Customer Letters & Reflections
Over the years, families, teachers, and caregivers have shared the sweetest notes about how cooperative play has supported connection, learning, and joy. Here are a few of our favorites.
Dear cooperativegames.com
I’ve received the games, and they are lovely. I couldn’t be happier and will recommend you to friends. Also, how wonderful to receive an invoice with a personal thank you written by you! A rare gift indeed in these days of large, faceless, corporations. A happy and peaceful holiday season to you and yours.
-Kathy G.
This gift is going to my 19 year-old college daughter who has borrowed this game [Save the Whales] for many years from our neighbors and whose box is taped up to keep it together. She’ll be so happy to have it as her own.
-Jack
Suzanne,
Thank you for the email and congratulations on becoming the new owner of Child and Nature (CooperativeGames.com). You might appreciate knowing that I played Save the Whales as a child (I’m 30 now) and it was/is hands down my favorite board game. I am buying this one for my nine-year old cousin who I think could deeply benefit from knowing that collaborative board games really do exist. Thank you for keeping this company alive and allowing many more children (and adults) the opportunity to deepen their skills in sharing, community and team-building.
-Alder
Hi Suzanne,
Thank you! I used to play Save the Whales when I was a kid. I’m buying it for a holiday get-together with friends. They like board games and I know Save the Whales will be perfect – especially since some of us are environmental scientists. Thanks for keeping this game available.
-Jeremy
Dear Suzanne
I received Save the Whales from my uncle in 1978. My brother and I loved this game. Now that I have 3 kids, they need to have it too, as do my niece and nephew, who have everything. Thank you for . . . such a brilliant, cooperative game. Best wishes.
-Jennifer
Hi Suzanne
Thanks for the message regarding my order.
I want to wish you well in taking over for Ken and Jann. Our game closet was stocked with the games they carried (although Save the Whales was the favorite…my youngest was afraid of bees, so the Hive game was prematurely shelved!). I wish all families played these cooperative games together.
My children are now 30, 28 and 23 and they and their friends still talk about the hours spent playing and how Jess and Andy’s mom was always trying to get them to cooperate! The friend I am buying the game for is a guidance counselor now and dedicates her life to finding win/win solutions to teens’ problems. She will get such a kick out of receiving this game and will lovingly store it until her son is old enough to play.
I bought the second game for me…who knows, maybe the grown kids will play with me before grandchildren come along! Our original game fell apart from much loving use. My business partner’s kids sometimes come to visit (they are 9 and 6) and I hope to introduce them, as well.
Best of luck to you in reaching a whole new generation of families. I will continue spreading the word!
-Denise
Dear Ken & Jannice,
My children grew up with your games and as young adults are establishing lives and families of their own – they often tell humorous childhood stories to their peers about their cooperative “hippie” games. They are appreciating the more gentle childhood experiences they had in comparison to many of their peers.These games laid a political awareness for them that has borne fruit in their lives. They love and care for our environment and are active in community justice issues. Anyway – a recent conversation regarding your games spurred me to locate you to purchase games to give as gifts and to put away for my future grandchildren. Thanks. Peace.
-Karen S.
E. Dundee, Illinois
Dear Ken and Jann Kolsbun,
Thank you so much for your Save The Whales game. It is wonderful. I am ordering it for my daughter (10 ½) and son (7). We discovered the game this winter when we went to Yosemite with my daughter’s best friend’s family. They brought the game with them and the Dad showed all the children how to play since it was his game as a child! His parents bought the game in the late 1970’s for their children. Now it has been passed on to the next generation! Now that is a great game!
-Jane A.
Berkeley, CA
Hi(Ken and Jann) –
I just tapped into the internet to see if I could find you. My sons are now 21 and 24 and I haven’t seen one of your catalogs for years, but I remembered your beautiful family pictures and stories and wanted to try to find you. I reacted with sadness to see that the company is no longer in your hands, but know there is probably a good reason, and I fully support whatever it takes to keep your own lives good.
We ordered games from you every year. They became part of our own family history, played to celebrate or to comfort. It’s a good thing you made them to last, because now I play these with my nieces, who love Whales, Beavers, and Bees.
I wish now I’d saved some of those catalogs, just to have. But under no circumstances will I ever part with the games! You made something extremely beautiful, and it warmed and blessed countless people for many years, and will for years. My deepest thanks for sharing your talent, creativity and family at the level you did, in years when commercial outlook ruled. I can’t say enough, but thanks…
– Frost F.