One of the Aims of Scouting is Leadership Development. Learning to be a member of a team and to get the most out of individuals on a team is through team building concepts and activities. Choose appropriate team building games and activities based on your group’s age, maturity level, and degree of comfort with each other.
Capture the Flag
Capture the Flag is a great game for a large group. Our Scouts BSA Troop plays it often as an interpatrol activity during meetings. Cub Scouts can play it also. We had a joint Pack/Troop flag retirement ceremony at a local park in the spring. When the ceremony was over, the Scouts BSA organized a game of capture the flag, putting some Cub Scouts on each team. They used most of the park as their play area. It was legendary. 🙂
Introduction to Youth Leadership Skills (ILSC or ILST)
This weekend our Venturing Crew did the Introduction to Youth Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC). This course teaches Crew members basic leadership skills. There is a corresponding course for Scouts BSA Troops (ILST).
Playing Games with Varying Skill Levels
A reader asks how to approach games when the smallest kids are always "out" first and the stronger kids get to play longer.
Shoot The Gap Game
This game is suggested as an interpatrol activity for one of the meeting plans in the Public Service troop program feature. This game would also work as a team building game or ice breaker, since the participants must know the names of the other players. So I think this could also be worked into a Crew program.
Egg Drop Challenge – An Engineering Project
In an egg drop challenge, Scouts try to design a container which can prevent an egg from breaking when dropped. This is an excellent project to get kids interested in science and engineering.
National Youth Leadership Training
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an intense week long leadership training class for youth
I Can Do That With One Hand Tied Behind My Back Game
The goal of this game is for two Scouts to work together to make a simple lunch. The challenge is that they each have one hand tied behind their back.
Human Knot Game
This is an icebreaker in which a group must work together to "untie" themselves from a knot. This is a cooperative rather than competitive game.
Guide Me Game for Webelos, Scouts BSA, and Venturers
This game makes a fun break in a meeting. It is appropriate for Webelos, Scouts BSA, or Venturers. The will have to work together to accomplish their goal.
Nitro Transport Game
This is an initiative game. Its purpose is to get a group to work together to solve a problem. This should build teamwork and cooperation in the group.
Tug of War Rules
Tug of War is a fun game which can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. Have a little tug of war tournament with your Scouts to encourage fitness, teamwork, and good sportsmanship.
Trivia Activities and Games for Youth
Trivia is fun for youth. At one summer camp we attended, the trading post manager shared a fun trivia fact before each meal. Sharing an oddball fact is a fun way to add some levity to a troop meeting too. Or you can have fun playing a trivia game as a gathering activity or in a long car ride to camp.
Project Planning Program Feature for Scouts BSA Troops
The Project Planning feature helps youth leaders learn how to accomplish their goals, whether that be a service project or a troop campout or planning other activities together. The troop does a group exercise of planning and carrying out a recycle regatta.
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