Most companies today organize team building because of the benefits it provides not only for the company itself but for the employees and the employer as well. On the other hand, some prefer going on camping trips to set free all the negative thoughts and emotions lurking around them.
So, we have provided tips on organizing camp games or team building activities for large groups. Plus, you get the five camping game ideas to play during your trip.
Let’s begin first with the ideal games to play for large groups.
5 Best Camp Games for Large Groups
Summer camp games may feel very long if it takes 1 to 8 weeks. In the first place, it can be so exciting and fun-filled. But as days approach, it makes some members get exhausted. So, what to do as soon as you have started to notice that the campers need something to keep them going?
Well, the key is to prepare unique and amazing camp games for large groups. This way, everyone will be able to participate actively in every game. And of course, you will never get out of style. To get started, here is the list of the top 5 of the best camping games to try:
1. A Pot of Gold
This is a fun game that keeps every camper moving while thinking carefully. You can play it safely on small to large playing areas. Before you begin, prepare 5 pieces of hula hoops, a lot of fluff balls or beanbags, and 3 green pinnies.
The first thing to do is to put one of the hula hoops in the middle of your playing area. Then, fill it with the fluff balls or the beanbags you have collected. That center hoop becomes your pot of gold. The remaining hula hoops will be placed in every corner of the gaming area. They will serve as your collection spots after picking up the beanbags from the center hoops.
Next, choose 3 campers who will be the taggers or “leprechauns” and make them wear those green pinnies. The players should be divided into 4 teams for the four hoops. Every team should steal the gold (beanbags) from the center pot as much as they can. Make sure they get 1 gold only at a time.
Once the player has been tagged, they should put back the beanbags to the pot. They should go back to the hula hoop to start over. The campers must run once they hear the whistle blown. Then, stop immediately when the beanbags run out. This will be played for a maximum of 2 minutes.
You can make some variations in this Pot of Gold game. This time, you can have the campers get a fluff ball or a beanbag into each hula hoop instead of assigning one tagger only. You may also suggest changing their movements such as leaping, skipping, or hopping.
2. Cookie Monster Tag
Another fun game to try with your campers is the Cookie Monster Tag. It only involves a few things while the campers will run non-stop. You only need to provide fluff balls and pinnies for every member of the group and cones for marking boundaries.
To proceed, you must set up 2 end lines with a 20-yard distance. Mark them using your cones. Let the campers line up at the end line and do it side by side. Then, one player will become the cookie monster while the rest become the cookies.
Holding the fluff ball and wearing the pinny, the cookie monster stands at the center of the playing area while facing all the cookies. As for the cookies, they will ask “Cookie Monster, are you hungry?” There are only two answers to hear from the monster. It is either “No, I am not hungry” or Yes, I am hungry!”
If the cookie monster utters that he is not hungry. Cookies should ask again. If the monster says that he is hungry, the cookies should move to the other line or side to prevent them from being tagged or “eaten”.
Tagging must be done with 2 fingers between the cookies’ waist and shoulders. If the campers made it into the other line, wait for the signal and they can start over again. However, if they are tagged, the players will be the helpers of the cookie monster. This means that they will be holding the fluff ball and putting on the pinny. You can continue this game until all the cookies have been tagged.
3. Ga-Ga Ball
The name of this game has been derived from Israel. It means “Hit, hit the ball”. This is a fast-paced and fantastic game that campers can play in almost any place applying creativity. Most campsites have their Ga-Ga ball equipment and courses.
Take note that before playing this game, you must seek permission from your counselor or supervisor. You will need some hittable balls such as Gator Skin balls, volleyballs or softballs to play. This game will start once the ball has been thrown up in the air going to the other side of your playing area. Once the ball bounced, it will be considered the start of the game.
Players must hit the other campers with the soft ball while they use hands in blocking. Once the player touched or gets hit by the soft ball, he is out of the game. However, if the camper “double hits” that ball, he is also out. The same player can hit the ball twice but if it has bounced off within two hits. Touching the soft ball is counted as one hit.
For the players who have been eliminated from the game will be standing still on the corners or sides of the playing area. They serve as the walls for the ball for bouncing off. Then, you can continue playing and eliminating players until there are only 2 players remain. There will be a showdown between these 2 players to know the winner.
This time, there will be more restrictions. They cannot hold the ball, but the last 2 campers can touch the softball up to three consecutive times. For those who are not playing, they will chant “Ga-ga”.
4. Roller Ball
One more awesome camp game for large groups is Roller Ball. Here, you should find a court-sized area to play. Thus, the most preferred playing area is the basketball court. You need several balls like kickballs, soccer balls, Gator Skin balls, or volleyball. You should also have cones for the division of the middle line.
The first part of the game is splitting up the group into 2 teams. Then, start dividing the area in half using the cones. Every group must go to the other side of the playing area. The team will then begin with making 3 passes to 3 different players. To determine the first team to play, you can flip a coin or any fair method.
Once a team has made 3 passes, the 3rd camper should roll the soft ball off to the back line’s other side. This backline may be something that you have created using the cones or a painted line. If the team gets the ball past the opposing team’s back line, they will score. You can play for 10 minutes. The team that gets the highest score is the winner.
5. Messy Backyard
The Messy Backyard game is like the dodgeball game and it is really fun and exciting for those players. What you need are yarn balls and half dome cones which will be used for the marker (middle line).
In this game, you must have two teams. Every team will defend each half of your playing area. You must divide the playing area into two using your cones as the middle line. You can have as many balls as you like and put them on the ground. Make sure that there is an equal number of yarn balls on both sides. The players should not cross the centerline.
Upon the signal of the instructor, every team will throw the ball on their opponent’s side. As the instructor signals the game to stop, the team having a fewer number of balls on its side will win. If any of the players in the team throws a ball after the instructor signals to stop the game, his team loses that round. You can play for a 5-minute round.
Tips and Guide for Team Buildings and Camping Trips
Designing a team-building activity can be a daunting task. There are lots of important considerations to make to achieve the target objective or purpose of this event. If it is your first time organizing camping or team building activities and games, check out the details provided below. Use this as your guide.
1. Teamwork
Keeping the group members intact is not easy to do. You need to build a great and empowered teamwork to achieve desirable results. When we say empowerment, it is about the behavior and attitude towards staff members than focusing on tools and processes.
Always remember that teamwork is about enthusing, respecting, caring and encouraging people. It should not be about dictating or exploiting them.
You will know that you have a great team if each member begins to take initiative to do things by themselves. At the center of this approach, there must be spirituality and love. These values will lead to compassion, humanity and mutual respect.
2. Planning Activities
People get motivated if they are involved in deciding and designing the activities. What do you need to do? Ask them. These activities must be geared towards organizational benefit which begins in bringing out individual potential. Discover what they enjoy learning and doing.
Games must help them develop and learn in their areas of interest and they should go beyond work kinds of stuff. The only way to know is by asking them. For sure, you will get various suggestions and you can put them together as a nice collection of different experiences. Look for creative ways to mix these special interests and hobbies in the form of activities.
2. Ideas and Materials
There are several resources you can use in making activities for your camping games or team-building events. You can search for them online, collect and prepare them before going to the venue or the campground.
For example, you can check for free quizzes with questions and answers provided already, which enhances general knowledge and trivia. You can also check on the amusing and motivational posters which will help you come up with better ideas for maxims or themes to underpin camping trips or team building.
If you check on the top five games provided above, you can easily prepare the materials and pack them in your bags.
Here are some tips and techniques to obtain conventional activities for team building and camping trips:
- Practice some exercises to know if the activity works. Check on the materials and timings to guarantee that you will get the desired answers or results. Take note that planning and anticipation are crucial.
- See to it that the game instructions are complete and clear. They are paramount aspects of credibility and control.
- Make yourself proficient first with the equipment and games you use.
- Always prepare spare equipment and materials to provide freebies or comply with inevitable requests and breakages.
- Take responsibility when organizing games and activities for youngsters especially when it is kiddie party games.
- Come up with a theme to make the events more memorable.
Final Conclusion
These camp games for large groups are best for families and businesses that aim to establish rapport and strong relationships with each member. With these tips, guides, and ideas, you will surely have a successful team building or camping trip that your friends, relatives, and employees will remember forever.
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