40+ Awesome Summer Camp Games - Ultimate Camp Resource (2024)

Games for Teen Campers

These fun summer camp activities for teens focus on independent play and problem solving. They prefer games where they can be the leader or work independently, versus being led by a camp counselor. Oftentimes, campers look forward their whole camp career to becoming a Counselor in Training (CIT) and age-appropriate play is key to engaging this group.

Snaps is the name of the Game

At least two people need to know how to play this game.

One of the two who know how to would leave the room and the campers and other person will pick a celebrity.

When they bring the person back, there are three ways they can let them know what name they will be spelling out:

– When they say “Snaps IS the name of the game” they mean that they will be doing the name of the celebrity (ie Britney Spears)

– When they say “Snaps MAY BE the name of the game” they mean that they will be doing the common name of the celebrity (ie Madonna)

– When they say “Snaps ISN’T the name of the game” they mean they will be doing a character of a celebrity, or something they are well known for. (ie Laura Croft, which would be Angelina Jolie)

Here is an example. Let’s say someone is doing Laura Croft. They will say “snaps isn’t the name of the game”. So you know they’re doing a character.

Then they will say a phrase that starts with the letter “L” such as “Lets see if you can guess it.” And that’s how you do the consonants.

When you come to the vowels you snap 1-5 times depending on the vowel.

1 – A

2 – E

3 – I

4 – O

5 – U

Here’s “Laura Croft” as an example.

“Snaps is not the name of the game. Lets see if you can guess it. *one snap*..*five snaps* Really? you don’t get it yet? *one snap* Can you get it? Really try hard. *four snaps* For sure, you’ve got it now. Time’s almost up.”

Make sure you pause between each letter. Make it seem like you’re in disbelief that no one can guess what the trick is. [Back to Top]

Ah, So, Gi (or Ah, So, Koh)

Channel your inner samurai with this fast paced game. The perfect time filler and a favorite game of the Ultimate Camp Resource team!

Everyone sits in a circle, and learns the 3 commands and their movements.

• Ah! The person says “Ah” loudly, and puts their left or right hand across their forehead in a saluting motion, with fingers pointing at the person next to them.
• So! – the person says “So” loudly, and puts their left or right hand across their chin in a saluting motion, with fingers pointing at the person next to them.
• “Gi!” the person puts both arms together in front of them in a clapping motion and points to someone else, anywhere in the circle.

The phrases must always go in that order, and each phrase needs its correct hand motion. You go when you are pointed at by someone next to you using “Ah” or “So,” or by someone across from you using “Gi.” When you are “Gi”ed at by someone you start the sequence over again.

When someone makes a mistake (ie, goes out of order, uses the wrong hand motion, hesitates in confusion for too long) they are out.

When someone gets out, each member of the group puts a hands in the middle with thumbs up, and calls “You’re outta here!” – like a baseball umpire.

That person leaves the circle and the group closes in the space. The person who was on right side of the exited person starts the sequence again, by saying “Ah!” and pointing to the left or right.

The game continues until there are two people left. [Back to Top]

Capture the Flag

Set up the Capture the Flag Playing Area

This is a classic game at camp! Be sure to review all of the game rules and review with your teams.

1. Divide the group into two teams; identify each by a set of arm or headbands.
2. Define your playing area, ideally 1-2 acres of land with some natural cover or obstacles.
3. Set up a visible middle line using cones or backpacks. You can use natural dividers, too, such as a driveway or trail in the woods.
4. Set up a jail area (3- 4 square yards). You can use a picnic table, too.
5. Determine a separate hiding spot for each flag on each side. The flags should not be visible from the starting point BUT should not be hidden from sight as you approach (ie, on the ground behind a tree, in a backpack, etc).

How to play Capture the Flag

1. Have each team assemble on their side of the middle line so you can review the boundaries and rules, as well as handout headbands/armbands.
2. Explain that the goal of the game is to sneak across the middle line into “enemy territory,” find the opposing team’s flag, and return it safely to your side without being caught.
3. If you cross the middle line, you are on offense and your job at the time is capture the flag.
4. Players can be rotate in between any role at any time on their team.
5. If you stay on your side and try to catch players from the other team who have crossed over onto your team’s side of the playing area, you are on defense. You capture other players by tagging them. Please note, you can use water balloons, flag football belts or sock filled with flour, and more to capture players, but a simple tag is just fine.
6. Any player tagged on the other team’s side is officially captured and brought to the enemy’s jail.
   1. A few jail rules:
      1. If you are tagged, you are required to walk with the person who captures you to jail – they do not need to keep an arm on your or otherwise restrain you.
      2. To get free from jail, a player from your team must cross into enemy territory and run through the jail or take the bench if you are using a bench. Everyone in jail is set free.
      3. Once in jail, you must stay in jail until released. Once released, you must return to your own side before attempting to cross back into enemy territory. You can not bum rush the flag from jail.
      4. Each side should assign a jail keeper or two to tag any opposing players trying to free prisoners. However, if needed, jail keepers can join the offense and be used to get the flag on the other side.
      5. Players who are freed from jail are given “free walk backs” to their side.
7. Each side assigns one or two flag guards whose specific job is to tag players attempting to capture the flag. They must stay back from the flag by 10 feet and cannot hold or touch the flag to protect it. If needed, they can join the offense and try to steal the other team’s flag.
8. Aside from the jail keepers and flag guards, all players are either on offense of defense.
9. Once a player steals the other team’s flag and safely returns it across the middle line, that round is over. If you have time, all players return to the starting points and you can play another round. [Back to Top]