30-Minute Activity Plan: Pack the Perfect Camp

Activity Overview

This activity challenges young people to decide what they actually need for a camping trip.

The objective isn’t to see who can pack the most.

It’s to teach young people how to plan for conditions, prioritise essential equipment and avoid carrying unnecessary weight.

It also provides an easy introduction to expedition planning.

Before You Start

Prepare a collection of camping equipment.

Include a mixture of:

Useful items.

Optional items.

Items that aren’t appropriate.

Items that might be useful in particular weather.

Items that are simply unnecessary.

You can use real equipment or pictures printed onto cards.

Choose items appropriate for the age and experience of the group.

0–5 Minutes: Set the Scenario

Split the group into small teams.

Give them the scenario:

“You’re going camping for one night. You need to carry everything you take.”

Explain that they have limited space and can’t simply take everything.

For younger groups, give them a smaller selection.

For older groups, make the equipment list much larger.

5–15 Minutes: Pack Your Kit

Give each team the equipment.

Ask them to decide what they would take.

They should think about:

Shelter

Clothing

Food and water

Navigation

First aid

Weather

Personal safety

Communication

Don’t tell them what the correct answer is.

Let them discuss the choices themselves.

15–20 Minutes: Change the Weather

Once teams have made their decisions, introduce a new problem.

“The forecast has changed. Heavy rain and strong winds are now expected.”

Give them five minutes to reconsider their equipment.

What would they add?

What would they remove?

Would they change their clothing?

Would they change their route?

Would they reconsider the trip altogether?

This demonstrates that good outdoor planning needs to respond to changing conditions.

20–25 Minutes: Something Goes Wrong

Introduce another scenario.

For example:

“One member of the group has forgotten their waterproof jacket.”

Or:

“Your planned route has become unsuitable because of flooding.”

Ask the teams what they would do.

Encourage them to consider whether they can adapt their plan or whether they should change or stop the activity.

25–30 Minutes: Team Review

Bring everyone together.

Ask each team to explain one item they considered essential and one item they decided they didn’t need.

Then ask:

“What was the hardest decision?”

Discuss how experienced outdoor people don’t simply pack everything they own.

They think about the activity, location, weather, group and risks.

Make It Easier

For Cubs, use obvious equipment and simple choices.

Ask questions such as:

“Would you take a waterproof jacket if rain was forecast?”

“Would you need a sleeping bag for an overnight camp?”

Keep the emphasis on basic preparation.

Make It Harder

For Scouts and Explorers, introduce weight limits.

For example:

“Your backpack can weigh no more than 10 kg.”

Now the teams need to prioritise.

You can also give each group a different scenario.

One might involve a summer camp.

Another might involve a winter expedition.

Another might involve a long-distance hike.

This demonstrates that there isn’t one universal packing list.

Safety

Use safe equipment and don’t ask young people to carry excessively heavy loads.

Avoid including dangerous items simply to make the challenge harder.

If using real stoves, knives or other specialist equipment, don’t allow young people to handle them unless the activity has been properly planned and supervised.

Make clear that the exercise is about planning rather than testing how much weight someone can carry.

Follow current Scouts safety and safeguarding guidance.

Leader Notes

There isn’t necessarily one perfect packing list.

Encourage young people to explain their reasoning.

A piece of equipment that seems unnecessary in one situation could be very important in another.

For example, extra insulation might be less important on a warm summer evening but essential in cold conditions.

The key question is:

“What problem does this piece of equipment solve?”

If young people start thinking that way, they’re learning to pack intelligently.

Learning Outcomes

Young people have opportunities to develop:

Planning

Decision-making

Risk awareness

Problem-solving

Outdoor preparation

Equipment knowledge

Weather awareness

Extension Activity

If you have more time, let teams physically pack their chosen equipment into rucksacks.

Then ask them to explain how they would organise the contents.

What needs to be accessible quickly?

What needs to stay dry?

What can go at the bottom?

What would they need during an emergency?

This turns a simple discussion into a practical campcraft exercise.

Final Thought for Leaders

Packing for the outdoors isn’t about taking everything you might possibly need.

It’s about understanding the activity and preparing for the conditions you’re likely to face.

LEADER TIP

When a young person chooses an item, ask:

“Why?”

If they can explain what problem it solves, they’re already beginning to think like an experienced outdoor planner.