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Clued-up camping

Discover how to be responsible at a campsite by working together to solve these problems.

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You’ll need

  • Pens or pencils
  • Scrap paper
  • Scissors
  • Sticky tack
  • A hat or container
  • Printer (optional)
  • Timer (optional)

Before you begin

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Additional help to carry out your risk assessment, including examples can be found here. 
  • Explain to any adult volunteers, young leaders or helpers that they may be needed during the charades game in this activity.
  • Set up two activity stations in your meeting place and place the equipment needed for the tips and tricks at one station.
  • Print out or create your own campsite charades examples. Next, cut out each one and place them in a hat. We’ve included some charade examples for you in the ‘Campsite charades’ section below.
  • Write each of the following titles on their own piece of paper: ‘Things to bring’, ‘Things not to bring’ and ‘Code of conduct’. Then stick them up on the wall around your meeting place.

Run the activity

  1. In a group, explain that everyone will be completing two activities to help them learn about campsite safety. One activity will cover campsite behaviour and in the other activity they’ll be learning about some tips and tricks for camping.
  2. Split everyone into two groups and assign each group to one of the two activity stations.
  3. Give everyone 10 minutes to complete their activity and then ask them to swap over.

Activity station 1: Campsite charades

  1. Ask the group to split into two teams. One group will be acting out the charades first while the other team guesses. They’ll then swap over, until all examples have been used.
  2. The team that is acting out the scenes will choose their scenarios/charades from the paper slips in the hat.
  3. Explain to everyone that the acting team will need to act out a behaviour that is the opposite to the example written on the piece of paper. For example, if the scenario is picking up litter and leaving no trace, the team would act out dropping litter, not using the bins and so on.
  4. The guessing team will then need to work out the expected behaviour that’s written on the paper. For example, if the scene was everyone being noisy, the expected paper (and winning answer) would be ‘No loud noises after curfew’
  1. When everyone is happy, the acting team will have five minutes to complete as many scenes as possible. After they’ve finished, swap over the teams and start the timer again.
  2. When the time is up, bring everyone together to have a quick chat about the actions shown in the different scenes, if everyone would have behaved differently if they were camping, if they’ve done any of the behaviours before and if they learnt something new.
  3. You could keep track of which team guesses the most scenes correctly and they could win the game.
  • Being polite to other campsite users
  • Ways of making your camp more accessible for those with additional needs
  • Not making any loud noises after curfew, such as shouting, slamming vehicle doors or playing loud music
  • Doing your washing up and then cleaning the washing up sink/area for the next user
  • Keep your pitch nice and tidy, and don’t take up too much camping space by maintaining a respectful distance from other users
  • Don’t wander into other people’s camping areas or tents without permission, including when you might want to take a shortcut!
  • Don’t use other people’s camping equipment or other items without asking
  • Leave everything as you found it, by tidying up your rubbish and recycling, or taking it home with you if there’s no bin
  • Clean the shower after you’ve used it and flush the toilet
  • Turn the taps off in the bathroom or at water points around the campsite
  • Respect local wildlife, by not leaving litter, disturbing birds’ nests or animal’s homes, or by chasing any wildlife
  • Respect rules about open fires and barbecues, and only have them in safe spaces if allowed
  • Remember to pay the campsite on time before you leave
  • Return any borrowed equipment to the campsite when you leave
  • Leave the campsite on time on the day you’re meant to check out
  • Please do not bring candles, sparklers/fireworks or candle lanterns of any kind
  • If you use laundry facilities, remove your clothing items quickly once they’re finished to leave space for other users
  • If you’re driving, go slowly on the campsite tracks or roads
  • If you’re playing games, such as football or frisbee, make sure you’ve got lots of space and won’t hit anyone, their tents or equipment, or the buildings/facilities on the campsite
  • Any dogs that are brought onto the campsite should be always kept under control, be supervised, and be cleaned up after
  • Make sure guests are signed in and check if you need to pay for additional visitors, cars or pets

Activity station 2: Campsite tips and tricks

  1. Ask the group to split into three smaller teams.
  2. Explain to everyone that they’ll go around together to a topic, and write down any ideas for that topic on the piece of paper.
  3. Explain that each group will have two minutes to think and write down their ideas at each topic. They’ll then move to the next one and repeat the activity. Afterwards, everyone will go around as a group to discuss each topic.
  4. When everyone is ready start the activity. Set a timer and remember to move groups onto the next subject.
  5. Once everyone has finished the three topics, come back together. Go to each topic one by one and discuss the ideas everyone had. Does everyone agree? Why do some people think an idea is a good suggestion or a bad one? Has the group missed anything?
  6. Once time has finished, bring everyone back and discuss what they learnt during the two activities.

Did they learn any new camping rules or tips and tricks? What will they take forward when thinking about and planning for their next adventure?

Reflection

The ‘Campsite charades’ activity helped you learn how to be responsible on a campsite by working as a team and problem-solving. During the activity, you worked together to act out scenes on how not to behave on a campsite. How would you feel if people behaved on the campsite like you did? Is there anything you didn’t know before that you’ll remember on your expedition?

The ‘Tips and tricks’ activity needed you to problem-solve by thinking about what you did and didn’t need, and about the way you act on a campsite. Why’s it great to share these ideas with everyone else? Think about how you might need to bring communal items, such as washing up liquid, and how someone else might not have remembered this. How could you use this information to write your personal and team kit lists next time you go camping?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

Scissors

Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.

Active games

The game area should be free of hazards. Explain the rules of the game clearly and have a clear way to communicate that the game must stop when needed. Take a look at our guidance on running active games safely.

  • You could adapt the activity by changing the number of tips and tricks topics to suit the needs of your group. Instead of getting everyone to write down their tips and tricks, consider coming up with a list yourself, printing it out and getting everyone to sort them into the topics.
  • For more of a challenge in the campsite charades, limit the number of props the group can use or don’t have any at all. You could also think about letting them use sounds or talk.
  • If someone doesn’t feel confident in taking part in the acting, give them the opportunity to organise their team, keep score or guess both times.
  • If someone struggles with writing, let them work closely with someone who can help write down their ideas. You could consider coming up with a list yourself, printing it out and getting everyone to sort them into the topics.

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Scouts Expedition Challenge Award
Scouts Camper Activity Badge

Ask the young people to use the information they’ve learnt in these activities to help guide them on how to be responsible at the campsites during your next expedition.

Remember, tell the group that being responsible doesn’t have to just be while you’re on a campsite. Think about how you can be responsible on your walks or in when taking part in outdoor activities using our Countryside Code: True or False activity.