to rebirth, and earn points as their leaves collect energy from the revolving sun’s rays. Carefully pick where you sow and when you grow, as trees in the shadows are blocked from light, and from points. This game features realistic gameplay and beautiful graphics."
Age: 8+
Players: 2 to 4
Time: 45 to 60 minutes
Mariposas
About the Game
As explained by the creator (Elizabeth Hargrave):
"Every spring, millions of monarch butterflies leave Mexico to spread out across eastern North America. Every fall, millions fly back to Mexico. However, no single butterfly ever makes the round trip.
Mariposas is a game of movement and set collection that lets players be part of this amazing journey.
Mariposas is played in three seasons. In general, your butterflies try to head north in spring, spread out in summer, and return south in fall. The end of each season brings a scoring round, and at the end of fall, the player with the most successful family of butterflies — i.e., the most victory points — wins the game."
Age: 14+
Players: 2 to 5
Time: 45 to 75 minutes
Notes from the Arb
Monarchs are seen every summer at the Humber Arboretum. Planting milkweed and other native plant species a great way to support monarchs and other pollinators.