Scoutmaster

Deer Tracking

 
I must admit that every once in a while I cannot resist this bit of fun (so long as it is not demeaning my Scouts). There's no 'butt' to this joke and everyone ends up laughing.

Bring a box or bag of chocolate covered raisins on your next camp out. Get up early and place a pile of them on the ground near where you will later take a nature hike.

Bring the Scouts in the vicinity of your pile of 'deer scat' (you may attribute it to rabbits as well) and ask them if they can find any signs of animals in the area. Once a Scout has located your pile gather around to show them how a real woodsman evaluates a pile of scat.

"Well, this looks like deer, let's see if it is still warm" stir the pile a bit with your finger. This should cause some uneasy looks and a few gasps of disbelief.
"Yep, still a little warm, probably from just an hour or so ago"  pick up a few and hold them in the palm of you hand. Now the Scouts are either fascinated or repulsed.
"I wonder if it is a buck or doe? Let's see." hold the pile to your nose for a good sniff. Bound to elicit some horrified reactions.
"Well that is a doe for sure, wonder what she's been eating?" pop a couple in your mouth.
"Hmmm, tastes like berries and some browse... "  If your Scouts haven't run off in horror you can offer them a taste too. If one is brave enough ask him what he thinks the deer have been eating - he'll probably say chocolate and raisins.

Game Backpack

Here's a great idea from The Trainers Corner blog:

A game backpack is filled with games and various items for quick game ideas. As you can see from the picture, which has some of the contents of my backpack, there’s a lot of things that can be turned into games. Among the contents are balls, balloons, note cards, spoons, sticks, ropes, game tokens, dice, and a really old cell phone (which I love - and it always gets a laugh). So now even if I don’t have time to research a game, I have one at hand. We can do a spoon and ping pong ball relay. We can do a game where you pass the balloon along without using your hands. We have bean bags that we can use for a bean bag toss. We have a great giant cell phone to play Guess Who’s Calling. And of course a notepad and pencil to keep score, or use for a quick game of hang-man. I don’t even have a game in mind for some of the items. But in a pinch, you can make a game out of almost anything.

The contents of Jeff's backpack are designed for Cubs. Here's what i would include for Scouts

    3x5 and 4x6 Index cards and Sharpie markers - Any number of games and contests can be invented with  3x5 card. There are some examples in this post

A deck of Playing Cards - great for randomizing teams (all the hearts over here, clubs over here, etc.), skimming into a hat, and playing cards.

Poker Chips - used as markers, score keepers etc.

Newspaper  - a few sheets for one of our Troop's favorite games The Wacker of Death

Duct Tape - On principle alone every backpack should have a roll of duct tape. Good for marking lines, etc.

Kubb

Kubb - (pronounced kewb) is a Swedish lawn game that combines the accuracy of horseshoes with the strategy of chess.
It could become a runaway favorite game with your Scouts. Individuals or teams can play Kubb so it is an ideal inter-patrol competition.

How to play Kubb
Directions on making your own Kubb set.

Soda Bottle Water Rockets

Happy Fourth of July!

In the spirit of the day here's a bottle rocket that needs no fuse and wont attract the ire of parents or the local constabulary.

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This looks like a lot of fun; especially suited to a lazy afternoon at summer camp.
Read about Soda Bottle Water Rockets at  Geekdad with plenty of links to instructions.

Wacker of Death

I didn't come up with the name, the Scouts did. The real name of this game is something like "swat-em" but it is one of our Scout's favorites.

All that is needed are two swatters made of rolled-up sections of newspaper wrapped with duct tape, about 10-15 foot square area of clear floor or ground, 2 blindfolds and 2 Scouts and a referee.

Two Scouts blindfolded and taken to opposite corners of the playing area. They are spun around three times and placed on their hands and knees. The referee then places the swatters on the floor and then starts the players who try to first locate one of the swatters and hit their opponent with it. The first player that touches (intentionally or not) his opponent with the swatter wins.

Players must stay on their hands and knees, they must hold the swatter (no throwing) and they must stay within the playing area. As you may imagine this is a loud game; the Scouts will invariably shout directions to the players. I have seen one match go on for several minutes as the players try to find the swatters and then each other amid the yelling. It is fun to play and even more fun to watch.

The players must be watched carefully so they avoid butting heads or bumping into furniture. Naturally no spectators are allowed to touch a player unless the safety of the player is at risk. We have played this game many, many times without a mishap.

Tug-of-War

Whether an athletic competition, ritual practice, or casual the tug-of-war tradition is many centuries old. The United States Tug-of-War Association web page features  an interesting history of the sport, an official event in early Olympic Games.

We are fortunate to own a 30 foot length of nylon rope that was once used on a tug boat that is three or four inches in diameter. Using anything weaker would increase the danger of the rope breaking. Under the incredible strain of a tug of war a broken rope could result in some serious injuries.

A red tape marks the center of the rope. Two other markers are three feet from either side of the  center and two more three feet from these marks. We mark the ground or floor with a center line and two lines three feet on either side of the center line. To win a pull the three foot mark on the rope must pass over the three foot line opposite of the center mark.

Anchor men can pass the rope under one arm, around their back and over the opposite shoulder with the end of the rope running free. The pullers grasp the rope with the palms up and may not wrap their arms around it or use any other grip.

We don't allow teams to dig their feet in when we are outdoors like the pros do and we do not encourage 'rowing' or taking short jerks in secession because this is more likely to break the rope.

Humane Cub Scout Cage

A humane containment structure for cub scouts has been developed after years of experimentation. The prototype shown here was successful in containing several cubs for a minute or more and should be a boon to harried den leaders.
Read more about the cub capture dome at Yes Mag an online source of many interesting projects for scouts and others. Great plans for telegraph keys, games and more; look in the 'projects' section of the site.