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Pumpkin Carving

Unleash your creativity and carve pumpkins into spooky, funny, or magical masterpieces!

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You’ll need

  • Permanent markers
  • Spoons
  • Pumpkins
  • Tealight or LED light
  • Pumpkin carving tools or a knife
  • Bowls or containers
  • Kitchen roll or similar

Before you begin

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.   
  • Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help. 

Planning and setting up the activity

  • For pumpkin carving, you’ll need a suitable carving tool or a knife with a fixed blade.
  • Consider the best tool for the activity, age group and skill level. Children’s pumpkin carving tools are designed for safety - they can make it easier to saw through rinds, poke holes, and scoop out seeds. However, these plastic tools can be flimsy and break during use.
  • If you are using knives:
    • Always follow the  UK knife law
    • Never carry knives or carving tools in a public place.
    • Store them securely and out of sight when not in use. 
  • Take some time to go through knife safety with the adult volunteers and young people before starting this activity. Read our knife safety guidance. You can also find more knife safety resources on our Victorinox supporter page. 
  • Use the correct knife for the job at hand. Straight-edge knives are more likely to get wedged in the tough pumpkin skin, requiring force to pull them out. Serrated knives can be better for creating a sawing motion.
  • Consider using cut-resistant gloves, either for both hands or just the non-dominant hand.
  • Have kitchen roll (or similar) available to mop up any mess along the way and ensure that hands and tools are kept dry.

Supervision 

  • Supervision matters. Young people must always be supervised by adults when knives or carving tools are used.
  • Some young people may need more support or direct assistance. This should be considered when planning supervision requirements.
  • If an injury occurs, leaders’ attention will be diverted away from supervising the group. Ensure you have a plan in place for this and a way to clearly communicate when the activity must stop and tools should be carefully put down.

 Setting up 

  • Create a safe carving area. Make sure there’s plenty of space around each person - free from clutter, distractions, and other people. This safe zone helps prevent accidents and keeps everyone focused.
  • Ensure that pumpkins are on a sturdy base and stabilised while carving.
  • Have a first aid kit nearby and ensure everyone knows what to do if a minor cut happens.
  • Cutting the crown off the pumpkin can be particularly dangerous because it requires a lot of force. Consider whether this part should be done by leaders.

Safe Carving 

  • Carve slowly and steadily. Always carve away from the body. 
  • Place the crown back on top of your pumpkin while carving to avoid reaching inside and cutting toward your hand.
  • Be mindful of your non carving hand. This hand is most likely to be injured so keep it away from the cutting path.
  • Always wash and dry your hands after removing the seeds as pumpkin insides can be very slippery, increasing the risk of injury.

Naked Flames 

  • If using a candle instead of an LED light, ensure adult supervision at all times.
  • Never leave a lit pumpkin unattended.
  • Keep suitable fire-extinguishing materials (such as water or a fire blanket) nearby in case of emergency.

Running this activity

  1. Before you begin, the person leading the activity should explain how to stay safe when using knives and tools.
  2. Start by using a sharp knife to carefully cut off the crown of the pumpkin, like taking the lid off a cooking pot.
  3. Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and flesh, placing them in a container. Leave at least a 5 cm shell so your pumpkin stays sturdy when you carve it. 
  4. Use a marker pen to sketch a simple face or pattern. Be creative. Do you want it to look happy, spooky, or silly. Think about the shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
  5. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut along your design. Always cut away from yourself in case the knife slips. 
  6. Place a tealight or LED candle inside, light it, replace the ‘lid’, and proudly display your amazing pumpkin creation! 
  • Pick the right pumpkin: Choose your pumpkin wisely. The lines on the skin can add character. They might become a witch’s wrinkles or a monster’s grin.
  • Use a template: You can use templates to create the perfect design, either ready made or designed by yourself. Trace your design by poking small holes through the paper into the pumpkin, then carve along the dotted lines.
  • Create spooky shadows: If you carve another pattern on the back of your pumpkin and place it near a wall, lighting it may cast eerie shapes.
  • Add some colour: If you place coloured tissue paper behind the face of your design, it will create a ghostly glow. Use a torch or LED instead of a naked flame.
  • Try new shapes: If faces are not your thing, use cookie cutters, apple corers, or drill bits to make stars, moons, or polka dots for a modern twist.
  • Experiment with texture: Try shaving parts of the pumpkin instead of cutting all the way through for a cool two tone effect.
  • Light it creatively: Use multicoloured fairy lights or a flashing red bike light for a unique and spooky feel.
  • Get inventive! Use household items to bring your pumpkin to life. Try nuts and bolts for features, reflective tape as bandages, or turn your pumpkin into a spooky vase filled with flowers. You can even use beans or spaghetti for creepy brains.

Reflection

Carving a pumpkin gives you the chance to be creative, use new tools, and build your fine motor skills. You learn how to plan a design, safely use carving tools, and turn your ideas into something you are proud to display. If you were to do this again, what new techniques would help you improve? Think about how you drew your design, how you held and controlled the tools, and how preparing the inside of the pumpkin made carving easier.

How might your approach change if you carved a bigger pumpkin, tried a more detailed pattern, or worked in a busier space? Consider how you would set up your tools, manage your time, and keep your workspace safe for yourself and others.

After carving, bring everyone together to reflect. You could ask: 

  • What did you enjoy most about designing or carving your pumpkin? 
  • What was challenging, and how did you overcome it? 
  • How did you work safely and support others? 
  • What did you learn about teamwork, patience, or creativity? 
  • How did it feel to see your pumpkin lit up on display? 

Encourage everyone to share what they might do differently next time, and how they could help others with their designs.

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.

Sharp objects

Teach young people how to use sharp objects safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.

Fires and stoves

Make sure anyone using fires and stoves is doing so safely. Check that the equipment and area are suitable and have plenty of ventilation. Follow the gas safety guidance. Have a safe way to extinguish the fire in an emergency.

  • To make it easier, provide ready made templates for the group to trace and carve, or pre cut the lids and scoop out the insides so participants can focus on decorating instead of cutting.
  • To make it harder, encourage participants to design their own original pattern or attempt layered carving by shaving the surface to create depth and texture. You could even hold a mini “pumpkin gallery” where everyone explains their inspiration and design choices.
  • Offer plastic carving tools or child safe cutters for younger participants or those who feel uncomfortable using sharp knives.
  • For a non carving option, decorate pumpkins using paints, markers, stickers, or other craft materials instead of cutting.
  • Provide different sized pumpkins or squashes. Smaller and lighter ones are easier to handle.
  • Use LED lights instead of candles for safety and inclusion, especially for participants who are sensitive to flames or flickering light.
  • Ensure tables are at an accessible height and provide non slip mats to keep pumpkins steady while working.

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Beavers Creative Activity Badge
Scouts Outdoor Challenge Award
Cubs Naturalist Activity Badge
Cubs International Activity Badge

If you enjoyed this activity, why not try more of our autumn-themed fun? You could go on a spooky scavenger hunt or play that's a wrap!