There’s nothing quite like the atmosphere of an outdoor Scout camp. The smell of wood smoke in the air, the healthy competition, and the challenge of keeping a group of energetic young people engaged from early rises until bedtime!
While classic games like Capture the Flag and Manhunt will always have a place in the Scouting hall of fame, it’s always great to have a few new outdoor gems up your sleeve.
Whether you’re running a weekend camp at home or prepping your troop for an unforgettable international Scout adventure, here are 5 fun-filled outdoor Scout games that build teamwork, leadership, and buckets of campsite memories!
1.
The Great Stalker (Night-Time Camouflage & Stealth)
- Best For: Scouts & Explorers
- Skills Learned: Stealth, observation, patience, and communication.
- Equipment Needed: One torch/flashlight, a wooden stake or bucket.
How to Play:
- Place the bucket or stake in the middle of a clear zone (a clearing in the woods or an open field at dusk works best). Position one Leader in the centre next to the bucket, armed with a single torch.
- The Scouts start at a boundary line roughly 30m to 50m away in the surrounding area.
- The goal for the Scouts is to sneak and crawl their way to the centre bucket to steal a token without being spotted.
- The central “Guard” cannot move from their spot. They scan the dark surroundings and can sweep their torchlight across the area. If the Guard sees a Scout moving, they shine their light directly on them and call out their name. If identified, that Scout must return to the boundary and start again!
Leader Tip: Introduce patrol tactics! Have older Scouts act as decoys on one side of the field to draw the Guard’s torchlight while their team sneaks in from the dark side!
2.
Chariot Battles (Build & Race)
- Best For: Cubs & Scouts
- Skills Learned: Pioneering knotwork, physical fitness, and leadership.
- Equipment Needed: Spars/poles, rope, and one bicycle helmet per team.
How to Play:
- Divide the troop into Patrols. Each Patrol is given a set of pioneering poles and rope.
- Phase 1 (The Build): Set a 15-minute timer. Patrols must construct an ‘A-Frame’ or ‘H-Frame’ chariot sturdy enough to support one rider.
- Phase 2 (The Race): Once inspected by Leaders for safety, one Scout dons a helmet and mounts the chariot while 3-4 of their teammates act as the “horses” pulling or pushing the frame across an obstacle-filled course.
- Run heats to determine the fastest and most structurally sound chariot on camp!
Why It Works: It transforms practical knot-tying and pioneering skills into a fantastic team challenge – perfect for running off excess energy and tiring your group out before bed!
3.
"Sardines" with a Tactical Twist
- Best For: Beavers, Cubs & Scouts
- Skills Learned: Spatial awareness, tracking, and quiet cooperation.
- Equipment Needed: None (or high-vis tops for night play).
How to Play:
- A reverse version of Hide and Seek. Send one Leader or Patrol Leader into the woods or camp perimeter with a 3-minute head start to hide.
- The remaining Scouts hunt individually or in pairs.
- When a Scout finds the hidden person, they don’t shout out! Instead, they must quietly squeeze into the exact same hiding spot alongside them.
- As more Scouts find the spot, they pile in like sardines in a tin. The last Scout left searching alone loses the round—and gets to hide first in the next game!
4.
Water Relay Gauntlet
- Best For: All Sections (Perfect for hot summer camps!)
- Skills Learned: Resourcefulness, coordination, and handling pressure.
- Equipment Needed: Buckets, cups with holes poked in the bottom, and large sponges.
How to Play:
- Set a full bucket of water at the start line for each Patrol and an empty clear container at the far end of the field.
- Scouts must transfer water down the field to fill their container- – but there’s a catch: they can only use a cup riddled with pinholes or a single kitchen sponge!
- To add to the chaos, set up a crew in the middle where Leaders armed with water pistols or wet sponges act as tormenters, trying to throw off the runners!
- The first Patrol to fill their container to the marker wins.
5.
The Ultimate Camp Wide Game: "Smugglers & Customs"
- Best For: Full Group / Joint Section Camps
- Skills Learned: Strategy, map reading and negotiation.
- Equipment Needed: Laminated “currency” cards or tokens.
How to Play:
- Split the entire campsite into two teams: Smugglers and Customs Officers.
- Smugglers receive token cards representing “valuable cargo” e.g. silver and gold). Their goal is to sneak past Customs Officers from a starting safe zone to a destination base on the opposite side of the campsite grounds.
- Customs Officers patrol the grounds. If they tag a Smuggler, the Smuggler must stop and endure a 5-second search.
- If the Smuggler hid their token cleverly enough (in a sock, pocket, or sleeve) and the Officer doesn’t guess the right spot, the Smuggler goes free! If caught, the token is surrendered to Customs.
- After 30 minutes, tally up whether the Smugglers made more profit or Customs seized more goods.
Take Scouting Beyond the Local Campsite
Outdoor games bring out the best in Scouting skills and values. But if you really want to take your troop’s adventures to the next level, why stop at your local campsite?
From hiking alpine trails in Kandersteg to exploring international Scout centres and taking your group on an international adventure with Venture Abroad – they all create memories that last way beyond the weekend campfire!
Feeling inspired to play outdoor games in a new international setting? Start speaking to one of our team and be prepared to explore the options available to you and your group!
