We’re firm believers that play is important no matter what your age. Here are a few games for grown-ups to play outdoors this summer. Some are more sophisticated in tone than games of your youth - others are ‘throw caution to the wind and get grass cuttings in your hair’ kind of games. From the beach to the park and woods to campsites, we’ve got you covered. Let The Games commence!
Games for the Park
Kubb
We have the rules and also instructions on how to make your very own Kubb set in our August issue. Cut and paint your own and then head out with a gang of friends to play the game known as ‘Viking Chess’!
Frisbee Golf
All you need is frisbee. Design a ‘course’ with targets to hit such as a bench, a large tree or a sign post. Try to avoid hitting the general public. The winner is the person to complete the course, hitting the most targets.
Games for the Beach
Sand Pictionary
Just like the game Pictionary (you can take the cards or make up your own) but you draw the pictures with a stick in the sand instead of on paper - all against a time, of course.
Driftwood Build Challenge
Split into teams, then each team has 20 minutes to build something (maybe a castle or sculpture of a specific object) using driftwood, shells and other natural materials. Add an element of excitement by building as the tide comes in so you have to finish before the waves sweep it all away.
Games for the Woods
Capture the Flag
This is a classic woodlands game and can get very rowdy as teams compete to capture the other team’s flag and bring it to their base. Find all the rules on the Scouts’ website: https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/capture-the-flag/
Forest Bingo
Make everyone a Bingo card of things you might find in the forest. Hand them out and the first to fill out their card by photographing each item on their phone is the winner. Feel free to go funny with it if you like, eg ‘a face in a tree that looks like a former Prime Minister’, ‘a rampant squirrel’, ‘startled picnickers’ etc.
Games for the Campsite
Campsite Olympics
Gather everyone together for races in camping-themed activities such as Fastest Tent Erection, Ooziest Marshmallow, Quickest Sleeping Bag Rolling and Most Efficient Fire-Lighting. Smores all round for the winners.
Glow Stick Ring Toss
We have instructions for making your own Quoits set in our August issue. Simply replace the rope quoits with glow sticks made into circles with some gaffa tape nd you have yourself a night-time version of this classic game.
The instructions to make your own Kubb and Quoits sets are in our August issue’s Weekend Project pages, which we’ve called ‘Summer Throwdown’ and is in shops now. The ideas and photography are by Zoe Bateman. Follow Zoe on Instagram at @toocutecrafting.
