Backpack Relay

Bring equipment that you would normally pack in a backpack for a long hike, and spread it out over an area with plenty of space between the teams. Participants are divided into two relay teams, each with its own backpack and a die.

The goal is to pack the most practical and well-organised backpack possible. Before the start, the team rolls the die, and the number rolled decides how many participants may run forward and pick up one item each. Continue like this until all the items have been collected. Include items such as a sleeping mat, sleeping bag, clothing, full water bottles, food and various outdoor equipment. When one team has a “finished” backpack, stop the game and review both backpacks. This creates an opportunity to talk about good and less good choices, and why equipment should be packed in a certain way. You can repeat the activity several times – the team that has packed the best backpack in the final round wins.

Variation

Bring deliberately “poor” clothing and equipment (for example cotton clothing, jeans, trainers, etc.) to encourage reflection on what is, and is not, suitable for outdoor life.

Progression

After the first stop, continue the game until one group has a complete and “appropriate” backpack.

You can also play with three teams (three backpacks) but only two complete sets of equipment. When everything has been collected, the teams must trade items with each other in order to pack three backpacks. Each team then presents its priorities and explains what they chose to bring and why.

Participants can also be asked to decide for themselves which items are unsuitable and leave these outside the backpack. They must then justify why they chose not to bring them. You can also deliberately include too many clothes so that participants are forced to choose what is most important to pack.