Make hot air balloons using tissue paper
and burning cotton wool soaked in spirit to provide heat source.
Get Patrols to practice the high – speed stretcher technique. (One
Scout grips the ends of two Scout Stave or light spars and his shirt/sweater is stripped
off him directly onto the spars. The process is then repeated at the other end of the
stretcher.
Give each patrol a postcard and ask them to cut it in such a way that it
can be opened out to create an unbroken loop, which can pass over their bodies.
For a laugh hold a smell-making contest. Each Patrol is given a stove
and a collection of food scraps- bacon – rind, onion, apple, mint, coffee, black
treacle, anything that smells when heated. The object of the exercise is to fill the room
with as many appetising smells as possible.
Allow five minutes for the solution of this problem- the retreating army
has sabotaged the pontoon bridge by removing all the manhole covers from the pontoons. At
the moment the manholes are above water level, but as soon as vehicles come onto the
bridge, the pontoons will be depressed and will flood. A long line of vehicles is waiting
to cross the river in pursuit of the enemy. You are in charge. You have no way of
replacing the manhole covers. What would you do?
Let each Patrol construct a ‘Chain – Reactor System’
which from the initial impulse will trigger – off a series of movements of the
greatest possible variety e.g. a string is burnt through by a candle flame and releases a
weight which raises a miniature portcullis which allows a stream of pebbles etc…and
so on. The ‘Reactor System’ which has the greatest variety of movement and lasts
the longest is the winner.
Hold a ten minute Patrol competition to see how many items can be
crammed in a matchbox
Go carol singing at Christmas
Each Patrol should be encouraged to have regular Patrol hikes and at
least once a year hold a Patrol camp.
Each Patrol should be encouraged to
establish its own identity – Patrol corners, Patrol flags, Patrol signs on Patrol
corners, Patrol logs etc.
Invite your Patrols to set up and manage a Patrol Internet site.
In the past every Scout had a scout stave which was brought to the
meeting each week and could be used for a variety of activities. Collect together a number
of light spars, which can be placed in Patrol corners for use at meetings.
If a Patrol meets in the home of one of its members try to do a good
turn for the hosts.
Provide your Patrols with a number of light spars and some sisal and
challenge your Patrols to create a single archway that will stand unsupported from one
wall of the den to the other.
The purpose of this exercise is to test the ability of your Patrols to
organise and give precise verbal instructions to their Patrols. You should allow time for
Patrol Leaders to brief their patrols before the exercises begin.
In exactly one minute from now the room will be plunged into darkness
for the space of 60 seconds. You have one minute to organise your Patrol so that when the
lights go out you can build a human pyramid three Scouts high which will still be intact
when the lights go back on.
Without using knots, join six knotting ropes together to make the
longest possible line which will hold together when held by its extremities clear of the
ground.
Organise your Patrol so that when a signal is given – in about 3
minutes- all the following tasks can be carried out simultaneously in one minute or less:
# Set a map
# Put a bandage round an injured knee
#Make a tripod
# With a handkerchief only demonstrate how you would drag an insensible
person from a smoke filled room
#Without the use of a compass, draw a chalk arrow on the floor or ground
pointing north-north east.
# You have exactly three minutes to organise a relay race in which every
Scout in the Patrol carries every other Scout from one end of the room to the other. Be
ready to go when the signal is given.
Patrols compete to make the longest ‘lifeline’ with article of
their own clothing. No great strain need be put on the line but it must hold together when
held by its extremities without touching the ground.
Mark out an area about 6 meters in diameter and place in the centre,
about one metre apart, two jam jars, one containing a lighted candle. Provide Patrols with
sisal. Instructions: Working from outside the area, reverse the position of the jars in
relation to each other. If the light go out, your failure will be complete.
Mark out a ‘River’ about three metres across. In the middle,
place two billies, without handles, one containing water, one without. Supply Patrols with
light spars and sisal. The problem - working from the sides of the ‘river’, pour
water from one billy to the other and back without spilling a drop.
Mark out a ‘river’ about four metres wide. On the bank,
opposite each Patrol place three washing up bottles, filled with water and loosely tied
together at the necks. Each Patrol is given a selection of light spars, sisal and some
soft wire. The problem – Without crossing the river, improvise a devise that will
enable your Patrol to recover the bottles without spilling any of their contents.
Give the Patrols bamboo garden canes and elastic bands and challenge
then to construct the highest standing tower in the shortest time.
Give the Patrols bamboo garden canes and elastic bands and challenge
then to construct the highest standing tower that will hold a brick on top of it.
Give Patrols plain postcards and pencils for each of its members. Ask
each Patrol to draw a sketch map that will enable a highly intelligent foreign Scout who
can’t speak a word of English to find his own way from the nearest railway station or
nearest bus stop to your Scout Hall or den. Put finished maps on display and invite
comment and criticism.
A campfire stunt – Each Scout needs an empty drink bottle of a
different colour and a powerful torch. The contents of the bottles are reduced by drinking
sip by sip, until blowing across the top of the bottle can produce notes of the scale. A
good deal of rehearsal is required to prefect this. The ‘orchestra lines up, each
holding his torch below the bottle, pointing upwards. As each Scout blows a note in a tune
he lights up his torch, red, blue, yellow as the tune progresses.
Fish for a Ball - You need a 2 to 2 1/2 foot / 2 inch diameter plastic
pipe. Drill about 10 holes along the side 1/8" diameter at varying heights and sides.
Fix the pipe firmly in the ground, and put a ping pong ball down into it. Provide Scouts
with gallons of water and a jug, to be kept 5 paces away from the pipe. (Important)
The Object: To fish the ball out of the pipe without moving the pipe.
The Solution: Constantly fill the pipe with water till the ball rises to the top. Everyone
gets very wet!
The hornets of Santa Cortez – An explorer has fallen from a tree
knocking himself out and breaking his arm in the process. First aid must be given where he
lies and he can only be moved by the use of a stretcher. In falling he has disturbed a
nest of vicious hornets, whose sting is know to be fatal. The swarm is hovering above the
injured man and is descending at a rate of 12 inches every minute. The rate of descent can
only be slowed down by dense clouds of smoke.
Flood warning – Within ten minutes the whole area will be inundated
to a depth of four feet. Darkness is approaching rapidly. A beacon fire must be lit to
warn the villagers across the valley. The only gear available consists of six spars, four
lashings, one old billy and a box of matches.
You are to conceal your patrol and this (some awkward looking item) in a
tree at least 3 metres from the ground. Storms are expected so make a tree shelter.
Your Patrol has come upon a swamp containing deadly snakes that can
reach up to 1 metre above the surface of the swamp. Cross the swamp. Patrols are given the
necessary equipment to make a set of stilts.
Arrange eight used motor tyres so that they hang, at varying height,
from a strong rope or spar. The object is to get your whole Patrol through them in the
shortest possible time.
An incident trail - if you really want to be ambitious, you try putting
together an incident trail over a two day period with patrols travelling over a course
about 15 – 20 miles around a circular course. Incidents you might consider could
include:-
# A series of tyres suspended from strong branches – Scouts have to
get through them, pick up an object (wooden spar) and return.
# Scouts complete two brain teasers and identify a number of sound effects
played to them on a tape recorder.
# Each team is given the equipment to make a ‘transporter’ using
Scout staves or light spars and then have to carry a ‘dangerous ‘ substance
through a maze without the ‘transporter’
touching the sides of the maze.
# Each Patrol has to assemble a bicycle after which one Scout has to ride
it over short course.
# The Patrols are blindfolded except the Patrol Leader's who must direct
their Patrol to pitch a tent
# A scene is set up with a bicycle lying in the road beside a car with
‘driver’, ’victim’, and passer-by’ reacting appropriately. The
Patrol has to deal with the situation.
# The Patrol has to cross a deep ‘canyon’ using only the rope
and pulleys provided.
# The Patrol have to cross a mine field using three tyres; the idea was to
have two people on each tyre while a third was moved forward for one of the pairs to get
on to and so on across the ‘minefield’
# Each team is given a number of light stars, which they must use to
retrieve a number of batteries, which are out of direct reach. The batteries are then used
to power a tape recorder on which they receive their next instruction.
# The Patrol must get over an ‘Electric fence’ (garden net)
without touching it
# Retrieve a box (of explosives) from the middle of a stream using ropes
and transporting it to a ‘safe’ area.
# Letters for an anagram are transmitted over a distance of 50 meters
using semaphore. This leads to a tape recorder that is locked in a box; on the box is a
photograph showing the location of the key; the tape indicated the location of the next
clue that is hidden in a test tube at the bottom of a pipe that can no be reached by your
arm. Water is in containers nearby, so Patrols have to think of floating the clue to the
top by pouring water into pipe.
All the bases could be linked using map reading and references. All bases
should have a time limit of no more than 15 minutes.
A problem for your Patrols - Bank employees have been trapped in a safe.
A deadly poison will be released if the alarm is tripped. The problem for the Patrol is to
negotiate the security system, open the safe, and rescue the bank employees from gas
fumes. Each member of the patrol has to wear a gas mask, which restrict vision and voice
communication (swimming goggles and cotton wool). ‘Infra red beams’ made by
connecting fishing line to mouse traps are connected across the corridor leading to the
safe
A time bomb has been found. A wiring diagram is available. The problem
for the patrol is to de-arm the bomb. One person who is communicating with the Patrol
using a walkie-talkie however can only see the drawing.
A selection of ideas using old newspapers:-
# Make sculptures from rolled, folded and crushed newspaper, held together
using sticky tape.
# Using identical newspapers for each Patrol call for the first Patrol to
find a photograph of a particular person, article, advertisement, answer to a crossword
clue etc.
# Each Patrol is to create clothing for a member of their patrol using
newspaper provided. Best-dressed Scout wins.
# Using newspapers only construct the tallest tower possible –
provide patrols with elastic bands and sticky tape.
#Using newspapers only construct a rope that will hold together when
stretched from its ends free of the ground.
Provide each Patrol with a few old newspaper and see who can produce a
paper rope which can be secured to an overhead branch, beam or what ever you have
available and will support the weight of a Scout.
Set up ‘islands’ 10 meters in diameter and maroon each Patrol
on the ‘islands’ for an hour. While on the ‘island’ they must do a
number of activities – make a cup of tea, set up a signalling system, make a flagpole
and raise a flag. Provide necessary equipment.
A patch of ground is radioactive and your Patrol must cross this area
using 4 logs or boxes a rope and a light spar. Logs or boxes must be placed on the ground
and not thrown into position.
You have 20 minutes to demonstrate square and diagonal lashings by
lashing two Scouts together.
High Court Walk-ons (This is a unique skit that involves a series of
walk-ons that must be closely arranged with the Campfire Leader. )
PROPS: Briefcase, a small ladder, and a banana peel.
WALK-ON #1: LAWYER: [enters carrying briefcase] LEADER: Hey, you with
the case! Where do you think you're going? LAWYER: [strides in, holding up
case] I'm taking my case to court! [strides through and out]
WALK-ON #2: (Later) LAWYER: [enters with case and step ladder] LEADER:
Alright, where are you going now? LAWYER: [setting up step ladder] I'm
taking my case to a higher court! [strides through and out]
WALK-ON #3. (Later) LAWYER: [enters with case and opens and shuts it]
LEADER: It's you again! Where are you going with that case? LAWYER: To
court - mine is an open and shut case! [strides out]
WALK-ON #4 (Later) LAWYER: [enters with case and banana peel] LEADER:
[angrily] I've had it with you walking through here. Now, this is it!
Where are you going with that banana peel? LAWYER: I'm going to the court
of aPEEL! [strides out]
WALKON #5 (Last time) LAWYER: [wanders in with no props, looking all
around] LEADER: What's up nowl What are you looking for ! LAWYER: I lost
my case. [trudges out]
