School camps provide the perfect setting for students to explore more than just the outdoors—they offer a unique opportunity to develop and practise real-world leadership skills. Removed from their usual routines, students step into unfamiliar situations where they’re encouraged to make decisions, collaborate, and take initiative.
At The Collaroy Centre, we’ve seen how structured leadership activities can unlock potential in students and help them discover confidence, resilience, and the ability to lead with empathy and purpose.
Here are five powerful leadership activities you can run during school camps—and how they help shape future leaders.
1. Team Challenges & Initiative Games
These structured, small-group challenges require students to solve problems together, often with limited resources or time. Whether it’s scaling our challenge wall, navigating our maze, or escaping our spider-web problem, students must listen to one another, assign roles, and think creatively under pressure.
What students learn:
- Decision-making
- Active listening
- Task delegation
- Respecting diverse ideas
2. High Ropes or Vertical Challenges
Activities like high ropes or abseiling may seem like personal challenges—but they’re also excellent leadership tools. As students encourage and support their peers through the course, they practise empathy, clear communication, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
What students learn:
- Emotional awareness
- Risk assessment
- Peer encouragement
- Leadership through action, not authority
3. Rotating Team Leader Roles
Throughout the camp, schools can assign rotating leadership roles for each group activity—such as timekeeper, safety monitor, or team spokesperson. Giving every student the chance to lead in a structured way helps build confidence and accountability.
What students learn:
- Leading by example
- Group facilitation skills
- Responsibility and follow-through
- Confidence in speaking and decision-making
4. Orienteering & Navigation Tasks
Orienteering challenges students to work together to navigate a set course using maps or clues. It builds spatial awareness and strategic thinking but also requires groups to identify natural leaders, assign tasks, and move through conflict or confusion as a team.
What students learn:
- Strategic planning
- Delegating tasks
- Managing group dynamics
- Leading under uncertainty
5. Reflective Leadership Discussions
After each activity, students are encouraged to take part in guided group reflection sessions. This gives them the chance to review what worked, what didn’t, and how they contributed as individuals and teammates.
What students learn:
- Self-awareness
- Constructive feedback
- Learning from mistakes
- Adaptability and growth mindset
Why Leadership Matters at Camp
Developing leadership in a camp setting is about more than taking charge—it’s about learning to listen, support others, and bring out the best in a team. These skills help students not only at school, but in relationships, future workplaces, and community settings.
At The Collaroy Centre, our staff work closely with teachers to customise programs that develop leadership in a way that suits your group’s age, stage, and goals.
Plan Your Leadership-Focused Camp Today
If you’re looking to build a program that helps students grow in confidence and character, we’d love to help.
Get in touch with our team to learn how we can support your next school camp
