Planning girls camp this year? Looking for a theme idea that will really engage the youth? Why not bring the excitement and challenge of the hit TV show “Survivor” to your camp experience? With a little creativity, you can create a fun, memorable, and spiritually uplifting week for your Young Women. Here’s how to transform your campsite into a tribal council and your activities into immunity challenges.

lds girls camp

“Survivor” Themed Latter-day Saint Girls Camp Idea

A “Survivor”-themed girls camp can provide a unique and engaging way to teach gospel principles. By facing challenges and working together, the girls can learn about resilience, faith, leadership, and unity. And, just like we need our physical strength to make it through the challenges, we need our spiritual strength to overcome real-life trials.

As Jeff Probst would say, “First things, first…”

1. Form Your Tribes

Forget the daisies and sunflowers! Divide your young women into tribes with names that evoke a sense of adventure and strength. Think “Diamondback Rattlesnakes,” “Fiery Foxes,” or “Soaring Eagles.” Encourage each tribe to create a flag or banner that represents their unique identity, fostering a sense of belonging and friendly competition. This visual representation of their tribe will help them bond and add to the overall “Survivor” atmosphere. I found some large 3×5 foot blank flags on Amazon that would be perfect for this!

2. Challenge Them to Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

The heart of “Survivor” lies in its challenges, and your camp should be no different. Design challenges that test a variety of skills:

  • Physical Prowess: Organize an obstacle course that requires agility and teamwork. Set up a relay race with fun and challenging tasks like three-legged races, water balloon tosses, and blindfolded navigation. A good old-fashioned tug-of-war can also get the adrenaline pumping! Remember to prioritize safety and ensure the challenges are appropriate for the girls’ physical abilities.
  • Mental Mastery: Challenge their minds with scripture chases that require them to work together to quickly locate specific verses. Host a gospel trivia game to test their knowledge of Church history and doctrine. Teach them essential knots, or present them with realistic first aid scenarios that require quick thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Creative Expression: Tap into their creative side with challenges that involve skits, songs, and nature art. Have them create a tribe cheer or song that embodies their spirit. Challenge them to use natural materials found around the campsite to create artwork that reflects a gospel principle or their camp experience.

Here are some perfect scriptures that can be used in a scripture chase that’s focused on spiritual survival. Click on the image to download and print.

girls camp game

3. Rewards and Tribal Council

Up the ante by offering enticing rewards for winning challenges. These could include things like:

  • Food Privileges: Extra dessert, a special snack bar, or the first choice of meal options.
  • Campsite Perks: A prime campsite location with better shade or closer proximity to amenities.
  • Activity Time: Extended free time, a special activity like a campfire sing-along, or a preferred choice of activity options.

To truly capture the “Survivor” spirit, hold a “Tribal Council” at the end of each day or every other day. This is a time for girls to reflect on their experiences, discuss teamwork and individual contributions, and participate in a “vote-off.” Instead of eliminating someone from camp, the vote could be symbolic, like choosing someone to do a silly task or wear a funny hat the next day. This keeps the focus on fun and avoids any hurt feelings.

4. Camp Life with a “Survivor” Twist

Infuse the “Survivor” theme into everyday camp life:

  • Campfire Challenges: Incorporate “Survivor”-style challenges into your campfire programs. Have a fire-building competition where tribes compete to build a fire and boil water the fastest, or hold a storytelling contest with a “Survivor” theme.
  • Hidden Immunity Idols: Hide “immunity idols” around the campsite. Girls who find them can use them to gain advantages in challenges or Tribal Council, adding an element of surprise and excitement.
  • Survival Skills with a Purpose: Teach practical skills with a “Survivor” twist. Show them how to build a fire safely and responsibly. Teach basic first aid techniques for common outdoor injuries. Incorporate outdoor cooking skills and Leave No Trace principles to instill a sense of environmental stewardship.
  • Personal Reflection: Encourage girls to keep journals throughout the week. Have them reflect on their personal growth, the importance of teamwork, and any spiritual insights they gain through the challenges and activities.

5. Spiritual Survival: The Ultimate Goal

While the “Survivor” theme provides a fun framework, remember that the ultimate goal of girls camp is to strengthen testimonies and build faith. Here’s how to keep the focus on spiritual growth:

  • Focus on Spiritual Survival: Emphasize that the most important “survival skills” are spiritual ones. Encourage prayer, scripture study, and reliance on the Holy Ghost as essential tools for navigating life’s challenges.
  • Testimony Meeting: Conclude camp with a powerful testimony meeting where girls can share how they have strengthened their “spiritual immunity” during the week. Encourage them to reflect on how the challenges and experiences have helped them grow closer to Christ.
  • Service Project: Incorporate a service project into the camp itinerary. This could involve cleaning up a local park, helping an elderly community member, or participating in a conservation effort. Remind the girls that true strength comes from serving others and following the Savior’s example.

If you pull this off, I would love for you to send me some pictures! It would be so fun to see and hear how it turned out. Girls Camp is such a fun, bonding experience that will help your Young Women build friendships, develop valuable skills, and most importantly, strengthen their relationship with their Savior. So, get ready to outwit, outplay, and outlast – in the best possible way!

If you liked this LDS Girls Camp idea, check out:

Use this image to save or share post:

lds girls camp