In a time when young people face constant challenges, a Bonners Ferry man is turning his life lessons into a game designed to help boys grow into men of character. 

Daniel Bushnell, a longtime educator, former principal, and father of four, has created “Knights and Squires of the 21st Century”, a family board game that combines moral decision-making, faith, and fun. 

“The game is designed to help parents, grandparents, and even tweens navigate life’s curveballs,” Bushnell said. “While it’s impossible to predict every scenario life might throw at you, if you’ve thought about it ahead of time, you’ll have a better chance of making the right choice or at least recognizing that choice exists.” 

The board game can be played by anywhere from two to six players, ages 10 and up, to make decisions in everyday situations. Players earn “wisdom gems” and trade them in for more valuable gems as they advance toward the ultimate goal of collecting enough purple gems to become the “Master of Wise Decision-Making.”  

Each turn involves rolling dice, moving across the board, and drawing cards that present real-life scenarios. Some cards ask players to consider what they’d do in moral situations, such as whether to grab all the candy tossed from a parade float or share it with nearby children. 

“Of course, everyone would say they would do the actions of a knight, but if the boy rolled an odd number, he did the actions of the squire and would not receive a gem.” Bushnell explained. “And if you land on a proverb, you read it aloud. God’s word never returns void, so even if you roll an odd number, you still get to move ahead.”  

Grace also plays a role in the game. “As they move their piece around the board, they acquire grace cards and are allowed to move forward by simply turning one in.” he said. “You don’t deserve to move forward, but that’s how grace works.” 

Bushnell’s inspiration for the project draws from nearly 70 years of observations, 33 years working with middle and high school students as an agriculture teacher, FFA advisor, and later a principal in the Lake Stevens School District. 

“I grew up on a small farm on Fox Island with seven brothers and two sisters,” he said. “I always loved teaching and working with kids.” 

Bushnell met his wife, Joan, at Washington State University when he offered to help carry her heavy load of textbooks. “I was just doing what a boy should do,” he said with a smile. “A couple years later, she became my bride.” 

After retiring and raising four daughters, two of whom later moved to Bonners Ferry, The Bushnells focused their energy on their growing family, which now includes 20 grandchildren. Joan homeschooled several of their children and taught others on their property in a small school Daniel built. 

“My bride had put aside all her vocational ambitions to stay home with them. After watching her, it became clear that raising children is the toughest and most important job there is,” Bushnell said.  

After the grandchildren started to come along, with his wife’s encouragement, Bushnell began to write his life stories down so that the grandchildren could learn from the experiences he had.  

His daughter, Brianna Nash, loved the stories so much that she surprised him by having the first book, “Over Grandpa’s Shoulder and More Stories from Over Grandpa’s Shoulder”, published. A second book, “More Stories From Over Grandpa’s Shoulder, Beyond the Shores of Fox Island” quickly followed.  

Eventually, the idea for the books evolved into a game that could help parents raise boys to become good men.  

The couple worked alongside their daughters Brianna Nash and Kristian Frank, and son-in-law Pastor Travis Frank, to bring the concept to life. Kristian designed the original layout before the game was finalized for production. 

Now finally, after six years of development and countless refinements, the first 500 “Knights and Squires” games arrived this year. 

Though the game was created for boys, Bushnell says it can also benefit girls. “It’s not bad for girls to play, or at least to watch,” he said. “It helps them see what a man should be. Every parent fears their daughter marrying a man who still lives like a boy.” 

The Bushnells hope their project will have an impact not just on their grandchildren, but on families across the country. 

“Knights and Squires of the 21st Century” is available at knightsandsquires.com for $45 plus $10 shipping. The website is new and may experience occasional technical issues. If online ordering is unavailable, orders can be placed through Venmo, CashApp, Visa or Zelle by contacting Joan Bushnell at 425-238-7006 or [email protected]. 

As for what’s next, Bushnell said the family is already working on a companion game designed for girls. 

    Daniel Bushnell stands with the shipment of "Knights and Squires of the 21st century."