Think It Through: Camp Safety Scenarios

Name and Purpose

Think It Through is a discussion-based activity that builds real-world camp safety thinking.
Players practise calm decision-making and teamwork under pressure through storytelling scenarios.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 10-16 | 6-20 players | 20-40 minutes | Comfortable circle seating, indoor or outdoor

Materials

Scenario cards (printed or read aloud by facilitator)
Optional: paper and pencil for small group notes
Optional: a simple “decision framework” card (Assess, Act, Alert, Account for everyone)

Quick-Run Card

Setup and Boundaries

Choose 3-5 scenarios appropriate to your campers’ experience level
Signal: a raised hand means bring discussion back to the circle
Remind the group that there are no single right answers. The goal is thoughtful discussion.

How to Play

Seat the group comfortably in a circle or small clusters.
The facilitator reads a scenario aloud, slowly and clearly.
Small groups of 3-4 discuss: What would you do first? Who needs to know? What might go wrong with your plan?
Each group shares their thinking with the full circle.
Facilitator adds key safety points without shutting down any reasonable approach.
Move to the next scenario when the group is ready.

Sample Scenarios (select 3-5)

Your group has eaten fish caught the night before. Two campers feel unusually tired and you feel unwell.
You finish a portage and one camper cannot be found. You retrace the route but cannot locate them.
It is late at night. One canoe and one camper are missing. Everyone else is asleep.
A camper eats berries from a bush and develops stomach cramps.
A camper trips under the weight of their pack and says their back is sore and they cannot move.
A skunk enters the campsite and one camper receives a direct spray, including to the eye.
A camper develops a serious stomachache on a trip. You are not sure if it is physical or emotional.
You see a bear approaching your campsite. It is not reacting to noise.
You are at a portage and realise the trail ahead has poison ivy covering both sides.

I-OPt Options

A (Active): Lead the small group discussion, present the group’s ideas to the circle
S (Support): Contribute ideas to the small group, help keep track of points raised
Q (Quiet): Listen and observe the discussion; add one thought when ready
O (Observer): Watch the full group discussion; signal to the facilitator when ready to contribute

Inclusion Adaptations

Read scenarios aloud AND provide printed cards for players who process better with text
Allow small groups to draw or sketch their plan instead of only talking it through

Stewardship Moment

Printed cards can be laminated and reused across sessions.
Prompt: “Many of these scenarios happen because of how humans interact with nature. What choices could prevent some of these situations?”

Consent

Pre-brief: “We are going to work through some challenging scenarios together. These are thinking exercises, not tests. For those who find some scenarios stressful to discuss, it is always fine to listen and observe rather than speaking. Your presence in the circle matters.”
For those not comfortable with any part of this activity, sitting out or joining as an observer is another option.
Mid-game check: After the second scenario, pause. “How is everyone doing? Ready to continue, or does anyone want a moment?”
Opt-out/re-entry: Step back to observer role at any time. Re-enter the discussion whenever you are ready.

Risks and Mitigation

A scenario triggers genuine distress in a camper who has experienced something similar: keep an eye on responses; offer a quiet break and follow up privately
Discussion stalls or dominates: use small groups first, then full circle to distribute voice
Facilitator not knowing the “right” answer: remind the group and yourself that good safety thinking is about process, not perfection

Warm-Up Suggestions

“Two Truths and a Safety Rule”: each player shares two real safety rules and one made-up one. Group guesses the made-up one.
Brief discussion: “What is the most important thing you would do in ANY emergency?”

Debrief Questions

What? “Which scenario felt most realistic to you? What did your group decide to do?”
So What? “What did you learn about how you think in a stressful situation?”
Now What? “What is one thing you would do differently on your next trip based on today?”

Cleanup and Reset