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Discover what this means

Escape, me hearties!

Practice your skills on the water with this pirate-themed game.

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You’ll need

  • Watercraft (such as canoes, kayaks, sailing boats)
  • Appropriate safety equipment

Before you begin

  • Mark the area of play, which everybody should stay within during the game.
  • Consider dressing up in pirate-themed clothing beneath your safety equipment, making pirate flags for your watercraft, and naming teams after famous pirates like Blackbeard and Calico Jack.

Pirates and police

  1. Everyone should be out on the water, in their craft.
  2. Five members of the group are the police. Everyone else is a pirate.
  3. The pirates should spread out around the area of play. When they are ready, the police should give chase.
  4. The police should try to capture pirates by deactivating their boats. They do this by touching the bow (front) or stern (back) of a pirate’s boat with their hand.
  5. Deactivated pirates are not allowed to move unless they’re reactivated. To alert their fellow pirates, they must shout ‘Ahoy, matey!’ and hold up their paddles or oars in the air.
  6. Boats are reactivated when another pirate touches the bow or stern with their hand.

Reflection

This activity was about trying new things and practising skills when out on the water. What kind of manoeuvres did this game encourage you to try out? Did you see anyone show any really good skills? Being on the water also allows us to see the world around us from a different perspective. Did you see anything new?

This activity was also about working in a team. How did the police work together to catch the pirates? How did the pirates work together to reactivate each other? Were there any ways you could have worked more as a team?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Water games and activities

Be careful when doing activities with, in, or near water. Check surfaces and reduce the risk of slipping where possible. Make sure you have appropriate supervision for this activity.

Change the number of police and the size of the area of play, depending on the ability of the group. Consider running this activity amongst others based around water activities, with pirate teams accruing treasure for achievements or teamwork.

Those less confident with paddling or uncomfortable in confined spaces may not enjoy an activity such as kayaking, but may enjoy being part of a pair in an open canoe or a dinghy crew. Review the needs of the group and consult with them where possible to find the best fit.

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Time on the Water 1

Focus on developing teamwork to help satisfy some of the requirements of the Teamwork Challenge Award.

Encourage young people to develop the pirate theme and to suggest their own water games.