The Game Hunting
16.05. - 17.05.2025 again in the Oberharz
THE GAME, the dog scene's most extreme event, returns in 2025 with the premiere of the EDITION HUNTING and challenges you, your dog and your team partner to play with us once again. THE GAME ESCAPE will take place in the Upper Harz Mountains around Clausthal-Zellerfeld. In the heart of Germany's northernmost low mountain range, THE GAME participants will cross the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Upper Harz Water Management" with over 100 historic ponds, approx. 300 km of ditches and watercourses amidst idyllic mountain meadows and the Upper Harz forests.
The ponds bear witness to the mining history of the Harz Mountains and are ideal for swimming and fishing in summer. Sports fans also get their money's worth in the Upper Harz nature in summer with kayak white water rafting, climbing or cycling tours. For the participants of THE GAME, however, there is not much time to enjoy the marvellous landscape. For them, the Upper Harz becomes an adventure playground, whereby they only move on designated and laid out paths:
Unreal things happen in a real environment and under real conditions ...
Like last year at THE GAME, you will be travelling light. As always, you will be given a map, a compass, food for the day and permission to pack a few things for the night. So off you go onto your playing field, into the terrain, in search of the route points behind which your challenges are hidden. And, as always, that can be anything. But in THE GAME HUNTING , the clock is ticking much louder than usual. Time isn't just breathing down your neck, it's clawing at you for the entire game. This time it's not enough to get to camp on time. This time, it's not enough to find the tasks in any order. This time, it's even less enough to take your chances. It's not enough at all.
You can start THE GAME HUNTING with or without preparation: Trail tasks, parcours, puzzles, sporting tasks and lots more from our very own creative workshop await the two-legged and four-legged friends. Anyone who sees HUNTING as a "good beginner's opportunity" at THE GAME should not be surprised if this turns out to be naive in the end. Because this game also needs a strategy from you.
You'll have to answer that question for yourself.
But maybe you're taking part because there's no greater challenge to team play in the dog world than this. Agility is fun. Dog dancing is fun. Canicross is cool. But THE GAME is the ultimate thrill. Here, impulse control and frustration tolerance keep you in a headlock. We're no longer talking about any kind of frippery to strengthen your bond. Here you are lost without a bond.
What are you prepared to give? What can you take? Where does your dog go with you? Where does he go first? Where do you need him? Where does he need you? And how stable is your bond with your team partner? In good times and bad? Find out! Here is your opportunity. Use it. Or keep throwing balls into the forest.
On day 1, you will check in at the car park on arrival. Depending on whether you have booked one or two days, your day and overnight luggage will be carefully checked. You will then be given a map, compass and provisions. Then it's time to set off. Participants will be informed of the check-in and start time around one week in advance.
You will be informed in good time before departure what you can and cannot take with you. Of course, your luggage will be checked, because we don't trust anyone either. We'll give you what you need to get by out there, if you can afford it. And then you're off. Then it's just you, your partner and your dogs.
Oh yes. Preparation. That makes sense. We've seen at every THE GAME what happens to teams that take an overly naïve approach. We've seen a lot of despair. We've seen tears. We've encountered anger. And we've seen the tail lights of many a participant's vehicle before the sun has even set on the first day.
There is a THE GAME playlist on the Camp Canis You Tube channel. Have a look at it at your leisure. Add to that a short study of our homepage and you'll have a really good idea of what to expect.
❗ Disclaimer will be sent by email in good time before the event and will be available for signing at the event
❗ For children aged 16 and over without discount.
❗ Canicross equipment recommended, but not mandatory
❗ Dogs that go forwards in case of perceived danger wear a muzzle and are at best double-secured. All dogs remain on a lead during the entire event.
❗ Even if the pressure rises in the cauldron, the game only takes place on existing paths. Anyone running cross-country will experience a whole new definition of ESCAPE. And get kicked out.
