Pirate Themed Camp
Why not hunt for treasure, make a pirate ship or tie some knots on your Pirate themed camp with your group.
Running a pirate themed camp
Bring out the treasure maps, command a ship and pop on your pirate hats, here are some ideas for how you could plan a pirate themed camp.
We’ve included some activities to complete throughout the weekend, but you can also find more in our Scouts Activity Finder.
Friday Evening
Trust your captain's orders and work your way through an obstacle course while blindfolded.
Will the coastguard intercept the smugglers before the treasure reaches the pedlars, or will they get it back to base?
You’ll have to sneak and tiptoe to get the pirate’s map. Will you succeed first time, or try, try again?
Scrub the deck, climb the rigging and warm up in this fun game. Then take it to the next level with some sailing terminology!
Test your leadership skills by guiding your teammate to safety. Will they trust you enough to walk the plank?
Learn the points of the compass with this energetic game.
Will your team’s grid reference knowledge help you win this life-sized version of a classic game?
Grab the popcorn, or some other tasty snacks and hop aboard an imaginary pirate ship. Some suggestions might be:
- Peter Pan
- Hook
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- The Pirates! Band of Misfits
- Muppet Treasure Island
Remember to choose a film appropriate to your group's age.
Saturday Morning
Use your construction skills and recycling to transform your meeting place into a nautical world with boats and islands.
Barbecued banana boats
Make some sweet treats by filling a banana with marshmallows and cooking them on a barbecue or campfire.
Learn some basic sailing terminology in this bottle-based, boat building bonanza.
Build a miniature raft with twigs and leaves, then set sail. Will yours float successfully away?
Saturday Afternoon
Kick-off with a game of sports charades to get everyone thinking and sharing.
Make a splash on a swimming adventure and demonstrate the most efficient ways to get yourself through the water.
Practice your skills on the water with this pirate-themed game.
Face the deadly Kraken in this stealthy water-based game.
Sunday Morning
Before you go home, make like a pirate, find the X that marks the spot and discover the hidden treasure.
Make treasure maps. Follow treasure maps. Find the treasure cache. Bring the treasure back!
Improve your local knowledge and map reading skills while hunting for treasure.
Improve your knot-tying skills and work as a team to find treasure.
Blindfolded treasure hunters need their friends’ help to make it through an obstacle course and claim the prize.
Staying safe on camp
All Scout activities must be safely managed, including on camp. All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible too.
You must complete a risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. You can use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity.
Remember to always get approval for the activities, have consent forms in place, have suitable adult supervision on camp, and have an InTouch process in place.
Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
When planning a camp, make sure you have completed a Nights Away Notification form and have all the relevant Nights Away permits in place. You may need an Adventurous activity permit, too.
For a pirate camp, some areas to consider include:
- First aid kits
- Food hygiene and safety
- Active games, including wide games
- Motion picture licensing for films and TV shows
If you’re going swimming as part of the camp, you’ll need to consider:
- Swimming activity guidance
- Taking part in water activities, including non-swimmers
- General water activity guidance
- Activities near the water
- Taking part in an activity in Class C waters, such as a swimming pool, man-made bodies of water and small lakes
- Water safety (waterborne diseases and immersion)
When swimming, have a responsible adult not directly involved to be a spotter and watch out for hazards or incidents. Be sure to manage the group when near water, keeping everyone safe, including staying safe at water margins and on the water’s edge