BIGFOOT/littlefoot environmental board game

Overall concept: This game uses the idea of “ecological footprint”—or the amount of land required to support a certain activity or lifestyle—as the unifying principle of the game. In moving around the board, each player attempts to reduce his/her individual footprint. Players also cooperate to earn puzzle pieces which make up a map of the eco-regions of the Yukon. To do this, players collect Yukon Wild Cards (which can be traded for puzzle pieces) by answering questions on the Yukon environment.

Object of the game: To have fun and learn!   And..to complete the Yukon eco-regions puzzle while reducing one’s own ecological footprint.

Number of players:  Up to 8

Equipment:  Canvas playing board, puzzle pieces, footprint playing pieces (small, medium, large), die, Consequence cards, Opportunity cards, Yukon Wild Cards (with ten species of Yukon fauna).

Age:  Designed to fit with the BC-Yukon curriculum for Grades 4-7, but just about anyone this age or older will enjoy it!

Basic game play:

• Each player starts with a medium sized playing piece, representing a medium footprint. Each player is also a “steward” of a certain animal species, and is responsible for distributing cards to other players (and himself/herself) when earned.
• Players roll a die, or use Opportunity cards to move around the board. They can land on animal spaces, Consequence Card spaces or other special locations like a toxic waste dump,
• In order to collect a Yukon Wild Card, which can be used to earn puzzle pieces, they must land on animal spaces and answer questions on the Opportunity Cards correctly.
• When they have Wild Cards representing one carnivore, one omnivore and two herbivores, they can trade them in for a puzzle piece.
• Players reduce their footprint by making appropriate environmental choices (indicated in the Consequence Cards), or by placing a puzzle piece on the map.
• The game finishes when the entire puzzle of Yukon eco-regions is completed and everybody has a small footprint (or allotted time for play runs out).

For more information about this game, contact:

Conservation Education Coordinator
Conservation Officer Services Branch
Department of Environment
Phone: (867) 667-3675
Toll free(in Yukon):1-800-661-0408, local 3675
Fax: (867) 393-6206
E-mail: remy.rodden@gov.yk.ca