Librarian Recommended

If you are a person of a certain age, you may remember the notorious old-school computer game The Oregon Trail, which was, not only all the rage when I was a young kid in the… long ago… it is still remembered by many as one of the hardest ever video games to win.

Since it was one of my personal favorites, a few years ago I decided to create a live-action version as a program and it has proven one of the most popular programs I’ve ever put together. So much so that I do it at least once a year at my libraries. It works great for just every age group, so I recommend it for ages 6 and up.

What You Will Need:

• A giant 6-sided die, which can be purchased from your favorite toy company or ordered online.

• 21 pieces of colored card stock or construction paper. Each piece will represent 100 miles of your journey
  • You can set up these pieces on the ground, in any configuration that works in your room.
  • One end will represent Independence Missouri and will be your Start and one end will be Willamette Valley Oregon, will be your Finish.
  • If you like, you may use these as start and finish markers:

• Supplies cards which you can download here, I recommend these be printed on white or colored card stock and laminated:

• Calamities, Forts and River Crossings which can be downloaded here (I recommend these be printed on a DIFFERENT color paper than your supplies to make it easy to differentiate and laminated):

• Small prizes for winning parties. I like to give out candy or stickers as these are liked by just about all.

Gameplay:

• Players should be in groups of no more than 8 people, this is your party. If you have more people in your program that is ok – gameplay goes fast and you can cycle through multiple groups in a short amount of time (people die REALLY easily in this, much like they did in the computer game).
• Each player in your party chooses 2 random supply cards. During game play, should a calamity arise, the player can choose to use their supply to save a member of their party, or keep the supply to potentially use for themselves later.
• Decide in which order players will roll the die.
• Each player will roll the die.
  • An even number roll means your party advances one slot on the board (100 miles) and the next person rolls.
  • An odd number roll means the player must draw from the “events.”
    • If a player draws a “fort” card they may take 2 more random supply cards.
    • If a player draws a “river crossing card” they roll the die again.
      • An even number rolled means they safely cross the river and move forward one slot on the board.
      • An odd number rolled means the party must decide on one supply card to get rid of.
    • If a player draws a “calamity” card they must follow the instructions, up to and including player “death.”
• The party wins if even ONE member makes it to Oregon!

Tips and Tricks:

I like costumes, so I often have sets of bonnets and hats for people to wear so they can get the pioneer feel.

Additionally, it is helpful, if this is your first time doing this program, to have written down somewhere what an odd roll and an even roll means. I usually just write it on a white board in the play room, but you can print it out or whatnot.

The game is SUPPOSED to be frustrating and hard to win. I find that a party losing makes them all very eager to play again, and the more times we cycle through parties the more raucous and somewhat cutthroat game play becomes in an effort to best the fates.

This is also a GREAT game to play with teen advisory boards and even staff as it is a natural icebreaker and people get to know their party very quickly. I have found that even the shiest wallflowers get right in there when a snake bite or dysentery threatens their journey!

Program Outcomes:

Patrons in attendance for this program have ranged in age from 5 or 6 to about 80. It is especially popular with people who remember the computer game or have played the newer card version.

As I said before, I do this one at least once a year because it’s just so much fun and so popular with all ages and costs virtually nothing to put on. Plus it is really very educational and many patrons have sought out information on the pioneers and the trail and even planned trips to Oregon after being inspired by the game.

Happy Trails To You!