How to Play in the Woods: Activities, Survival Skills, and Games for All Ages

Great book. Very helpful

I got this for my wife and I think it's a really fun book to have. We went on a hike and tried making twine out of grass. Having never done it before, we had nothing to go off of except this book, and it was good enough at explaining what to do for us to successfully make some surprisingly strong twine. That's the only thing I've tried so far, but we've looked around at some of the other things, and I have a pretty good feel for it. I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because a) for some of the items, it really needs to have photos. For example, if you're going to identify an edible plant, I think you really need a photo to be sure b) On some of the items, the descriptions are a little too vague in places to know exactly what it's talking about. c) Some of the items are lame, but I guess that's completely subjective. If you're reading through the contents and you think there are several things that sound fun and interesting, I'd recommend getting this. It's hard to place what age group this is best for. Certainly some of the things would probably only be fun for kids, but then the book isn't the most approachable book for kids, given that it's not loaded with pictures. So I guess if you're planning on getting it for your kid (especially a younger kid), you should assume that you're going to be the one reading this and then doing the activities with them.

My daughter has enjoyed this book.

its great!

A good primer, play is one of the best ways to learn: tell me and I may remember; show me and I may know; allow me to do and I will understand

Its awe-SOME!!

People don’t typically expect an outdoor skills book to be well written. They’re after practical information, and as long as it’s presented in a clear-enough manner to be usable, they’re happy. How to Play in the Woods was a nice surprise, as the illustrations are precise, instructions are easy to follow—and Robin’s clean, flowing writing style make the book fun and easy to read. Along with the quality writing, what endeared me to this book right away was that it is an all-around guide to immersion in nature. Not only does it cover craft, fire, and food-related topics, but also fun things like toys, games, primitive instruments, storytelling, and paints and dyes. And the ease-of-use is hard to beat. With shaded how-to sections and the abundance of subtitles, I would think people of all ages would find the information accessible. The subsections titled Consider, Reflection, Knowledge, and Information give the book a depth of insight that makes it stand out all the more in its genre. I can’t imagine anyone into hands-on outdoor experiences who wouldn’t cherish this book.

This is a good book with some good ideas for outdoor activities. Probably best if you have a yard or park nearby...maybe a stream or river, too, for materials, etc.