Dear Camp Leader:

Our parks, forests, and crops are under attack—and the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture (USDA) needs your help! Invasive species eliminate jobs, 

threaten our food supply, destroy our natural resources, and cost the 

United States billions of dollars. How do they spread and cause so much harm? 

They do so through the everyday actions of people everywhere, who don’t 

realize they are helping to spread these invasive pests and diseases.

As a respected leader and educator, you can help stop the spread of these 

hungry pests by incorporating Leave Hungry Pests Behind activities into your 

outdoor, scouting, or summer program! 

• The enclosed activities are ready to use and offer an easy way to engage youth 

in various venues.

• Kids will learn about the threat of invasive species in fun, interactive ways

and become partners in preventing their spread.

In learning how invasive species move around and spread, kids can share this

knowledge with family and friends—and be leaders in helping to stop the 

threat. And by using these activities with your campers, scouts, and students,

you will play a major role in helping to Leave Hungry Pests Behind.

We thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Greg Rosenthal

Public Affairs Specialist

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

 “I LOVE CAMP! 

 I COULD JUST

 EAT IT UP!”

LEAVEHUNGRY PESTS BEHIND!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is an 

equal opportunity provider and employer.

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2146 • Issued September 2013
EXPLORE! “CRITTER JAM”

Activity Overview: In this musical activity, kids will create raps, rhymes, or songs to communicate the 

facts about invasive species and the pathways they use to travel and spread. Kids will then share their musical 

creations with the rest of their peers, campers, or community to share their knowledge in a memorable way. 

(SMALL GROUP—Indoor)

Activity Steps:

1. Explain that Vin Vasive is on the loose and wreaking havoc! He is the “spokesperson” of the invasive 

species that threaten our trees, crops, and environment. But there are simple things we can all do to help 

prevent the spread of hungry pests.

2. Divide kids into small groups and provide each group with scrap paper and writing instruments. Explain 

that they will create a rap, rhyme, or song to convey important facts about invasive species. They may 

create an original melody or beat or change the lyrics to a popular song. Each musical creation must 

include at least 10 lines and communicate the following:

a. Pathways: How hungry pests travel and spread

b. The Threat: What damage hungry pests cause

c. The Impact: How the threat impacts our lives

d. A Call to Action: What we can each do to stop hungry pests 

3. Share the facts with kids to get started (see below). Give each group 20 minutes to brainstorm and come 

up with key words to use. Then have them create their raps, rhymes, or songs. If possible, provide access to 

radio, MP3 players, or Internet for musical resources.

4. Give each group 10 minutes to rehearse. If they have time, they can choreograph a dance or skit to go 

along with their musical number. Next, it’s time to perform! Invite other campers, leaders, parents, or 

community members to attend! 

Pathways That Contribute to the Spread of Hungry Pests 

• Firewood

• Camping/outdoor gear (boots, tents)

• Recreational vehicles (RVs)/trucks (tires)

• Outdoor furniture

What’s at Risk and How That Can Impact Us

Crops – the cost and availability of grapes, melons, orange juice

Trees – our use of tree houses, baseball bats, maple syrup

Natural resources – our enjoyment of forests, parks

Call to Action Examples

Don’t move firewood! Keep it clean! Clean your boots, tires, and tents! Think before you pack! Speak up! 

Declare that fruit, or beware! Plant carefully! (Visit www.hungrypests.com/what-you-can-do for 

more information.)

Hungry Pest Basics

• Agricultural materials (hay, sod, farm equipment)

• Internet sales of agricultural products

• Plants and plant parts

• Luggage holding plants, fruits, or vegetables

Time Needed: 60 minutes

Supplies: Scrap paper, pencils (optional: radio, access to Internet, 

or MP3 player for music)

Preparation: Visit www.hungrypests.com/how-they-spread for 

more information on the pest pathways
CREATE! “MASKED VIN VASIVE”

Activity Overview: In this creative arts activity, kids will build masks of hungry pests to identify various 

invasive species by what they look like. Use these masks in “Attack of the Invasive Species” (see next page) 

or in dramatic play. (INDIVIDUAL—Indoor)

Activity Steps:

1. Let kids spend some time looking at the hungry pest profiles. Encourage them to choose a pest they are 

interested in learning more about. 

2. Ask them to think about pests and observe: What do they look like? What shape, size, and color are they?

Ask them to think about their hungry pest’s eyes, nose, mouth, ears, arms, legs, wings, and other features. 

What colors, shapes, and other items can they add to their mask to make it look more like their pest? Is 

there a feature they want to exaggerate? Have kids sketch ideas for their mask on scrap paper.

3. Next, have them trace the outline shape of their mask on construction paper and then cut it out. They 

should make two holes for their own eyes (although the pest’s eyes may be wider apart or even on top of 

its head!). 

4. Provide kids with art supplies to finish decorating their masks. Put on the final touch by stapling or 

knotting and then taping a piece of string or yarn to both sides of their masks.

5. Now it’s time to get into character! Have kids think about the movement and behaviors of their pests. 

Ask: How do they move? Do they move quickly or slowly? Do they fly? What do they eat? Where do they live 

and like to hide?

Step Up the Challenge!

Use papier-mâché to create your masks or to build 3D models of invasive species. Display and place 

them around the campgrounds or in your environment where pests may naturally like to hide, or next 

to pathways such as plants, bicycles, lawn furniture, or a fruit basket!

Time Needed: 60 minutes

Supplies: Scrap paper, colored construction paper, colored pencils/markers/

crayons, string or yarn, tape or glue, scissors, stapler, pipe cleaners, other 

decorative items

Preparation: Download and print a variety of pest profiles featured on 

www.hungrypests.com/the-threat (for example: Mexican fruit fly, Asian 

longhorned beetle, European gypsy moth, or giant African snail). See what 

kinds of pathways they use to sneak around the United States by visiting 

www.hungrypests.com/how-they-spread.

THE ESTIMATED COST OF TREATING, REMOVING, AND 

REPLACING 37.9 MILLION ASH TREES IN URBAN AND 

RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS IN 25 STATES IS $25 BILLION.

GIANT AFRICAN SNAILS (GAS) WERE DETECTED IN 2011. THEY CAN 

FEED ON 500 KINDS OF PLANTS AND LAY 1,200 EGGS EACH YEAR, 

A RECIPE FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.
MOVE! “ATTACK OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES!”

Activity Overview: This active “tag-like” game can be played in an indoor gym or outdoors in a 

playground, park, or large campground. It gets kids to move while thinking and learning about how pests 

like to travel and what they can do to prevent their spread. (GROUP—Indoor/Outdoor)

Activity Steps:

1. Divide kids into two teams: Invasive Species and Nature Protectors. Give them colored flags, pinnies/

scrimmage vests, or T-shirts to wear in their teams. For the first round, delegate two-thirds of the group 

to be on the Invasive Species team. Before starting the game, ask kids to identify all of the pest pathways 

they can see.

2. To play the game, Nature Protectors must tag Invasive Species before they reach a pathway. Once 

Invasive Species reach a pathway, they are safe. They can keep moving from pathway to pathway as 

the game progresses. If tagged, the Invasive Species turn into Nature Protectors. Nature Protectors can 

eliminate one pathway for every three Invasive Species that they catch.

3. The game ends at time, after all Invasive Species have been caught, or once all pathways are eliminated. 

Play again and again!

Step Up the Challenge!

• Play the game with obstacles (among trees, shrubs, or in a playground) or over a wider area. If space is 

limited, or if playing indoors with a large group, assign a few students to act as natural obstacles.

• Add a rule that Nature Protectors have to walk while Invasive Species can run.

Time Needed: 20+ minutes

Supplies: Color flags, pinnies/scrimmage vests, or T-shirts, a variety of pest 

pathways (boots, garden plants, firewood, backpacks, fresh produce, tires, hay, 

lawn furniture, bicycles, foreign souvenirs, barbecue grill, trailers, tents)

Preparation: Place pest pathways in different locations over the playing field.

“SO MUCH TO CHEW ON! I MEAN... THINK ABOUT.”

For more information, visit

GORGING THEMSELVES ON LEAVES, GYPSY MOTH 

CATERPILLARS DEFOLIATE, WEAKEN, AND CAN KILL MORE 

THAN 300 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF TREES AND SHRUBS.