Customer Reviews

Wildcraft! - An Herbal Adventure Game

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I teach 3rd and 4th grade at a wonderful school in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. When I brought this game to my class as a gift for such a wonderful year, the kids were ecstatic. None of the children had played such a game before, it became the most popular board game for the remainder of the year, and is still a favorite this year. The kids enjoyed it for a number of reasons: one being that they were familiar with many of the plants in the game, two being that they learned new uses for the plants that grow around us, three being that the kids got to make up parts of the story as the game progressed, and last but not least...no one ever lost, it is a cooperative game!!!!

I highly recommend this game for children 7 yrs old and up! Especially if the goal of the game is to practice cooperation, inspire creativity, and learn the medicinal uses of certain plants.

Only complaint, it is only for four players, though my class improvised and add a few stones to allow other classmates to join.

After playing this with my husband, 5 year old, and 3 year old, I am not sure I see any benefit in competitive games. Sibling cooperation has blossomed and our herbal knowledge is increasing every time we play. I LOVE this game!

I purchased this game when my daughter was 4, excited both for a cooperative game that was far less competitive than most kids games on the market with an added plus of learning more about herbs. Even at 4, she was able to follow along and enjoyed the game. Now, 3 years later, it's one of our family's favorites.

Some of the squares you can land on require you to draw a "Trouble" card or an Herb card. No reading is necessary, which is great for younger kids. Instead, each trouble card depicts an image of the specific trouble (showing a child with a cut knee, for example), and beneath are small drawings of the different herbs than can be helpful. The child then looks through their herb cards to see if they happen to have one whose drawing matches one of those on the trouble card. Better yet, it's wonderful to see other kids then looking through their stash of herb cards to see if they are able to help when you don't have the herb you need.

The game still provides some of the excitement of other games, such as landing on the square that allows you to cross the log and take a shortcut further into the forest. And if you're not careful, you just might land in the waterfall which takes you back out of the forest. No worries, though, as your game partners can use a cooperation card to help you to catch up again.

A positive, feel-good game that doesn't leave anyone with hurt feelings or a "winner" or "loser", plus a fantastic way to learn about some of the little known amazing properties of the plants around you! Can't tell you how cute it is to hear your four year-old telling her grandparents that that "weed" they want to pull is actually edible and what else it can be used for.

This is not a corny game or hippie game. My conservative, hesitant, elderly aunt played it and loved it. Kids or people of all ages will learn alot and enjoy this game. Takes very reasonable amount of time to play. Keeps your interest and moves along well.