Discover fun scouting and outdoor games that build practical skills, teamwork and confidence, including communication, knots, nature, navigation and observation games.
Activity Overview Can your team plan and complete a mountain rescue? 👦 Age: 8–18👥 Group size: 6–30⏱️ Duration: 45–60 minutes📍 Location: Indoors or outdoors⭐ Difficulty: 3/5 Imagine you’re part of a mountain rescue team. Your group has received an emergency call: an explorer has become injured while travelling through the mountains and needs help getting…
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 15–30 minutesGroup size: 6-20Best for: Beavers, Cubs, ScoutsSkills: Communication, teamwork, listening, problem-solving, concentration The Silent Line-Up Challenge is a simple teamwork game where the group must arrange themselves in a particular order without speaking. The leader chooses the rule for the line-up, such as height, birthday month or first name alphabetically….
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 20–30 minutesGroup size: 6-20Best for: Squirrels, Beavers, CubsSkills: Communication, confidence, teamwork, observation, creativity Survival Charades is a simple team game where young people act out outdoor and survival activities without speaking while their teammates try to guess what they are doing. It needs no equipment and can be adapted for different…
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 15-30 minutesGroup size: 6-20Best for: Squirrels, Beavers, CubsSkills: Memory, confidence, communication, concentration The Name and Action Circle Game is a quick icebreaker where each young person says their name and performs an action. The rest of the group repeats the name and action before the next person takes a turn. It…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 10–30 minutesLocation: Indoors or outdoorsBest for: Small groups, patrols and activity sessionsSkills: Memory, observation, concentration, communication and teamwork Memory and observation games challenge participants to notice information and then recall it accurately. They can involve objects, people, sounds, pictures, surroundings or changes to an environment. For groups, the best games are…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 15–30 minutesLocation: OutdoorsBest for: Groups, patrols, family activities and outdoor sessionsSkills: Observation, awareness, concentration, memory and nature appreciation Nature observation games encourage young people to slow down and pay attention to the natural world around them. Rather than simply walking through an outdoor area, participants are challenged to notice particular sights,…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 10–20 minutesLocation: Indoors or outdoorsBest for: Small groups, patrols and activity sessionsSkills: Observation, memory, concentration and attention to detail Kim’s Game is a simple observation and memory game in which participants are shown a collection of objects for a limited time before the objects are covered or removed. They then try…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 10–30 minutesLocation: Indoors or outdoorsBest for: Small groups, patrols and activity sessionsSkills: Observation, memory, attention to detail, communication and teamwork Observation games are simple activities that challenge young people to notice, remember and communicate details about their surroundings. They can be run indoors or outdoors and usually require little or no…
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Campsite or suitable outdoor activity areaBest for: Scouts and ExplorersSkills: Knots, ropework, pioneering, teamwork, problem-solving, communication Pioneering knot challenges turn basic rope skills into practical team activities. Instead of simply tying knots from memory, Scouts have to choose the correct knot, tie it accurately and explain why it is…
Activity Overview Difficulty: Moderate–AdvancedTime: 60–120 minutesLocation: Campsites, activity fields and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced Cubs with appropriate supervisionSkills: Pioneering, design, knots, lashings, problem-solving, teamwork, planning and leadership Pioneering design challenges give Scouts a problem to solve rather than a structure to copy. Instead of providing step-by-step instructions, give…
