Crafty obstacle course
You’ll need
- Clean items of recycling
- Pens or pencils
- A4 paper
Before you begin
- You may want to split this activity across two sessions, or during a longer session at camp. People could design the course one session and then make and test it next time they meet.
- You can also use equipment you already have (such as hoops), as well as recycling. Ask everyone to collect recycling to make it easier – keep an eye out for items like big boxes as these are especially useful.
Design your course
- Split into small groups. The person leading the activity should give each group some pencils and a large sheet of paper.
- Each group should talk about what an obstacle course is. Obstacles are things that block your way. In an obstacle course, they’re usually challenges that people need to complete before they continue.
- Each group should choose a theme for their obstacle course to inspire the obstacles they create. If they chose a woodland theme, for example, they may use a tunnel as a rabbit burrow to crawl through, or some hoops and balls as nuts for a squirrel to throw into a hole.
- Each group should design their obstacle course, thinking about their theme. Their final course should have between two and four obstacles, but it’s OK if people want to design more and then narrow it down.
- Each team should think about what materials they’ll use to make the obstacles they’ve designed. They could think about equipment they already have, as well as any recycling they could use.
Make and race time
- Each team should find a space outside. They should make between two and four of the obstacles they designed. They should test them as they go to make sure they work, and make any changes needed. For example, make sure any tunnels are big enough for a person to fit through!
- Each team should demonstrate their obstacles to another team, then swap courses and try each other’s obstacles out. They could try each other’s at the same time, or take it in turns to have a go and to watch.
- Once everyone’s finished the obstacle course, they should take their obstacles apart so they can put equipment away and recycle any recyclable items.
Reflection
This activity needed everyone to keep going when things got tricky. Did everyone’s designs work straight away, or did they need to make changes so their obstacles worked? What did people do when things didn’t stick properly, or if anything broke? People may think about trying another way or asking for advice from others. Sometimes it can feel frustrating, and that’s OK – what’s important is that people get back up to give it another go. What was it like knowing other people would try the obstacle course? Some people may have made obstacles they knew the others would enjoy, others may have made it a challenge.
This activity was also a chance to value the outdoors. Where did everyone build their courses? Did anyone use the natural environment to help make their course? Where else might people make a wonderful obstacle course – perhaps they can imagine a really fun one that would work at the seaside!
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 could turn it into a competition and time teams. You can vary the difficulty of the course depending on the people playing, or add in more imaginative activities like running around a tree or throwing a ball into a hoop – not just climbing through and over things.
You could combine the courses to make one super long obstacle course, then time how long it takes to get the whole group (including the grown ups) through.
No one has to touch hands if they don’t want to – people could use another signal (such as saying ‘go’). Teams should try to design a course that everyone can use safely. They may need an adult’s support to make changes or adaptations.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
Everyone should have a say in designing and creating the obstacles.