Some of the most powerful moments in our programs emerge from the quietest spaces – the hush before movement, the stillness that blooms when a child becomes the earth, the breath held while watching for even the flick of a finger. We often begin with the body, inviting children to stretch their senses, pressing into the soft dirt or settling under a canopy of leaves. One of the most beloved ways we do this is through a game called Eagle Eye.
Inspired by the classic “Eagle Eye” game from the Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature, this Australian adaptation is infused with the energy of our local landscape and language. Here, one child becomes the wedge-tailed eagle (Waalitj, in Noongar). From their nest they have to spot other children, who become mice (nget-nget). The mice hide in plain sight, keeping an eye on the eagle as they lie motionless in the bush. The hiding is not passive, it is alive, alert and ready, opening the senses to nature.
What makes Eagle Eye Special?
Eagle Eye invites children to experience nature as active participants. It teaches them to slow down and become part of the landscape, seeing through new eyes. One of our year 5’s put it perfectly: “I forgot I was playing a game. I was just part of the bush.”
We find that when children leave their hiding places, they are not gloating about avoiding detection, but bursting with wonder. Sitting in the circle after the final round, we hear reflections like “I saw a ladybug crawl across my leg!” or “There was a bird nest right above me!”. Gameplay encourages children to engage with the natural environment in a mindful way that they may otherwise not.
Because of this, Eagle Eye supports wellness and growth. It has children regulate their nervous systems through stillness and breath. It helps them expand their sensory awareness, through careful listening, watching and tuning in. In finding their own hiding spaces, children develop confidence and courage navigating the environment. Lying still and observing builds respect for the natural space, asking them to be more conscious of their movements going forward. As explained by one of our year 3 participants, “Eagle Eye makes my heart go quiet”.
On top of this, it’s fun! Eagle Eye is a joyful game, that we get requests to play every single week. We think there’s something magnetic about it, it feels ancient and playful all at once.
Mentor Reflections
Eagle Eye helps us as mentors offer a “yes” to children’s needs – for play, for hiding, for challenge, for quiet. It allows us to model and invite:
- Embodied empathy – imagining the world through another being’s perspective
- Self-awareness – understanding our own presence in the natural world
- Community consciousness – knowing when and how to move without disturbing others
- Reverence – noticing the beauty in the small, slow, and wild
We’ve watched children who struggle to focus in classrooms find deep calm while hiding motionless beneath a paperbark. We’ve seen wild-hearted kids, always on the move, discover the power of pause. We’ve seen the most boisterous of groups find cohesion as they all become nget-nget – mice with wide eyes and twitching ears.
As one child put it:
“I felt invisible… but also like everything could see me.”
Playing with Place and Respect
This game draws on Noongar names for local species – Waalitj (wedge-tailed eagle) and nget-nget (mouse). We use these with respect and care, always acknowledging the First Peoples of this land and their enduring connection to country. The game is an invitation into relationship, and language is part of that sacred reciprocity.
We also encourage the game to be played in many landscapes – bush, parkland, urban environments and cubbies – so children learn how different habitats support different forms of hiding, movement, and presence. This can support learning about conservation and what happens when understory and middlestory habitats are removed. Please only play this game in areas of land that can withstand trampling and are not sensitive bushland places. If in doubt, check with your local council.
Try It Yourself
We’ve created a downloadable PDF version of Eagle Eye with detailed instructions and a script. Whether you’re an educator, parent, playworker, or nature mentor, we invite you to bring this game into your own bushland, backyard, or schoolyard.
Supporting Research
Sensory Processing & Nature: “Nature’s Role in Promoting Health and Reducing Stress” (Ulrich, 1984); “Nature and Children’s Wellbeing” (Chawla, 2015)
Emotional Regulation: “Restorative Effects of Natural Environments” (Berman et al., 2008); “Children’s Contact with Nature and the Impact on Their Well-being” (Faber Taylor & Kuo, 2009)
Mindfulness and Play: “Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Children and Adolescents” (Zoogman et al., 2015); “Loose Parts Play and Learning” (Nicholson, 1971)
Deep Nature Connection: “Last Child in the Woods” (Louv, 2005); “Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature” (Young, Haas, McGown)
A special thanks to Gemma McLean from Roseworth Primary School for her Noongar language translation.