Looking for an engaging way to teach children aged 10-18 about pocket knife safety? My children are all a part of local scouting organizations ; therefore, we have taken an active role in helping lead these troops. Most recently, we planned a knife safety training seminar to earn a carry card to have a knife on-person at any troop events. However, instead of just a basic overview of key information, we chose an interactive, 5-table escape-room-style activity combines hands-on puzzles, teamwork, and critical thinking to reinforce essential knife safety skills.
This made it fun, but more important, it made it memorable.

I designed it for our troop to use, but also kept in mind that it could easily be used for camps, classrooms, or youth groups; this game ensures kids learn and retain key safety rules while having a blast.
Let’s break down how our event went, how the game works, why it’s effective, and how you can host your own event with my printable escape room game pack to make it easily accessible for you. I have also included Amazon affiliate links for your convince and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Why Teach Pocket Knife Safety?
Pocket knives are versatile tools for camping, crafting, and outdoor adventures, but they come with risks if not handled properly. Teaching kids to respect and safely use pocket knives empowers them with confidence and responsibility.
Why a game? So that the children will remember it and it’s easier to point to improper handling by referencing a game station.
This game covers critical safety rules, including:
- Cut away from yourself and avoid cutting into your hand.
- Choose an appropriate-sized knife for the task.
- Use a stable cutting surface and check for rust or dull blades.
- Be mindful of surroundings and know where your knife is at all times.
- Never leave a knife open and use proper hand placement.
- Choose a pocket knife with a locking blade and know how to disengage it safely.
By turning these lessons into a fun, puzzle-based challenge, kids retain knowledge through active participation and collaboration. It also helps when pairs or teams are mixed age groups.
Related: Why kids get hurt by knives and fire: how to prevent disaster

How the Pocket Knife Safety Escape Room Works
The Knife Safety Escape Room game is a modular, memory-based challenge where players solve five puzzles across five tables to unlock a reward box with a 5-letter code (SHARP). Each puzzle tests a different aspect of knife safety, ensuring comprehensive learning. Here’s a glimpse of the game and how our knife safety training went.
Start the night with a demonstration
For the first 10-15 minutes, we had all of our girls gathered in one area to watch a cleaning and sharpening demonstration. This gave me, the facilitator, time to go through and make sure all of my table leads knew what they were sharing and how the game worked.
I then introduced the girls to the game where they picked up a pen and notecard, paired up with older girls matching to younger learners. Then they were off!

Puzzle Breakdown
- Pocket Knife Safety Scenarios (Table 1)
Kids match scenarios (e.g., “Sam whittles with the blade toward his hand”) to safety rules like “Cut Away from Yourself.” Correct matches reveal the letter S. Table lead helps give a general overview of basic safety steps.
Teaches: Cutting direction, stable surfaces, rust checks, and knife size. - Safe Pocket Knife Passing Demo (Table 2)
Players demonstrate passing a closed and open pocket knife (with a locking blade) handle-first and mark a “safety circle” to show awareness of surroundings. Success earns the letter H that is hidden under a safety circle cone.
Teaches: Safe handling, lock disengagement, and mindfulness of others. - Pocket Knife Inspection Challenge (Table 3)
Kids identify red flags (e.g., dull blade, rust, faulty lock) on a pocket knife chart, summing numbers to find the letter A. They must be able to identify what’s a true safety concern versus what is a vanity aspect in a knife and then solve a cipher to earn their letter. We had the most slip ups here. When kids got to the treasure chest, they were told they didn’t have the code so they would go back and re-train at this table.
Teaches: Dull knives are dangerous, rust checks, and lock functionality. - Cutting Technique Trivia (Table 4)
Players analyze a whittling photo and select the correct rule (e.g., “Use proper hand placement and cut away from your body”) to reveal the letter R on the back. Each card though had a letter. Participants then had a “pause and participate” challenge where they used a knife they brought with them to whittle a stick or soap.
Teaches: Hand placement and safe cutting direction. - First Aid Sequence (Table 5)
Some basic information was presented to the girls to help them understand clotting and cleaning. Kids arrange first aid steps for a minor cut (e.g., stay calm, apply pressure) to reveal the letter P. They then “pause and participate” by simulating a wound treatment before proceeding.
Teaches: Emergency response for knife-related injuries.
The Reward
Once players collect all five letters and unscrambled them to spell S-H-A-R-P they unlock or open a box containing personalized pocket knife safety badges celebrating their mastery of knife safety skills.

We then invited the girls outside to learn to use the back of their knife to start a fire using a ferro rod (which for us connected the knife carry card with the fire building badge work they had been completing) but is also just a fun way to use their knives for the first “accepted” time! And everyone enjoyed s’mores together while we explained to parents that they needed to sign the card before we laminated it.
After each girl had a parent sign their card, they demonstrated their safety and comfort level with their own knife they brought and we laminated and presented them with their complete carry card.

Why This Game Works
- Hands-On Learning: Kids engage with props like training knives and laminated cards, making lessons memorable.
- Teamwork: Collaborative puzzles encourage discussion and reinforce peer learning.
- Gamified Fun: The escape-room format keeps kids motivated to solve challenges and unlock the reward.
- Comprehensive Coverage: All key safety rules are integrated, with a focus on pocket knives and brief mentions of kitchen knives.
- Adaptable: Suitable for groups of varying sizes and settings, with a suggested runtime of 60-90 minutes. Our event, including dinner at the beginning and fire starting and s’mores at the end was 3 hours. The intro demonstration took 10-15 minutes. The active game was around 60-75 minutes.
How to Host Your Own Pocket Knife Safety Escape Room
Ready to bring this exciting game to your group? Here’s how to set it up:
Materials Needed
- Printable Game Pack (details below): Includes scenario cards, rule headers, inspection charts, answer cards, first aid steps, and facilitator guides.
- Props: Blunt training pocket knives (with locking blades), cones or tape for the safety circle, (optional) 5-letter word lock (set to “SHARP”), and reward items (badges or certificate).
- Setup: Five tables, each with a puzzle station. Ensure a facilitator is present to guide, provide hints, and verify answers.
- Optional: Laminated materials for durability, a timer for added excitement, and extra props like a whittled stick or cut vegetable for realism. Heavy patterned card stock to not see through cards that have letters on the back. (Our coordinator also used these to cover clipboard for table leads to have some visual barriers to any information).
Step-by-Step Hosting Guide
- Purchase the Printable Game Pack: Get all the materials you need, including detailed instructions, printable cards, and customizable templates. Available at our online store (link to be provided).
- Prepare the Stations: Set up each table with the corresponding puzzle materials. Use the facilitator guide to understand each task.
- Brief the Players: Explain the goal (unlock the box with the code “SHARP”) and safety rules (e.g., only use blunt training knives).
- Run the Game: Let teams rotate through stations or assign groups to each table. Facilitators provide hints if needed (e.g., “Check the blade direction rule”).
- Celebrate Success: Once the code is cracked, open the lockbox and distribute badges and the certificate. Take photos to share the excitement!

Tips for Success
- Safety First: Use only blunt training knives and supervise all activities.
- Encourage Collaboration: Let kids discuss and solve puzzles together to reinforce learning.
- Adjust Difficulty: For younger kids (10-12), offer more hints; for older teens (16-18), reduce guidance to challenge them.
- Time Management: Aim for 60 minutes to keep energy high, but not rush through the information.
Get the Printable Game Pack
Don’t spend hours designing your own game—I put together a Knife Safety Escape Room Pack that has everything you need! This comprehensive kit includes:
- Printable puzzle materials: Scenario cards, rule headers, inspection charts, answer cards, and first aid steps.
- Facilitator guide: Step-by-step instructions and tips for running the game.
- Table Lead guides: Every adult manning a table knows exactly what to teach and do.
- Bonus resources: Safety rule posters and a checklist for pocket knife handling. And pictures if you don’t have or want to use real knifes at the inspection table.
The pack is affordable, easy to use, and reusable for multiple parties for your troop over the years. I just ask that you buy one per troop. Contact me at community@karacarrero.com for multi-troop event pricing.

Why Invest in the Game Pack?
- Saves Time: All materials are ready to print and use, cutting prep time significantly.
- Professional Design: Vibrant, kid-friendly visuals keep players engaged.
- Reusable: Laminate the materials for repeated use in camps, classrooms, or scout meetings.
- Educational Impact: Proven to reinforce knife safety skills through active learning.
Make Knife Safety Fun and Memorable
The Pocket Knife Safety Escape Room game transforms knife safety education into an exciting adventure. By hosting this event, you’ll empower kids with the skills and confidence to handle pocket knives responsibly while creating lasting memories. Get your printable game pack today or find it on Teachers Pay Teachers and bring this educational escape room to your group!
Share your event photos with us! We can’t wait to see your kids become knife safety pros!

Kara is an author and advocate for positive, grace-filled parenting. She is homeschooler to her 6 children living on a farm in New England. She believes in creative educational approaches to help kids dive deeper into a rich learning experience and has her degree in Secondary Education & Adolescent Childhood Development. She is passionate about connecting with and helping other parents on their journey to raise awesome kids!

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