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The MacScouter's
Big Book of Games
Volume 2: Games for Older Scouts
Compiled by Gary Hendra and Gary Yerkes
www.macscouter.com/Games

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Table of Contents
Title Page Title Page
Introduction 1 Radio Isotope 11
Introduction to Camp Games for Older Rat Trap Race 12
Reactor Transporter 12
Scouts 1
Tripod Lashing 12
Camp Games for Older Scouts 2
Map Symbol Relay 12
Flying Saucer Kim's 2 Height Measuring 12
Pack Relay 2 Nature Kim's Game 12
Sloppy Camp 2 Bombing The Camp 13
Tent Pitching 2 Invisible Kim's 13
Tent Strik'n Contest 2 Kim's Game 13
Remote Clove Hitch 3 Candle Relay 13
Compass Course 3 Lifeline Relay 13
Compass Facing 3 Spoon Race 14
Map Orienteering 3 Wet T-Shirt Relay 14
Flapjack Flipping 3 Capture The Flag 14
Bow Saw Relay 3 Crossing The Gap 14
Match Lighting 4 Scavenger Hunt Games 15
String Burning Race 4
Scouting Scavenger Hunt 15
Water Boiling Race 4
Demonstrations 15
Bandage Relay 4
Space Age Technology 16
Firemans Drag Relay 4
Machines 16
Stretcher Race 4
Camera 16
Two-Man Carry Race 5
One is One 16
British Bulldog 5
Sensational 16
Catch Ten 5
One Square 16
Caterpillar Race 5
Tape Recorder 17
Crows And Cranes 5
Water Games 18
Elephant Roll 6
A Little Inconvenience 18
Granny's Footsteps 6
Slash hike 18
Guard The Fort 6
Monster Relay 18
Hit The Can 6
Save the Insulin 19
Island Hopping 6
Marathon Obstacle Race 19
Jack's Alive 7
Punctured Drum 19
Jump The Shot 7
Floating Fire Bombardment 19
Lassoing The Steer 7
Mystery Meal 19
Luck Relay 7
Operation Neptune 19
Pocket Rope 7
Pyjama Relay 20
Ring On A String 8
Candle Race 20
Shoot The Gap 8
Spoon Race 20
Sleeping Indian 8
Newspaper Race 20
Sleeping Pirate 8
Blow Ping Pong 20
Spud 8
Underwater Knotting 20
Standing Jump Relay 9
Match Race 20
This Is The Moon 9
Obstacle Relay 20
Three-Man Tug-O-War 9
Human Chain 20
Tiger In A Cage 9
Mounted Wrestling 20
Transport 9
Greased Watermelon 20
Tug-O-War 10
Water Tug 'o War 21
Tugowar-Steal-Bacon 10
Candy Dive 21
Hot Isotope 10
Jaws 21
Knot Relay 10
Carnival Day at Camp 22
Knot Trail (Kim's) 10
Log Raising Relay 10 Sponge Toss 22
One Hand Knots 11 Darts 22
Pony Express Race 11 Penny Toss 22
Chariot Races 11 Knock 'Em Over 23
Cross The Pit 11 Douse the Candle 23
Flagpole Raising 11 Fish Pond 23

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Table of Contents
Title Page Title Page
Guess How Many 23 All Aboard 37
Fortune Teller 23 Giant Clove Hitch 37
House of Horrors 23 Traffic Jam 37
Evening Games and Wide Games 25 A A A A B B B B 37
Capture the Flag 25 Bowline Stroll 37
Smugglers and Spies 26 The Monster 37
Whistle tag 26 Other Team Games 38
Light - No light 26 Richmond Hill Hand Ball 38
Find the Bell 27 Metro Medley 38
Triad 27 Tight Rope Walk 38
Frontiers Game 27 Balloon Baseball 38
Brass Rubbing Race 27 Nuclear Reactor Game 39
Double Your Money 27 Hoot Hoot Hoot 40
Elephant Hunt 28 Knot Games 42
Face Paint 28 A Knot Tying Contest 42
Game Of Life 28 A Knot Relay 42
Haggis Hunt 28 Bowline/Sheet-bend Draw 43
Hunt & Chase 28 Knot Relay (timed variation) 43
Jail Break 29 Games for Older Scouts 44
Kim's Wide Game 29
Blind Compass Walk 44
Lamp Chicane 29
Remote Knotting 44
Long Distance Chinese Whispers 29
Snapper Fishing 44
Merchants 29
Tripod Lashing 44
Mixed Up Names 30
The Foreigner 44
Naval Battle 30
Careless Camp Observation Game 44
Postman Game 30
Knotty Trail 44
Rockets And Interceptors 31
What Happened? 45
Scout-Staff Treasure Hunt 31
Flip a Coin 45
Strategy Games 32
Games for Boy Scouts 46
Mouse Trap Attack 32
INDOOR GAMES 47
Mouse Trap Fishing Game 32
Choosing-Up Sides 47
Submarines And Minefields 32
Fire 47
Trader 32
Poison 47
The Trader Game - Altered Slightly 33
Blindman's Buff 47
Trading Post 33
One Pin 47
Lighthouse 33
Prisoner's Base 47
Memory Games 34
Indoor Duck on a Rock 47
Silhouette Kim's Game 34 Hot Hand 47
Battleship Kim's Game 34 Brooklyn Bridge 48
Kims Game Variant 34 Hat Ball, or Roley Poley 48
Patience 34 Leg Wrestling 48
Compass Skills Patience 34 Swat the Fly 48
It's Under A Cup 34 Circle Ball 48
Ruba Dub Dub 35 Tug of War 48
Post Office 35 Scout Baseball 48
Obstacle Course In The Dark 35 Cracker Eating Relay 49
Team Building Games 36 Knot Tag 49
Caber Toss 36 Three Deep 49
Over The Log 36 Scout Tag 49
Amazon 36 Free Shot 49
The Electric Fence 36 Shooting Gallery 49
Kim's Game Campsite 36 Scout Spelling Bee 49
Shoe Hunt 36 Snatch the Hat 49
How Many Bears Can Live In The Woods 36 OUTDOOR GAMES 49
Nature Hunt 36 Chain Tag 50
Order Out Of Chaos 36 Lion Hunting 50
Name It 36 Duck on a Rock 50
Bowline-Sheet Bend Draw 36 Quoits 50
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- iii -- January 1997

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Table of Contents
Title Page Title Page
Scout Meets Scout 50 INFORMAL GAMES -- Miscellaneous 55
Nature Study 50 Line wrestling 55
Scouts and Indians 50 Mounted Wrestling 55
Running the Blockade 50 Cavalry Charge 55
Cross Country Signal Race 51 Attacking the Fort 55
Hunt the Scout 51 Battle Ball 55
Knights 51 Scrimmage Ball 55
Poison (Outdoors) 51 Rope Rush 55
LINE GAMES 51 Black and White 56
RELAY GAMES 51 Tug of War 56
Over the Top 51 Trench Attack 56
Through the Tunnel 51 Angle Worm Race 56
In and Out 51 Medley Relay Race 56
Over and Under 51 Three-legged Race 56
Kangaroo 51 Lock-arm Relay Race 56
Goat 52 Jumble Bail 56
Medicine Ball Roll 52 Attention 56
Leap Frog Race 52 "Kelly Says" 56
Flag Race 52 DUAL STRENGTH TESTS 56
Skin the Snake 52 Hand Wrestling 56
Human Wheelbarrow Race 52 Cock Fight 57
Centipede Race -- Three Methods 52 Hand Push 57
Caterpillar Race 52 Indian Leg Wrestle 57
Dizzy Izzy 52 Twist Stick 57
Human Obstacle Race 52 Pull Stick 57
CIRCLE GAMES 52 Stick Wrestle 57
Lock Arm Tag 52 Dog Fight 57
Broncho Tag 52 Rooster Fight 57
Basketball Tag 53 Slapping Cheek 57
Medicine Ball 53 INDIVIDUAL STUNTS 57
Swat Tag 53 Bottle Seat 57
Circle Jump 53 Long Reach 57
Medicine Ball Pass 53 Pick Up Penny 57
Medicine Ball Bound 53 Catch Penny 57
Medicine Ball Run-around 53 Backward Bend 57
Mount Ball 53 Body Between Stick and Arm 58
Dodge Bali 53 Jump Leg 58
Circle Race 53 Finger Feat 58
Channel Tag 53 STUNT NIGHT 58
Double Swat Tag 53 Scouting Games 59
Bear in a Pit 53 by Sir Robert Baden-Powell 59
Pull Into Circle 54
Foreword To Sixth Edition 60
Change Place Tag 54
Chapter I -- Scouting Games. 61
Horse and Rider 54
1. Flag Raiding. 61
INFORMAL GAMES -- Tag Games 54
2. The Rival Dispatch Bearers. 61
Chain Tag 54
3. Dispatch Running. 61
Turtle Tag or Drop Tag 54
4. Reading The Map. 61
Number Tag or Spud 54
5. Relay Race. 62
Mount Tag 54
6. Flying Columns. 62
Cross Tag 54
7. Numbers. 62
Basketball Tag -- Second Method 54
8. Surveying The Country. 62
Snatch Tag 54
9. Scout Meets Scout. 62
Off Ground Tag 54
10. Telegraph Cutting. 63
Ostrich Tag 55
11. The Signalers' Game. 63
Mohammedan Tag 55
12. The Traitor's Letter. 63
Japanese Tag 55
13. Joining Forces. 63
Ankle Tag 55
14. Spider And Fly. 64
"Dizzy Izzy" Tag 55
15. Scouting In The Open. 64
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- iv -- January 1997

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Table of Contents
Title Page Title Page
16. Plant Race. 64 12. The Staff Run 76
17. Where's The Whistle ? 64 13. Pass It On. 76
18. Fugitives. 64 14. Toilet Tag. 77
19. Tails. 65 15. Bomb-Laying. 77
20. Compass Points. 65 16. Baiting The Badger. 78
21. Spot Your Staves. 65 17. Ring Catching. 78
22. One Tree Away. 65 18. Shooting. 78
23. What Is It ? 65 19. Kick It And Run. 78
24. Finding Places. 66 20. Tub-Tilting. 78
Chapter II -- Stalking Games. 67 21. Balancing The Board. 78
1. Deer-Stalking. 67 22. An Obstacle Race. 79
2. Stalking And Reporting. 67 24. Snatch The Handkerchief. 79
3. Scout Hunting. 67 25. Hit The Bucket. 79
4. Shadowing 67 Chapter VI -- Cyclists' Games. 80
5. Ambushing. 67 1. De Wet. 80
6. Mimic Battle. 67 2. The Biter Bit. 80
Chapter. III -- Tracking Games. 69 3. Brigand Hunting. 80
1. Seeking The Scoutmaster. 69 4. Ambuscades. 80
2. The Treasure Hunt. 69 5. Hunting The Spies. 81
3. The Torn Manuscript. 69 Chapter VII -- Town Games. 82
4. Lion-Hunting. 70 1. Shadowing. 82
5. Wool Collecting. 70 2. Follow The Trail. 82
6. "Sharp-Nose." 70 3. Catching The Dodger. 82
7. Climbing. 70 4. The Signature Collector. 82
Chapter IV -- Indoor Games. 71 5. What's Wrong 83
1. Kim's Game. 71 6. Far And Near. 83
2. Debates And Trials. 71 7. Morgan's Game. 83
3. Scout's Chess. 71 8. Shop Window. 83
4. Farmyard. 71 9. Taking Notes. 83
5. Thimble Finding. 72 Chapter VIII -- Night Games. 84
6. Scout's Nose. 72 1.The Escaped Smoker - By Percy Hill. 84
7. Spotting The Spot. 72 2.The Path-Finder. 84
8. How Long ? 72 3. Tracking By Smell. 84
9. Old Spotty-Face. 72 4. Will-O'-The-Wisp. 84
10. Quick Sight. 72 5. Showing The Light. 84
11. Nobody's Airship. 72 6. Night Outposts. 85
12. Blow Ball. 72 Chapter IX -- Winter Games. 86
13. Artists. 73 1. Siberian Man Hunt. 86
14. A Memory Game. 73 2. Arctic Expedition. 86
15. Questions. 73 3. Snow Fort. 86
16. Who Said That? 73 4. Fox-Hunting. 86
17. Celebrities. 73 5. The Dash For The Pole. 86
18. Patterns. 73 6. Clear The Line. 86
19. Round The Ring. 74 7. Skin The Snake. 86
20. Badger Pulling. 74 8. Soccer Relay. 87
Chapter V -- General Games For Camp Or Chapter X -- Seamanship Games. 88
Playground. 75 1. Smugglers Over The Border. 88
1. Catch The Thief. 75 2. Treasure Island. 88
2. Bang The Bear. 75 3. Smugglers 88
3. Shoot Out. 75 4. A Whale Hunt. 88
4. The Bull Fight. 75 5. Water Sports. 88
5. Basket Ball. 75 Chapter XI -- First-Aid Games. 90
6. Knight Errantry. 76 1. Wounded Prisoners. 90
7. Find The North. 76 2. The Red Cross Hero. 90
8. Cock-Fighting. 76 3. The Ill-Fated Camp. 90
9. Camp Billiards. 76 4. Injuries. 91
10. Stool Kicking. 76 5. Ambulance Knights. 91
11. Take The Hat 76 6. Ambulance Rounders. 91
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- v -- January 1997

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Table of Contents
Title Page Title Page
7. Ambulance, French And English. 91
8. Ambulance Hotchpotch. 91
9. AMBULANCE ELEMENTS. 92
Chapter XII -- Games For Strength. 93
1. The Struggle. 93
2. Wrist Pushing. 93
3. Scrum. 93
4. Feet Wrestling. 93
5. Straight Back. 93
6. Bridge. 93
7. Tournaments. 93
8. Kneel To Your Superior. 93
Chapter XIII -- Displays 94
1. The "Mercury" Display. 94
2. Good Turns. 94
3. The Treasure Camp. 95
5. The Diamond Thief. 98
6. Play The Game 99
7. Tableau Of The Storming Of Delhi. 100
8. The S.A.C. 100
9. Pocahontas 101
10. Kidnapped. 106
11. Saving Life 106
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- vi -- January 1997

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Introduction
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games is intended to be used by Scouters and Guiders around the world to
further your programs, and bring fun into your Dens and Packs. This Volume 2: Games for Older Scouts is
intended for older boys and girls, but it is impossible to draw a line and say you cannot use these games for boys
and girls younger than this. In fact, there is some overlap with Volume 1: Games for Younger Scouts,.
The material here has been gathered from many sources, most of which are Cub Scout, Beaver Scout or Boy
Scout related, thus the language used within the games. I believe that most games are suitable for Girl Guides,
Girl Scouts, Campfire Boys and Girls, and indeed any group of young people. There are over 650 games in the
Big Book, divided into many different categories.
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games has been compiled from a wide variety of sources. It started with
the Scouts-L Games FAQ. Then, we combined the Indian Nations 1994 Powwow Book games, with other
Powwow Book games, games from Australia, and individual games from many people. Our sincere thanks to Jim
Speirs, Merl Whitebook and a long cast of characters for contributing to this volume.
Please note that all of the material contained herein has been provided by others, or has been compiled from
material on World Wide Web sites. It is not my intent to incorporate any copyrighted material in this document. It
is brought to my attention that any material contained here is copyrighted, and that copyright states that the
material is not to be reproduced, I will immediately remove it from the electronic document and from the WWW
site.
If you have games that you do not see here, please send them to the MacScouter at gary@macscouter.com.
R. Gary Hendra, the MacScouter, January 1997
Introduction to Camp Games for Older Scouts
by Merl Whitebook, adapted
Games have always been one of the most important elements of Scouting and of the "Patrol Method".
With "GOOD" games, you can emphasize and practice whatever skill you are teaching that week. A good
game or contest will show whether the boys have learned their stuff..AND..they'll have FUN in the process.
Just remember any game can go wrong if YOU let it...explain the rules clearly, make up rules that will stop
bad things before they happen like "NO plowing through people or kicking in British Bulldog". Think ahead and
make rules up ahead of the game..don't be afraid to change rules as the game is played though. THINK SAFETY!
Most of these games can be listed under several categories. Observation is a category that can probably have all
the games listed under it.
You'll notice a lot of these games fit right into the Camporee theme. You'll probably want to use them to
prepare for the annual Camporee. There are literally thousands of games that can be used in Scouting.
Remember that Scouting games should...
1. Be FUN
2. Be SAFE
3. Have a theme or skill involved
4. Have all members participate
5. NO ONE should be forced or scored OUT. If a boy has to leave the game because he got tagged out
etc...he will probably go to the side and get into trouble...just keep scores until the end of the game and
then honor the winners (patrol, individual...). If you can, honor everyone.
A great source of games is "Woods Wisdom", old Scouting books like "Scoutmasters Handbook", "Patrol
Leaders Handbook", "Patrol and Troop Activities", "Program Helps". There are also hundreds of books (non-
Scouting) that list thousands of games, go to used book stores for the old ones, for new ones...go to any book
store and ask for assistance.
Merl A. Whitebook
REMEMBER IN ANY GAME YOU PLAY, KEEP IT SIMPLE, MAKE IT
FUN AND MAKE IT SAFE.
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 1 -- January 1997

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Camp Games for Older Scouts
by Merl Whitebook
Flying Saucer Kim's
Theme: Camping
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: Pack, 20 camping items, bag
Method: Leader takes item out of bag and throws it to leader #2 who puts it in pack..repeat. Patrols then try to
make a list of the items thrown.
Scoring: 1 pt per item
Pack Relay
Theme: Camping
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: Pack with all items outside per patrol (all same number of items..Unstuff sleeping bag.
Method: Patrol lines up. On signal first member races to other end of room and puts one item in pack, races
back...repeat until all items in pack. Line up and give yell.
Scoring: First done wins
Sloppy Camp
Theme: Camping
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: Complete campsite...
Method: Campsite set up with 20+ items wrong. Patrol has 5 minutes to observe(silently). Then 5 minutes to
list all they saw.
Scoring: 1 pt. for each right
Tent Pitching
Theme: Camping
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 tent per patrol
Method: On signal patrol sets up tent. After checked by judge, take down, pack up, line up and give yell.
Scoring: First done wins
Tent Strik'n Contest
Theme: Camping
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 or more tents per patrol
Method: On signal patrols race to see who can strike one or more tents. Some tents might have to be taken
down early to make patrols equal. First tents down and packed, line up and do yell wins.
Scoring: First done wins
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 2 -- January 1997

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Remote Clove Hitch
Theme: Communication
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: 1 large diameter rope at least 50' long
Method: On signal patrol ties clove hitch around a tree that has a circle marked 7-10 around it..no one can
enter the circle. One patrol at a time tries it unless you have many large ropes.
Scoring: Fastest wins
Compass Course
Theme: Compass
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: Compass course, cards, compass per patrol
Method: Each patrol is given a compass and one card. On signal they start. They use all 3 courses. Patrol
with most courses right(closest) wins.
Scoring: Best wins
Compass Facing
Theme: Compass
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: None (compass for leader)
Method: Troop in mass, leader calls out a compass heading. Everyone points to where he thinks it is. If
correct, each scout receives 1 pt for his patrol.
Scoring: Highest score wins
Map Orienteering
Theme: Compass
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: 1 map and compass per patrol
Method: On signal, patrol races to judge. They must take map and orient it with compass.
Scoring: First done wins
Flapjack Flipping
Theme: Cooking
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 skillet, 1 flapjack (round tile) per patrol
Method: Patrols line up. On signal first scout runs course flipping a flapjack repeatedly as he goes...repeat all
scouts. line up and do yell.
Scoring: First done wins
Bow Saw Relay
Theme: Fire Building
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: Per patrol = 1 saw, log 4'x3", supports
Method: Patrols line up facing logs from 20'away.Bowsaw is placed along log. On signal, first scout runs up
and saws off 2" slice...repeat until all have done at least once..
Scoring: 1st done = king patrol
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 3 -- January 1997

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Match Lighting
Theme: Fire Building
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 board with holes, 1 axe, 5 matches per patrol.
Method: On signal first patrol member races up and has 3 strikes with axe to light a match in log...repeat.
First patrol to light or split 5 matches, line up and give yell wins.
Scoring: First done wins
String Burning Race
Theme: Fire Building
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 axe, 1 piece of wood, balloon and string, fire box, 3 matches per patrol
Method: On signal patrol properly splits wood, prepare shavings and lights fire until string burns and balloon
falls.
Scoring: First done wins
Water Boiling Race
Theme: Fire Building
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 axe, 1pc. wood, pot, 3 matches per patrol
Method: First patrol to build fire and boil water wins
Scoring: First done wins
Bandage Relay
Theme: First Aid
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Medium
Equipment Needed: 1 neckerchief per patrol, 3 if splinting
Method: Patrol lines up. On signal first member runs to judge and ties requested bandage...repeat. First
patrol done with all wins.
Scoring: First done wins
Firemans Drag Relay
Theme: First Aid
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Medium
Equipment Needed: None
Method: Half patrol as fireman and half as victims. First fireman runs up to first victim and drags back to other
fireman, next fireman rescues next victim and so forth...
Scoring: First patrol done wins
Stretcher Race
Theme: First Aid
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 2 poles, 1 sleeping bag or blanket per patrol balloon and bucket optional.
Method: On signal patrols rig stretcher with equipment provided. Put member or balloon or member with
water bucket on stretcher and race a course.
Scoring: First done wins
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 4 -- January 1997

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Two-Man Carry Race
Theme: First Aid
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: None
Method: On signal patrol assembles a 2-man carry and races through course, repeat. First patrol to do 4
times, line up and do yell wins.
Scoring: First done wins
British Bulldog
Theme: Fun
Team: Troop
Activity Level: Very high
Equipment Needed: None (buttons)
Method: Troop lines up on one side of room (field). IT in center. Leader says "go", all try to get to other side
while IT tries to catch them and say "British bulldog 1,2,3". If caught, you join IT. Last one left is the winner. Must
be off ground.
Scoring: Last left wins
Catch Ten
Theme: Fun
Team: Half Troop
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 ball
Method: Mark teams (hat-no hat...). Keep away until ball caught 10 times in a row. Must be called out, start
over each time ball is stolen or caught by other team.
Scoring: None
Caterpillar Race
Theme: Fun
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: None
Method: Patrols line up single file behind line. Put chair about 25' in front of patrol. First scout puts hands on
floor, others grab ankles of one in front of them. On signal they race up and around c
hair.
Scoring: First done wins
Crows And Cranes
Theme: Fun
Team: Half Troop
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: None
Method: Teams line up in center, back to back. One team crows while other cranes. Leader calls out team
name, that team must try to get to their end of room while others try to tag. If tagged, you switch teams. This can
go on for ever...
Scoring: None really
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 5 -- January 1997

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Elephant Roll
Theme: Fun
Team: Troop
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: None
Method: Line up scouts on hands and knees(alternate facing direction)side by side. IT tries to crawl from one
end to the other(on their backs). While those in line sway at their own rate. When he makes
it, he becomes the end...next tries IT.
Scoring: None
Granny's Footsteps
Theme: Fun
Team: None
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: None
Method: Troop in line, Granny (IT) about 60' away with back turned. On signal scouts try to sneak up on
Granny. Granny can turn around any time after he counts to 30 to himself. If caught moving you go back. You
become Granny if you make it too her.
Scoring: None
Guard The Fort
Theme: Fun
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 soft ball (nerf, volley, soccer)
Method: Patrol in circle with patrol leader in middle, all other members face out. Rest of troop in circle around
patrol. Troop tries to hit the guarded P.L. with a soft ball. Time it, patrol that protects P.L. longest, wins.
Scoring: Longest wins
Hit The Can
Theme: Fun
Team: Troop
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 5 gallon can, 1 stave, 1 volley or soccer ball
Method: Troop in circle with IT standing on can(5 gal) in middle of circle with stave in hand. Ball (volley or
soccer) is passed around and thrown at can, IT guards it with stave. If can is hit, thrower becomes IT.
Scoring: None
Island Hopping
Theme: Fun
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: Lots of paper
Method: Patrol lines up, everyone standing on 2 pieces of paper plus one extra piece in front of patrol. Patrol
steps forward in unison and takes paper from back to front. Repeat until patrol covers course. First done wins
Scoring: First done wins
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 6 -- January 1997

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Jack's Alive
Theme: Fun
Team: None
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: Stick
Method: Heat stick in fire until a few embers are on end. Pass around circle, blow on stick and say "Jack's
alive". The person that passes the stick without an ember is marked with it on the forehead. Repeat..
Scoring: Usually none
Jump The Shot
Theme: Fun
Team: Troop
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: Shot = 20' rope with bag (weighted) at end
Method: Troop makes large circle. IT in center swings the SHOT in the center, everyone tries to jump it as it
gets faster (below knees). If hit, you get 1 penalty point. If hit you are IT.
Scoring: Low score wins
Lassoing The Steer
Theme: Fun
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 rope per scout, 1 can
Method: Place #10 can in center of circle. Troop around edge, everyone with a rope. Everyone tries to lasso
the "steer" and drag it to them. If drug out the scout receives 5 points for his patrol.
Scoring: 5 points ea score
Luck Relay
Theme: Fun
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 coin per patrol
Method: Patrols in relay formation. First scout runs up, leader flips coin and scout guesses, runs back and
tags next...repeat. Patrol that guesses 5 right wins.
Scoring: First with 5 wins
Pocket Rope
Theme: Fun
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: None
Method: On signal patrol tries to make the longest rope they can with the things they have in their pockets or
on their person. (belts, socks, neckerchiefs, shirts).
Scoring: Longest wins
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 7 -- January 1997

--- PAGE 14 ---
Ring On A String
Theme: Fun
Team: Troop
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: About 30' of string, 1 ring
Method: Troop forms circle with IT in middle. String loop with 1 ring on it is held by whole troop. IT tries to
guess who has ring while troop secretly passes it along string while IT can't see (back turned). If IT finds out,
switch with IT.
Scoring: None
Shoot The Gap
Theme: Fun
Team: Half Troop
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: None
Method: Team (numbered) on each side of room (field). IT in center calls out a number, the number from
each side must switch without IT tagging them. If tagged, you become IT and old IT takes your place.
Scoring: None
Sleeping Indian
Theme: Fun
Team: Troop
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: 1 blindfold, 1 eraser.
Method: One scout in middle of room, blindfolded with legs crossed and object(eraser) in front of him.
Objective is to sneak up and take object and take back to edge of room. Indian points at noise, if pointed at, you
go back.
Scoring: None
Sleeping Pirate
Theme: Fun
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: 2 erasers
Method: Blindfolded pirate sits in middle of room with treasure (2 erasers) in front of him. Troop tries to sneak
up on him and take treasure back to edge of room. If pointed at, you go back to edge of room. 1 pt for patrol if
successful.
Scoring: High score wins
Spud
Theme: Fun
Team: Troop
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: Spud (rag wrapped in tape)
Method: Troop in circle, IT in center calls out name (or number) of scout, and throws spud in air. All scatter
until scout called catches spud and yells "spud", all freeze as he picks one to throw the spud at. If hit your
IT...repeat.
Scoring: None
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 8 -- January 1997

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Standing Jump Relay
Theme: Fun
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: None
Method: Relay formation. First scout standing broad jumps, next scout jumps from where he ended. Patrol
with longest distance covered wins. Some patrol members might have to jump twice to make patrols equal in
numbers.
Scoring: Longest distance wins
This Is The Moon
Theme: Fun
Team: None
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: Stick
Method: Leader at campfire asks if they can do EXACTLY as he does. He says "This is the moon(coughs),2
eyes, a nose and a mouth" drawing while saying. The trick is the cough. Ask for volunteers, congratulate if
correct, don't tell secret.
Scoring: None
Three-Man Tug-O-War
Theme: Fun
Team: 3-Man
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 12' rope, 3 hats or erasers per 3 scouts
Method: 12' rope is made into a loop. 3 scouts grab to form a triangle. Place a hat... about 6' from each scout.
On signal they tug until one gets his hat.
Scoring: None
Tiger In A Cage
Theme: Fun
Team: Troop
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: None
Method: Large circle is drawn on the ground. Tiger in circle. Everyone can torment the tiger by jumping into
the circle and then out again. If tagged by tiger, you become the tiger. Tiger cannot leave circle to tag tormentors.
Scoring: None
Transport
Theme: Fun
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 2 staves (6'), 1 bleach bottle per patrol
Method: Patrols line up. On signal, first 2 scouts take staves and carry bottle between them to area 30' away,
run back and touch next 2, they then race to bottle and carry back...repeat. First patrol to do it 4 times, line up and
do yell wins
Scoring: First done wins
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 9 -- January 1997

--- PAGE 16 ---
Tug-O-War
Theme: Fun
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: Large rope, rag for center, 3 marks on ground 10' apart
Method: Patrols make teams to match each other in weight. Rope with center marked is tugged until mark is
pulled 10' from center
Scoring: Best wins
Tugowar-Steal-Bacon
Theme: Fun
Team: 1/2 Troop
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: Tape covered bike tire
Method: Teams line up on opposite ends of room (field). Number team members 1-??. Leader calls out
number(s). Number races to center and pull or take tire back to his side. Point if tire brought back.
Scoring: 1 point if tire retrieved
Hot Isotope
Theme: Knots
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 heavy rubber band, 1 #10 can, 6 ropes per patrol
Method: Can set in center of infected area. On signal patrol uses equipment provided to retrieve can out of
area without entering it.
Scoring: First done wins
Knot Relay
Theme: Knots
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 rope per patrol
Method: Patrols line up facing judges. On signal first member runs up and ties requested knot for judge. First
patrol to tie all knots, line up and give yell wins
Scoring: First done wins
Knot Trail (Kim's)
Theme: Knots
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: 5-10 pieces of rope
Method: Several pieces of rope are tied together between 2 trees (50'apart) with several kinds of knots.
Patrol has 1 minute to walk along rope(silently) then they depart and have 5 min. to list in order. 1pt for each
right.
Scoring: 1 pt for ea. right
Log Raising Relay
Theme: Knots
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 log, 1 50' rope per patrol
Method: On signal patrol rigs log raising devise with materials provided. Must raise to top. First to top and
gives yell wins.
Scoring: First done wins
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--- PAGE 17 ---
One Hand Knots
Theme: Knots
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: 1 rope, bag (opt.) per patrol
Method: Same as any knot relay except that limited to tying with one hand only. Variation...2 hands behind
back, or 2 hands in bag.
Scoring: First done wins
Pony Express Race
Theme: Knots
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 rope per scout
Method: Patrol lines up. On signal, all tie their rope with a clove hitch to the ankle of the scout in front of
them. Patrol then goes through course and back. Untie, line up and do yell.
Scoring: First done wins
Chariot Races
Theme: Lashings
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 3 poles, 3 ropes per patrol
Method: Patrols line up next to equipment. On signal they assemble a travoi (A-frame). Place scout on it and
carry him around a course and back. Tear down chariot and line up and give yell.
Scoring: First done(right) wins
Cross The Pit
Theme: Lashings
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 3 poles, 6 ropes per patrol
Method: On signal, patrol rigs up an a-frame with guy lines on top. Scout on frame tries to "walk" it across the
alligator pit while his patrol steadies it with the guy lines. At other end, dismantle, line up and give yell.
Scoring: First done wins
Flagpole Raising
Theme: Lashings
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 2 poles, 1 patrol flag, 7 ropes per patrol
Method: On signal patrol assembles flagpole from poles and their patrol flag. When erected and secure,
salute and give yell. Disassemble and line up.
Scoring: First done wins
Radio Isotope
Theme: Lashings
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 3 ropes, 2 poles, 1 bottle, 1 #10 can per patrol
Method: Coke bottle in #10 can in middle of restricted area. On signal patrol tries to remove bottle from can
(without touching can) with any equipment provided. First to get bottle out of restricted area wins.
Scoring: First done wins
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 11 -- January 1997

--- PAGE 18 ---
Rat Trap Race
Theme: Lashings
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 2-3 poles, 2-4 ropes, 1 rat trap per patrol
Method: On signal patrols assemble 2 or 3 section pole and try to spring rat trap that is set up too far from
reach with one pole. Disassemble line up and give patrol yell.
Scoring: First done wins
Reactor Transporter
Theme: Lashings
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 3 poles, 3 ropes, 1 can with bail, 1 hook from coat hanger per patrol
Method: On signal patrols erect tripod with legs secured with an extra rope, hook suspended from center.
Patrol must not touch the can with anything but the hook (can't hit sides)..transport can from one end of the room
to other. Dismantle, line, yell.
Scoring: First done wins
Tripod Lashing
Theme: Lashings
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 3 poles, 2 ropes per patrol
Method: On signal the patrol assembles a tripod. One member must be able to suspend himself from a rope
attached at top. Disassemble line up and give yell.
Scoring: First done wins
Map Symbol Relay
Theme: Map
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: Symbol cards or maps or paper and pencil for each patrol
Method: Patrols line up. On signal first member runs to judge and identifies symbol from card or map or
draws on request. First patrol done with all cards or identifies set number of symbols wins King Patrol.
Scoring: First done wins
Height Measuring
Theme: Measuring
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: None
Method: Patrols try to estimate the height of the flag pole, tree... using any method from the Scout Handbook.
Scoring: Patrol nearest wins
Nature Kim's Game
Theme: Nature
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: 20 nature objects, sheet or newspaper cover
Method: 20 objects of nature under cover. Patrol has 2 minutes to observe. Then have 5 minutes to list.
Scoring: 1 pt for ea right
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--- PAGE 19 ---
Bombing The Camp
Theme: Observation
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: Per patrol = bomb(newspaper), bucket of water.
Method: Troop on day hike, is stopped 1 mile from camp. Messenger from camp tells of bomb threat on
camp in exactly 12 min. 15 sec. to late{boom},15 sec. early{bomb not set} and can come back any time to
set...must be in time frame & douse.
Scoring:
Invisible Kim's
Theme: Observation
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: Bag
Method: Leader takes out invisible items out of bag and mimes using them...turn on flashlight etc. Patrols
then try to make a list of what was taken out of bag.
Scoring: 1 pt per item
Kim's Game
Theme: Observation
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Low
Equipment Needed: 20 items, sheet or newspaper...as cover.
Method: Spread 20 items on table and cover. Patrol comes up and has 1 minute to look(no talking). They
then depart and have 5 minutes to list them. 1 point for each correct answer.
Scoring: 1pt for ea. item
Candle Relay
Theme: Swimming
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 candle, 1 book of matches per patrol
Method: Patrol lines up in pool. First man swims with lighted candle up and back the length of the pool and
hands to next scout...repeat. First done and give yell, wins. Have candle lighters (Scoutmasters) along the edge of
the pool
Scoring: First done wins
Lifeline Relay
Theme: Swimming
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Medium
Equipment Needed: Per patrol = 1 rope(25'+), target(5'pole to simulate outstretched arms.
Method: Patrols line up in relay formation. On signal first scout throws line at target, next scout coils rope and
throws...repeat until the target has been hit 6 times.
Scoring: 1st done is king patrol
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 13 -- January 1997

--- PAGE 20 ---
Spoon Race
Theme: Swimming
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 spoon, 1 egg per patrol
Method: Patrols in relay formation in pool. On signal first scout swims with spoon in mouth with egg on
spoon. Swim to marker or edge of pool and return. Repeat.
Scoring: First done wins
Wet T-Shirt Relay
Theme: Swimming
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 1 tee shirt per patrol
Method: Half of patrol on each side of pool. First swimmer wears tee shirt, swim relay...exchanging and
wearing tee before diving in and swimming. First patrol to finish (in tee) wins.
Scoring: First patrol done wins
Capture The Flag
Theme: Wide Game
Team: Half Troop
Activity Level: High
Equipment Needed: 2 flags (neckerchiefs...)
Method: Flags within 200' of center and visible. Guards must not be within 50' of flag unless chasing enemy.
Jail is 50' from line. Free walk back if rescued.1/5 hr. time limit...flag captured or most prisoners is winner.
Scoring: See above
Crossing The Gap
Theme: Wide Game
Team: Patrol
Activity Level: Medium
Equipment Needed: None
Method: 2 scouts in center of 500'x200' area. Troop on one side. Objective is to get to other side without
being spotted. If spotted, you stand through the rest of the game. Patrol with most through wins.
Scoring:
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 14 -- January 1997

--- PAGE 21 ---
Scavenger Hunt Games
Scouting Scavenger Hunt
Each patrol has 10 minutes to solve the riddles and find the corresponding Scouting or nature objects. They
must give the correct numbers for each item:
1. You use this to find NEWS.
2. This silver life saver can be used on anything from tents to camera cases.
3. When the wind blows and the snow comes down I'll still be around.
4. Flash this for someone and they may just come to the rescue.
5. It's always greener on the other side of the road.
6. Sounds like something that would help an orchestra.
7. I'm created by rivers and streams and thousands of years.
8. It can help you on hot days, cold days, and while you sleep.
9. Be sure to take this if you want to pack light.
10. Keeps you from wearing embarrassing garbage bags.
11. If you're falling off a cliff, it's good to be able to do this.
12. You don't have to be a Star Scout to wear one of these.
13. If you served in the military in Geneva, you might be issued one of these.
14. It's whipped but it's not cream.
15. You see me in red superimposed on red and white stripes sometimes.
16. With these you can do something you also do in baseball and bowling.
17. It's pretty much isosceles in shape.
18. It's the opposite of "can oot"
19. Useful for ticks every time.
Scouting Scavenger Hunt Answers
Each patrol has 10 minutes to solve the riddles and find the corresponding Scouting or nature objects. They
must give the correct numbers for each item:
1. You use this to find NEWS. Compass
2. This silver life saver can be used on anything from tents to camera cases. Duct Tape
3. When the wind blows and the snow comes down I'll still be around. Pine Needles/Branch
4. Flash this for someone and they may just come to the rescue. Signal Mirror
5. It's always greener on the other side of the road. Grass
6. Sounds like something that would help an orchestra. Band Aid
7. I'm created by rivers and streams and thousands of years. Sedimentary Rock
8. It can help you on hot days, cold days, and while you sleep. Hat
9. Be sure to take this if you want to pack light. Flashlight
10. Keeps you from wearing embarrassing garbage bags. Poncho
11. If you're falling off a cliff, it's good to be able to do this. Tie one-handed bowline
12. You don't have to be a Star Scout to wear one of these. Service star (or Baden-Powell Star)
13. If you served in the military in Geneva, you might be issued one of these. Swiss Army Knife
14. It's whipped but it's not cream. Whipped Rope
15. You see me in red superimposed on red and white stripes sometimes. Maple Leaf
16. With these you can do something you also do in baseball and bowling. Matches
17. It's pretty much isosceles in shape. Triangle Bandage or neckerchief
18. It's the opposite of "can oot" Canteen (can't iin)
19. Useful for ticks every time. Watch
Demonstrations
Akela has invited one patrol to work with the Cub pack next week. To help the Court of Honor decide which
patrol will best represent the troop, here is a test for your patrol. By no later than...., bring back the necessary
ingredients for staging successful demonstrations of:
1. a left-handed non-Scout
2. a left-handed cat
3. how to separate a mixture of salt and pepper
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 15 -- January 1997

--- PAGE 22 ---
4. how to determine which is more dense: apple or carrot
5. what happens when you add two spoonfuls of vinegar to one spoonful of dish washing liquid and mix in
one big spoonful of baking soda
6. a southbound footprint
Scouter's Notes
2. I'm not sure there is any such creature, but a Scout once assured me that his cat was left-handed.
Another Scout brought in a cat and left it to me to prove it wasn't left-handed.
3. Pour mixture into a glass of water. Salt sinks; pepper floats.
4. Again water. Carrot sinks and apple floats, ergo carrot is denser.
6. Perhaps a compass set alongside the footprint or a photograph of a footprint relative to an object that has
a definite direction.
Space Age Technology
Space invaders have demanded that you produce evidence of the earth's current level of technology by no
later than.... You must collect samples that demonstrate our society's use of: transistors; incandescence;
fluorescence; luminosity; polystyrene; polypropylene; polyester; acrylic; latex; nylon; laser; liquid crystal display
(LCD); light emitting diode (LED); magnetic diskettes; magnetic recording tape; electricity (plug in); electricity
(battery power); stainless steel; molded plastic; sheet plastic; laminated plastic; metal alloy.
Scouter's Note: Relate to the Engineering and Science Challenge badges.
Machines
Mr. Wizard blew up his laboratory. He needs your help to replace some parts of his physics experiments. By
no later than...., bring in as many examples as you can of the six basic machines: screw; wedge; inclined plane;
lever; pulley; wheel & axle.
Camera
With your Polaroid camera, take one photograph of each of the following situations. You have film for 20
attempts. Don't let any other patrol photograph a member of your patrol. No later than..... deliver photographs of:
the whole patrol inside a telephone booth; a Scout at least 5 m up a tree; three Scouts blowing bubble gum; all the
members of the households of two Scouts; the Canadian flag; a woman on a bicycle; a Scout in the back seat of a
bus; two Scouts in a police cell; three Scouts on the back of a fire truck; a suspicious-looking character often seen
walking near the troop's meeting place about 30 minutes after the meeting starts (don't let this person see you
take the photo); a Scout from another patrol; a Scout beside a statue; a Scout holding a chicken.
Scouter's Notes: You have to provide your own suspicious-looking character. Relate to the Photography
Challenge badge.
One is One
In the words of the song, "One is one and all alone and ever more shall be so." Some things are found only
as solitary items. Other things occur only in groups of two, three, four, or more.
By no later than...., bring back one sample item from each of these groups: one; two; three; four; five; six;
seven; eight; nine; ten; eleven; twelve; twenty; twenty-five; fifty; one hundred.
Sensational
We have received a message from the planet Graidot in the Garbajio Galaxy. Their environmental pollution is
so bad that their world is slowly becoming a colourless, featureless gob of gray goo. Unless they install some
sensory organisms soon, they will lose touch with reality. We have agreed to help.
By no later than...., bring back one each of something: hot; frozen; sweet; sour; sticky; rough; smooth;
slippery; squishy; rubbery; wobbly; perfumed; stinking; salty; bitter; cheesy; prickly; corrugated; colorful; pure.
One Square
The television game show, Scouting Squares, is offering a grand prize of one trillion dollars. How to win?
Examine a 2.5 cm square of an object and, from that, identify the whole object then bring in an example. The
patrol with the largest collection of objects wins.
Scouter's Notes: You need to assemble a series of 2.5 cm squares of different items. To avoid cutting an
object of value, make a template with a 2.5 cm square hole in it. The template must be large enough to cover the
object, except for the critical 2.5 cm square. Invite patrols to challenge each other by producing their own series
of samples.
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 16 -- January 1997

--- PAGE 23 ---
Tape Recorder
The National Center for the Visually Impaired is compiling a library of sounds to use in their training programs.
By no later than...., use your tape recorder to record 5-10 seconds each of: cash register operating; telephone
ringing; book pages flipping; washing machine agitating; backpack zipper opening or closing; typewriter pounding;
Scout belt buckling; cloth ripping; group committee chairperson singing O Canada; Scout with mouthful of
crackers whistling; your PL at the other end of a telephone call; piano playing; brass wind instrument blowing;
Scout playing Happy Birthday on paper and comb; shoes being brushed; newspaper tearing; bell ringing; Scout
blowing over the mouth of an empty bottle; three hole punch punching; cellophane paper crackling; deck of cards
riffling; coffee pot percolating; popcorn popper popping; television commercial blaring; paper bag bursting; magic
marker squeaking; car starting; referee whistle whistling; dog barking; three adult non-Scouts responding to your
polite request for their opinion of Scouting.
Earn bonus points by recording a sound that no other patrol can identify.
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 17 -- January 1997

--- PAGE 24 ---
Water Games
From: Jim Speirs
A Little Inconvenience
Water game, outdoors.
Equipment: 1 soccer ball; 2 inner tubes; 1 water ball; 2 water basketball hoops; blindfolds; string.
Formation: teams.
The object of this game is to allow players to experience the sensation of having a disability.
Divide the players into four teams, and set up a rotation so that each team takes part in each of the following
activities:
1. Sensitivity walk,
2. Obstacle course in water, using inner tubes.
3. dodge ball, and
4. water basketball.
Each activity is performed with a specific handicap:
1) When a team goes on the sensitivity hike, all participants are blindfolded. They simply go on a short hike,
and experience it without sight.
2) In a short obstacle course in shallow water (through an inner tube, crawl on the bottom then through a
second inner tube) players must not use their arms.
3) In the dame of dodge ball in shallow water, each player's ankles are tied together. (One player in the
center of the circle tries to hit another player with the soccer ball.
4) In a game of water basketball, players may not speak.
Following ten minute rotations of each event, the group can discuss the sensations experienced by being
temporarily handicapped.
We can soon learn it is not what you cannot do -- it is what you can do !
Slash hike
Water game, outdoors.
Equipment: None
Formation: group
This is a super small group game. Ask everyone to wear bathing suits and an old pair of shoes (a pair they
can get wet). The game takes place in a stream or along the shallow shoreline of a lake or river.
The leader steps into the water, and instructs the group to 'follow the leader'. Everything the leader does is
copied by the followers. After a few minutes of hiking, the leader falls to the back of the line to let a new leader
take over. The hike can be as long or as short as time allows - it is fun to walk back to home base in the water,
rather than by land; see if the group can hike backwards for some of the return distance.
Some 'follow the leader' ideas:
Sit down on a stone; hop on one foot; play leap frog; skip a flat stone out to sea; jump from one stone to
another; build a small castle on the shore; climb a tree; stop, take off one shoe, empty water from it, and put it on
again; crouch so that all of you is under water; sing a song about the sea; try to catch a frog.
Monster Relay
Water game, outdoors.
Equipment: none.
Formation: teams
Divide the group into teams of 8-10 players.
Set up a 'monster' relay where every player has a role. Some swim through shallow water, some through
deep water. Have some do cartwheels through shallow areas, while other swim with one hand in the air.
The design of the relay depends on your waterfront set-up and the abilities of your swimmers.
End the relay by having one player piggyback a teammate across a finish line, located in shallow water.
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--- PAGE 25 ---
Save the Insulin
Place the insulin (a plastic bleach bottle) in the lake or river about 20 feet from shore. Patrols equipped with a
pike pole, two 8 ft. planks and some rope must try to retrieve the insulin needed by a dying man. The water is full
of man-eating sharks which will instantly attack anyone who steps or falls into it.
Marathon Obstacle Race
Of course, this must be set up according to the location and equipment available, but here are some
examples. Make it a timed relay in which one boy from each patrol starts off. He swims to a raft or dock, enters a
canoe or rowboat, paddles it in a certain manner, jumps out or capsizes it and stays underneath to sing for 10
seconds, pushes or tows the craft back to the dock. Or, he picks up a passenger from dock or raft, paddles
around a buoy, jumps out into the water and climbs back in, etc., etc.
Punctured Drum
Although this challenge doesn't happen in the water, it should be done near the water. Provide plastic
detergent bottles or other convenient containers for transferring water, and patrols must try to use them to fill a
drum in which you've banged as many holes as possible. The only things boys can use to plug the holes are parts
of their bodies. Fifty holes will occupy all of the fingers of five boys.
Floating Fire Bombardment
For this effective night activity, you need wooden logs for raft-building; lashing twine; matches and fire-lighting
materials; and a source of small rocks for ammunition. Each patrol constructs a small lashed raft and arranges fire
materials on it. They tow each raft to an equal distance off shore and light the fires. Patrols then line up on shore
(make sure boys stay in line to prevent injuries) and, on signal, start bombarding their rafts. A "direct hit" which
splashes water onto a burning raft counts 10 points. The first raft to be extinguished wins. Alternately, you can use
just one raft and judge the direct hits.
Mystery Meal
Here's a traditional challenge that means buying enough tins of food to provide six tins for each patrol. You
can keep down the cost by buying from "bash and dent" bins, but make sure the cans aren't damaged enough to
be leaking or bulging. Mix it up so that you have soups, vegetables, fruits, stews, spaghetti, puddings, etc. Peel off
all the labels, load the cans into a boat and dump them at a marked spot in the river, lake or pond. Avoid muddy
bottoms and strong currents.
One boy from each patrol dives for the cans. He must bring up only one at a time and toss it to other
members of his patrol who are on shore, on a dock, or in a boat. When he has retrieved six cans, the patrol must
leave the area. Back on shore they open the cans and decide how to prepare a meal from the offerings. Swapping
between patrols is not allowed and, in order to win the challenge, every member of the patrol must eat and all
food must be consumed.
Operation Neptune
Operation Neptune pulls together a series of aquatic challenges for a summer camp "funoree", a swim meet
at the "Y", a camporee or jamboree, or a pool party.
Have each patrol adopt an aquatic name (Barracudas, Sharks, Porpoises, Fin-Busters, etc.) and make
themselves an identification poster for the operation. Encourage the boys to prepare and practice special patrol
cheers to add spirit to the event. You may want to design a "Neptune Scroll" to award the winning team when
scores from all events have been tallied.
Plan the program to make participation possible for every boy in the troop--not just the good swimmers. To
keep things moving along, arrange for a megaphone so that you can announce each event and have contestants
assemble in a special staging area.
If you use a blackboard to display up-to-the minute scores, you'll keep spirit high with spectators cheering for
their teams. You'll need extra help on hand to keep spectators under control, and you can recruit parents as
timers and judges.
Success depends upon preparation. All necessary equipment must be ready and lifeguards in attendance. In
all events, water safety regulations must be observed. For an outdoor meet, the boys should each keep a towel
and sweater handy.
You can choose from an infinite list of possible events. Mix up skill and fun challenges to make a well-rounded
meet in which every boy can take part.
Diving:
Devise contests for the best straight dive, the best fancy dive, the best crazy dive, or the biggest splash.
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 19 -- January 1997

--- PAGE 26 ---
Races:
Try a dog-paddle race in which the boys must bark while swimming; lifejacket race; dead man's float glide;
free-style underwater distance swim; free style leaders vs boys relay; front and back crawl race; side or breast
stroke race; towing rescue where a boy must tow a buddy for a certain distance; team relay.
Operation Neptune Novelty Races
Pyjama Relay
Each team has one pair of pajamas. The first boy must put on the pajamas, swim across a given area, take
off the pj's and hand them to the second boy, who puts them on, swims, removes them and hands them to the
next, and so on.
Candle Race
One boy per patrol must swim a certain distance with a lighted candle. To prevent hot wax from dripping onto
the swimmer's skin, push the candle through a hole in the center of a foil plate. The plate will act as a hand guard.
Spoon Race
One boy per patrol swims a certain distance holding an apple, potato or rock-filled spoon in his mouth
(sideways works best). If he drops the object, he must dive to retrieve it.
Newspaper Race
One boy per patrol swims a certain distance on his back carrying a newspaper. He must hand the paper to a
judge at the finish line. The judge decides the winner on the basis of whose newspaper remained the driest.
Blow Ping Pong
One boy per patrol blows a ping-pong ball ahead of him as he swims a given distance. He cannot touch the
ball with his body.
Underwater Knotting
One boy per patrol must submerge and tie a given knot underwater; a round turn or a clove hitch around his
leg, for example. You can do this in shallow water for junior boys.
Match Race
One boy per patrol swims a given distance with a match. The object is to keep the match dry because he
must strike it for the judges at the finish line. The winner is the first to light his match after the swim.
Obstacle Relay
Four boys in a team. The first boy dives through the legs of a partner who is standing in a shallow area. The
partner then must swim to a finish line while carrying a ball between his legs, after which the third boy picks up an
object (puck, rock, ring) from the bottom of the pool or lake. When this is accomplished. the fourth boy swims a
given distance with a Frisbee on his head and finishes by tossing the Frisbee to the judges. Winner is the first
patrol to complete the series.
Operation Neptune Fun Events
Human Chain
Members of a patrol sit in a line on the edge of a dock or pool and link arms. On signal, the boy at the starting
end lets himself drop into the water. Each successive boy in the chain must be pulled into the water by the boy
who precedes him. They cannot help things along by jumping in. First chain to slide off the deck is the winner.
Mounted Wrestling
Hold this in shallow water and supervise closely. Each patrol is represented by either one or several teams of
"horse and rider". On signal, riders engage other riders in an attempt to pull them from their horses. When a rider
is down, the team must immediately leave the playing area. Last horse and rider standing is the winner.
Greased Watermelon
Two teams, each defending a goal line. The object is to get the watermelon to touch the enemy's goal line.
The melon cannot be carried.
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--- PAGE 27 ---
Water Tug 'o War
Hold in shallow water. Each patrol competes against all others, then winners against winners and losers
against losers.
Candy Dive
Each patrol is given three minutes to dive for candies you've thrown in the water. Wrapped caramels work
well. Boys who retrieve the largest number of sweets are the winners.
Jaws
This is a water version of British Bulldog. Choose one or more of the good swimmers to stay in the middle as
"Jaws". On signal, each patrol tries to swim from one side of the circle to the other without being touched by Jaws.
When caught, a boy joins Jaws. Continue crossings until time is called. The patrol with the largest number of boys
to escape Jaws is the winner.
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Carnival Day at Camp
Bud Jacobi, The Leader, May 1983
A Carnival Day special event theme adds novelty and excitement to the regular routine at Cub or Scout camp.
You might invite parents or another troop or pack to join the festivities.
With just a little preparation and expense, Scouters can spice up the program and enrich it with customary
carnival activities like special events and challenges; a parade; "games-of-skill" concessions; rides; a "House of
Horrors" and a fortune teller. Adapt the suggested activities to your particular circumstances and needs.
Take the required materials to camp ahead of time and tell the boys to bring suitable costumes. Preparing for
the big day is part of the fun.
The day before the event, set various tent-groups to work on the concessions. This means staking out areas
with posts and string or rope, setting up the activities, and arranging duty rosters so that the boys in each group
take turns operating their concession.
Some boys make posters, streamers and tickets. Based on good turns, which include cleaning up the
campsite, give each boy a certain number of tickets to use at the concessions. Keep tickets circulating by using
them as prizes on that day.
Special Events:
Possible special events include a grand opening during which a VIP cuts the ribbon; a beauty contest to
choose "Miss Carnival" and a judged costume parade. Use inexpensive party favors from novelty stores as prizes.
Some boys may like to form a wandering clown band, complete with crazy hats, crazy faces and "pots and
pans" instruments.
A water-filled balloon fight between two teams of campers lined up in rows opposite each other is a lot of fun,
and a good cooler.
Challenge Events:
Challenges can take the form of "camper records". Time boys as they knock a nail into a board with a
hammer or mallet; saw through a board or chop through a log; run up and down a nearby hill or climb a pole or
tree. If water is handy, time boys in speed swimming or canoe racing.
Build an obstacle course from fences, tree trunks, tables, tires, ropes and a large canvas, and have teams
race through it.
Other ideas are: Who can drink the most water in a given time? Who can stay on stilts the longest? Who can
blow up the largest balloon without bursting it? Who can turn the largest number of somersaults or spin hula
hoops the longest?
You might hold a tug o' war where the loser ends up in the creek. Mounted (piggy back) wrestling; hand, arm
and leg wrestling; and rooster fights are also good challenge events.
Rules:
Simulate carnival rides. Boys swing across a creek or another safe area on ropes attached to trees; balance
on a rolling barrel or on a barrel slung on ropes between two trees (bucking bronco); swing from a rope around a
pole (a merry-go-round); bounce on a teeter-totter. Scouts might put pioneering skills to work to rig up a runway or
a boson's chair.
Concessions:
There are a number of popular games of skill possible for the concessions. You can give tickets, smarties,
suckers or wrapped caramels for prizes.
Sponge Toss
Set up a large piece of cardboard on which is painted head and body. Leave a hole for the face. A boy stands
behind the cardboard and pokes his head through the hole as a target. You can use a decorated balloon instead,
but it isn't as much fun. Players toss wet sponges at the target; three tosses per ticket.
Darts
Boys toss darts to burst balloons mounted on a board. Observe safety rules.
Penny Toss
Players try to toss coins into cereal bowls floating in a tub (or dishpan) of water.
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--- PAGE 29 ---
Knock 'Em Over
Place large juice cans or milk cartons in a cluster. Campers have three shots per ticket to upset them with a
tennis or rubber ball tossed from a distance.
Douse the Candle
Players squirt water from a water pistol, or through a drinking straw, in an attempt to put out the flame of a
safely mounted candle.
Fish Pond
Fill a large box or barrel with paper fish onto which are attached large safety pins. Campers try to hook fish
with a fishing pole. Not all fish are worth a prize. Print the value of prize winners on them.
Guess How Many
Campers write their estimates of the number of beans in a jar on a slip of paper and include their names.
Award prizes to winners at the end of the day.
Fortune Teller
A female leader or a member of the kitchen staff will make an ideal "Fatima -- the fabulous fortune teller".
Station her in a booth or behind some trees surrounded by blankets. Illuminate the crystal ball on the table in front
of her with a candle.
Fatima "reads" boys' palms and gazes into the crystal ball to predict weird and wonderful things. Avoid dire
predictions of frightening things because some of the campers may be very impressionable. Stick to standbys like,
"I see you holding a report card filled with "A's"! It's your next report card!; You will become rich and famous; You
will marry a beautiful girl; You will have seven children (that's not frightening?); You will travel around the world;
You will travel into outer space on a rocket and meet E.T."
House of Horrors
Set older boys to work on a Haunted House or Ghostwalk, which is always the most popular event. It can be
any small building; a shed, shack, barn or garage. If there isn't a building available, use part of the dining hall or a
large tent.
Hang blankets over the windows to darken the room and hang a sheet or blanket just inside the doorway to
keep things secret from the boys lined up outside. You can use flashlights or lanterns to light up parts of the room,
but avoid candles because they are a fire hazard.
Have campers strip to swim trunks (no shirts or shoes), blindfold them, and let them enter one at a time.
Doubtless, the boys who prepare the "house" will have lots of gruesome ideas, but here are a few to set
imaginations rolling.
Hang a web made from string and cotton batten from the ceiling. As "victims" pass through it, the older boys
in charge add scary sound effects by banging on pots and pans, drums or gongs; giving loud yells, whistles,
shrieks and moans; playing a record of eerie music; blowing along the top of a pop bottle; or shaking and rattling a
large sheet of tin. To add further to the terror, flash lights on and off.
Hang water-filled balloons from the ceiling, just high enough that they will touch the victims' faces as they
pass by.
Force each victim to stand on a large board, door or plank while two strong boys or leaders lift it. The
blindfolded victim puts his arms on the shoulders of the lifters. Although the lifters only raise the board about a
foot from the ground, they wiggle it and lower themselves as they do, so that they give the victim the sensation of
being lifted high. Then they order him to jump off. To avoid possible bruises, you can place a gym mat or mattress
under the board.
Keep cubes of ice in a freezer and use as needed. "Brand" blindfolded victims with "hot coals" by rubbing ice
across their backs and chest. Have victims crawl through overturned chairs or barrels, over mattresses,
bedsprings or sponge-rubber mats, and finally step into a pan of ice water.
You may "force" blindfolded victims to touch a "vampire" constructed from articles like a kitchen mop (hair),
onions (eyes), chalk pieces (teeth), and feathers (body). Have them walk through hanging plastic bats or spiders
and plunge hands into a "pail of worms" (cooked spaghetti and porridge in a bucket).
Later, remove the victim's blindfold. Shine a flashlight into the mouth of a leader dressed in a white sheet who
utters moans and ghostly laughs and serves a "magic brew" of fruit drink mixed with baking soda.
Just before he exits, the victim watches a "guillotine blade" chop a paper mashie head off a hanging skeleton.
Then, douse the victim with water and swear him to secrecy so that he won't reveal anything to those who still
wait. If possible, have him leave by a back door.
End a busy day with a "monk's meal" during which anyone who talks or laughs loses one utensil. Those who
break the silence too often will find themselves on their knees, eating with no hands from a plate on the ground.
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Mushy meals like sloppy joes, spaghetti and meatballs, or pork and beans are excellent for this purpose.
Watermelon makes a good dessert and gives everyone ammunition for the grand finale--the watermelon yell!
You can expect silence to descend over the tents very shortly after clean-up and lights out!
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Evening Games and Wide Games
Capture the Flag
Evening game, outdoors
Equipment: 2 handmade flags on staffs 2' long; 2 different colored sets of
arm or headbands made of crepe paper.
Formation: teams.
Divide the group into two teams. Identify each by a set of arm or headbands.
Set up a jail area (3-4 square yards) and a separate hiding spot for each flag. Jails are set up at opposite
ends of a 5-20 acre area.
The object of the game is to penetrate the other team's area and capture their flag. A flag is 'captured' after it
has been returned to the captor's jail area.
Prisoners are taken by having their arm or headbands removed by an opponent. Prisoners are taken to the
jail of their captor's; then they wait there quietly until they are released. Prisoners can only be released when a
member of their team (with arm or headband intact) runs through the jail in which they are being held captive.
After their release, prisoners are given free escort back to a central spot near their end of the area. Here, they are
issued a new arm or headband.
The game continues until a flag is captured, or time is up.
Note: Supervision at the jails and 'new arm or headband area' is important. Encourage teams to plan
elaborate strategies of defense and offense.
Variation: try playing the game with three or four teams, each with its own jail area and hiding spot for their
flag.
Another Description:
2 flags or For night play 2+ lanterns
First you pick out two even teams. Once you have the teams you set boundaries for the game. The
boundaries can be wherever you want them. What you should end up with is a large rectangle or square. Once
you have decided on the boundaries, you should draw a line through the middle of your playing zone. This line is
divides the two sides. Each team should be able to choose where they want their flag and jail but they have to
show the other team where they are and both teams have to agree on the placement of the flags and jails. Once
this is done, each team goes to their own side of the playing field. Once the game begins, the teams are free to go
at the others flag. If a team member is caught on the other teams side, (To be caught you must be "tagged" by a
player on the opposite side on his own territory), he will be sent to jail. This player must sit in jail until either the
game ends or he is freed by a member of his own team. To be freed, you have to be touched by a "free" member
of his own team. The freed player gets a free walk to his own side of the playing field. The person freeing the
player is on his own, he may still be tagged and put in jail. To win the game you must capture the other teams flag
and return it to your own side with out being captured. It is up to the team on how they want to place their
members. When we play, we usually have two players guard the flag and one player be the jail guard. Two or
more players stick around and help provide the defense. The rest go for the flag.
Variation From Mike Stolz:
Our troop plays this on every overnight campout. For night play, we use 2 or 4 lanterns. Two are used to mark
the center line, while the other two can be used to show the 'approximate' area where the team's flag is. Our flag
guards MUST remain at least 15 feet (5 meters) from their own flag unless chasing someone, and the flags must
be completely exposed (no stuffing them into holes in the ground, or tying them to trees). When the teams are
small, we do away with the jail. Instead, we create 'Check Point Charlie' at the centerline. Captured prisoners can
be exchanged for a point. In case of a tie (equal games won, or no winner at all), the team that earned the most
points is declared the winner.
Variation:
From Doug: This game, played at night, is a variant of Capture the Flag that we just call "The Candle Game".
Two small pots are placed at opposite ends of a field (with trees or bush down the sides of the field) and lids for
the pots are placed on the ground, just beside the pots; a small, lighted candle is placed in each pot. Each team
tries to put out the other team's candle by sneaking up on their opponent's candle and putting the lid on the pot
without being caught. The rest of the rules are pretty much the same as Capture the Flag.
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Smugglers and Spies
Evening game, outdoors
Equipment: Tiny pieces of paper with the following smuggled items and point values written on each:
Chocolate - 50 points. Quantity: 10
Sugar - 75 points. Quantity: 8
Animal pelts - 100 points. Quantity: 8
Gunpowder - 150 points. Quantity: 6
Designs for new secret weapon - 300 points. Quantity: 3
Map to buried treasure - 500 points. Quantity: 1
Formation: teams
Divide the group into two teams. Have each team put on its armbands. One team becomes the smugglers -
the other the spies. After the rules of the game are given, each team retreats to separate ends of the playing area
(3-20 acres with open woods is ideal for the game.)
The smugglers each receive the tiny pieces of paper, which they are going to try to carry into enemy (spy)
headquarters. The spies set up their headquarters inside a 10' by 10' square area that has its definite boundaries.
The scorekeeper sits inside spy headquarters.
After each team has been given the opportunity to devise a strategy, play begins. The spies fan out away
from their headquarters and try to intercept smugglers as they attempt to take their goods inside.
When a smuggler gets caught (tagged), he must stand still and permit a one minute search of his person by
the spy who caught him. If the spy cannot find the piece of paper within one minute (paper has to be hidden in
external clothing layers), the smuggler is free to try to advance again into the headquarters. If the spy does find
the 'loot', he takes the piece of paper into spy headquarters and gives it to the scorekeeper, while the smuggler
returns to his headquarters to receive another piece of paper.
If a smuggler penetrates inside the spy headquarters, he gives his goods to the scorekeeper, and is escorted
back to his own headquarters by a staff person or leader supervising the game.
The game continues for a set period of time. When it ends, goods (points) are totaled, and a winner is
declared.
Whistle tag
Evening game, outdoors
Equipment: one whistle for each 'hunted' leader or staff member.
Formation: teams.
The group is divided into teams of 6-8 players. The leaders or staff members who are to be 'hunted' are given
a two-minute head start into the playing area (5 acre wooded area is ideal).
Teams have to stay together during the entire game. Each team begins to 'hunt' the staff members, who are
required to blow their whistles at one minute intervals (or variations which you may want to work out). Leaders
may remain mobile, or seek a hiding place.
Teams try to touch as many staff members as possible within the time limit of the game. Captured staff are
immediately freed to run and whistle again.
The team who tags the most wins.
Variation: as a night game, using flashlights instead of whistles. Same rules apply.
Light - No light
Evening game, outdoors
Equipment: flashlight
Formation: scatter
The game is best in a large open wooded area.
Players line up at one end of the playing area, while one player, holding a flashlight, stands at the other end.
The object of the game is to move from one end of the playing area to the other, past the person holding the
flashlight.
The player with the flashlight stands with his back to the other players. Every five seconds, he turns around,
turns on the light and scans the area for three seconds. If a moving player gets caught by the flashlight beam, he
has to return to the starting end. Stationary players may remain where they are.
The first person to successfully move past the 'flasher' becomes the light for the next round.
Variation: The player with the flashlight keeps the flashlight on, and continuously scans the playing area.
Stalking players dress in dark clothes. If stalking players are caught, they must return to the starting end.
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Find the Bell
Evening game, outdoors/indoors.
Equipment: a little bell that rings easily.
Formation: circle.
Have the group sit in a circle. Choose one person to sit in the center of the circle.
The leader gives the bell to one of the players, who begins to pass it around the circle.
The object of the game is to pass the bell quietly so that the person in the middle cannot guess who is holding
the bell. Players may not silence the bell by holding the clapper - they have to try to pass it carefully enough so
that it does not ring.
Triad
Evening game, outdoors.
Equipment: 3 soccer balls painted white; 6 markers with reflectors attached (to make 3 goals).
Formation: teams.
Divide the players into three teams. On the playing field, set up three goals in the shape of a triangle.
The game begins with a jump ball in the center of the field. All three balls are put into circulation at once and
players try to move the ball through either of their opponents goals.
The balls may be rolled, kicked or thrown to teammates. No player may hold a ball longer than five seconds.
Teams devise strategies to protect their own goal, while trying to advance to score goals.
Frontiers Game
Our troop often plays a game similar to Stratego called Frontiers.
You divide the boys into teams. Each team is given a small "home base". In the "home base" each team is
given 10 - 15 tokens (flags).
The playing field is divided in to parts with a home base on each. (The game is best played in a area with
trees and bushes).
The goal of the game is to sneak into the other teams area and capture a token. If someone from the other
team is being able to tag you on their side of the field you are taken as a prisoner to their "home base".
Now when a member of your own team reaches the "homes base" he is able to free you instead of taking a
token.
If you have a token or a "free" prisoner you are free to go back to your own home base.
The game last for a specified time and the team with the most tokens wins.
I hope this description is understandable, if not feel free to mail me any questions.
-- Thanks to Carl Persson, Troop Leader, SKOGSLOPARNA Utby NSF Gothenburg Sweden.
Brass Rubbing Race
Materials: Heavy duty paper or brown wrapping paper, and a thick wax crayon per team
On the command go, each patrol leaves the hut in search of road signs to rub. They have to make up the
phrase "BE PREPARED" on the sheet of paper. They have to brass rub the letters onto the sheet of paper with
the wax crayon, from the road signs. The first patrol back with the completed phrase are the winners. This is an
excellent game as it makes the scouts think of all the road names in their locality that might contain the letters
they need. You can of course use other phrases for repeated use. It is also a good idea to supply each patrol with
a damp cloth, this is to clean the road sign of wax crayon should the paper split.
Double Your Money
Materials: Set of monopoly/trading post money
This is a game similar to 'Mixed Up Names' and 'Merchants'. Each player is given a $1 note at the start of the
game. The players must then find the very generous leader with the $5 note who will swap a $1 for $5. The
players can then go on to find and swap their currency with other generous leaders going from $5 to $10, $50,
$100. $500 up to about $1000. You can award points to the first players with a $1000 note, or total the money
held by a team after a certain time limit. It is easier to have one leader give one type of note but it is workable to
have a leader give out 2 different notes as long as there is a few steps between them e.g. $5 and $100, or $50
and $1000. It requires much agility from the leaders who need to deal with several handfuls of notes coming and
going but it is well worth while. The cubs who have played this game really love it. The idea of being handed large
sums of cash for nothing really got them running around, even when the money wasn't real. A few cubs asked
'Why don't you use real money?' - obvious really, you wouldn't see the leaders for dust.
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 27 -- January 1997

--- PAGE 34 ---
Elephant Hunt
Materials: Colored wool to match up with six's colors, 1 Tin Talcum powder, Plastic plant identification labels
Tell story to the pack about the elephants who have escaped from the local circus, who have asked for the
cubs help in getting the elephants back. The circus tell us that each elephant is wearing a colored mat on it's
back, each mat matches one of the sixes colors. So each six can look for the elephant wearing their sixes color on
it's back. The cubs then follow a trail of wool, picking up their colors as they go. They must not pick up any other
colors. You could tell them how many pieces they should find. The trail divides and finally the colored wool
disappears. All that can be seen is large (talcum powder) elephants footprints on the ground. These all lead to
one place where the elephants can clearly be seen, wearing tatty mats on their backs, (parents or leaders). But
the elephants have been caught by a gang of thieves who will sell them back to the cubs for ú200 no more, no
less. The cubs are then told that they can gather this money from around a certain bush. This money is the plastic
plant tabs, stuck into the ground around the bush. Each label is marked with an amount of money. Each six must
only take labels to exactly ú200 and pay the thieves for their elephant . They then take their elephant back to the
circus where there is sure to be a reward.
Face Paint
Materials: 1 Pack of face paints
The cubs are looking for a job in the circus, but the make-up artists have gone mad! The cubs must catch the
mad artists (leaders) who will add a little face paint before running away to hide. At the end of the game you can
hold an audition for the best face and clown. Ideal for a cub camp - you can tell from 100ft which cubs haven't
washed the next morning!
Game Of Life
All the scouts save one (or a couple) start out side of the woods. They are considered the prey of the forest
(deer, antelope, small game). In the forest you place a large number of objects (hats, chips, scarves, etc.) which
represent food. The prey must go into the forest and gather three items of food (and return them to the safety
zone) or risk starvation during the winter. The one scout who is not prey is considered a predator (wolf, grizzly,
eagle, etc.). The predators job is to capture the prey. he does this by simply touching the prey. The prey has three
methods of defense.
Run: Deer use it, (Be careful if you allow running at your camp.)
Freeze: A prey that is totally immobile is considered to by camouflaged, and cannot be touched until he
moves (looks around, etc.)
Hide: Touch a tree to symbolize hiding in the tree.
Each prey carries one object to symbolize themselves. If they are "eaten" by the predator, they must give their
chip to the predator that got them. They then become a predator for the next year. If the predator doesn't get three
prey, he starves for the winter. Any predator that starves becomes prey for the next year. Note, you should start
with only a small number of food in the forest the first year (maybe 2 x number of prey) (remember they need
three to survive). The game is fun and shows how there must be a balance between the prey and the predators.
I'm sure you can adapt this game to many environments and change the rules where needed to make it more fun
and or educational.
Haggis Hunt
Materials: 200 Small colored cards or similar, 1 Big ball of aluminum foil
A few days ago the queen haggis came into season as she does every 5 years. Last night the queen haggis
laid her first brood of eggs (the colored cards) which are a delicacy akin to truffles and caviar. The teams must
collect as many eggs from around the wide game area as possible before the wee haggis hatch (despite the
better environmental instincts of cubs) for points! A special reward is made for the team who catches the queen
haggis who looks uncannily like some scrumpled aluminum foil!
Hunt & Chase
Materials: Many different colored 'flashes' or 'flags'
We play a game called Hunt and Chase. We divide into an 5 teams. All the members on each team have
personal flags of the same color they tuck into their belts. Each team can catch team members of one other team,
and can be caught by the team members of a different team. When you are caught, you surrender your flag and
are given the flag of the capturing team. There is no natural ending unless one teach catches everyone else. We
usually play it for an hour or so, and then see which team is the largest. For "flags" we use things like pieces of
twine, clothesline, manila rope, green garbage bags and brown garbage bags. Then the "twines" chase the
"clotheslines," the "clotheslines" chase the "manila ropes," the etc. Some teams usually try to get other teams to
help them. For example, the manila ropes could conspire with the twines to entrap the clotheslines. It is much
more fun in that respect if you have 5 teams rather than 4 or fewer.
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Jail Break
There are two "cops" and one "jailer". The rest of the people are "robbers". The number of "cops" and "jailers"
can vary depending on the number of players. A fairly central location is designated as "jail", The jail should be
fairly out in the open and the boundaries definite. A picnic table can work great as a jail (those in the jail would sit
on top of the table). All robbers are given some designated time to go hide (like hide-and-go-seek maybe 30-60
seconds). After the appropriate hiding time, the cops go looking for the robbers. The robbers usually are not in the
same spot all of the time for reasons I will describe in a minute. The cops catch a robber by one of many methods
(this is where the variations come into play). The robber may be tagged, hit with a light beam, person identified
correctly, or combinations of these. When a robber is caught, they are taken to jail by the cop. The big difference
between this and hide-n-seek is, if someone is quick and sly (someone being a robber), they can cause a "jail-
break" and let all that are in jail get out of jail. This is done by sneaking up into jail (not being caught by the jailer),
stepping IN the jail (or touching the table with both hands), and yelling "JAIL BREAK!" At this point, all that are in
jail are FREE. The jailer must give everyone that was in jail and the breaker some time to get away (maybe 15
seconds). Sometimes this game has gone on for hours for one game. Sometimes it is a fairly short game (but not
too often). If you want, you can have the game continue on by having the final (in this example) 3 people to be the
cops and jailer.
Kim's Wide Game
Materials: Selection of common 'outdoor' objects
Before the game pick up a few 10+ objects which the players may find lying about in the area e.g. beech nuts,
holly leaves, berries, sweet wrappers and lay them out. The teams or individuals must find as close matches to
the objects you have collected. You can either display or hide your collection so that the players can or cannot
come back and refresh their memories. The team with the display best matching the original wins.
Lamp Chicane
Materials: 4 Lamps such as hurricane lamps
The game is played in the dark between two teams. Two lamps are placed about 100 meters apart. These are
the home bases. Another two lamps are placed about 40 meters apart, and at right angles to the first two lamps.
They should be about halfway between the first two lamps. One team is split into two, one half going to each
home base lamp. Their object is to get to the other home base lamp, without being caught. They must go between
the other two lamps to get there. There is no restriction on how far out they go to either side to get to the other
home lamp, but they must go between the two 40 meters apart lamps. For each member who reaches the other
home base, their team wins a point.
Long Distance Chinese Whispers
Materials: Long message written on piece of paper per team, Pen and paper per team
Distribute members of a patrol or six some distance away from one another. Give the patrol leader a scrap of
paper with a message (around 30 words for Scouts). The PL must remember the message and relay it to his APL
who in turn relays it down the line to the final scout. The final scout writes down the message when he returns
back at the starting point. The team with the message most resembling the starting message wins. The longer the
distance the more breathless (and less articulate) and more forgetful the scouts become.
Merchants
Materials: 1 Bag pasta shapes or macaroni, 1 Bag dried peas or soy beans
Split the pack or troop into 2 teams and give one team 6 macaroni (Gold) and the other team 6 dried peas
(Silver). Explain that the teams should try to make as much money as possible in the time available. They may do
this by trading with the 2 merchants (leaders) who will be roaming around. One merchant will give you 2 gold for 1
silver, the other will give you 2 silver for every 1 gold. The team with the most money by the end of the game wins
(count silver and gold as equal value).
Refinement:
The merchants may swap their bags to confuse the players
Refinement:
Player and/or other leaders may steal from other players using tagging or lives.
Refinement:
Introduce another trading stage and merchant (and possibly another team) e.g. bronze or platinum.
Merchants only trade bronze for silver, silver for gold, gold for bronze.
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Mixed Up Names
Materials: 1 Name card for each activity base leader and an activity for them to look after at that base
Each of the leaders or the people manning the bases is given a card similar to the ones described below:
1. You are 'Thunder Fist'.
Tell them they must find 'The Kraken'.
2. You are 'The Kraken'.
Tell them they must find 'Thorin'.
3. You are 'Thorin'.
Tell them they must find 'The Hulk'.
4. You are 'The Hulk'.
Tell them they must find 'Robin Hood'.
5. You are 'Robin Hood'.
Tell them they must find 'Thunder Fist'.
You can of course vary the number of bases that you have. Each person manning a base is also given an
activity that the cubs or scouts have to complete at that base. The base men are sent out and hide within a given
area. The patrols are then sent out, each having been given a different 'NAME' to find. When a baseman is found,
the scouts or cubs have to ask him if he is the name they are looking for. If he is not then they have to keep
looking. If he is then he asks them to complete a simple scouting exercise such as tying a bowline. He then gives
them the name of the next person they have to find. A point is given for completion of an exercise to the
satisfaction of the baseman. The winning patrol is the one that finds all the basemen and completes the most
tasks.
Naval Battle
Nigel's Navy
Materials: Colored wool for lives, 6 Cards bearing the name "DESTROYER", 4 Cards bearing the name
"SUBMARINE", 2 Cards bearing the name "BATTLESHIP"
Instead of cards you could use colored counters or plastic clothes pegs.
This is best played with three or more teams. Each team is given a base which is their naval shipyard. Each
player is allowed to take one card from their shipyard to take part in the combat. When they take a card, they also
take a length of their teams colored wool to tie round one arm. A combat area is marked off in the center of the
field and combat may only take place within this area. Combat takes place in the following manner, a player will
tag a player from an opposing team. Both players then compare their cards as follows: A battleship takes a
destroyer, a destroyer takes a submarine and a submarine takes a battleship. The losing boy hands over his
piece of wool to the winner and returns to his shipyard for a new piece of wool. Combat can only take place
between two players who are each wearing a piece of wool. If both players have craft of equal status such as two
submarines then it is an even match and there is no victor, they then have to go and challenge somebody else. A
boy can exchange ships only at his shipyard when he is getting a new piece of wool. The winning team is the one
which has collected the most pieces of wool at the end of the game.
Postman Game
Materials: 3 plastic bags, 2 sets of differently colored cards (2" squared is big enough)
Three leaders are required for this game. The first leader is the postbox, the other two give out the different
postcards. The troop or pack is split into two teams. One team collects and posts one color of card, the second
team posts the other color. Players can only hold one postcard at a time - they must post one card before
collecting another. The postbox and distributors can roam and hide to evade the players. The team who has
posted the most postcards wins.
Refinement:
Leaders can swap jobs so that players do not always know who to go to
Refinement:
Spare leaders can rob players of their cards
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Rockets And Interceptors
Materials: 1 Bucket or large tin, Large number of colored balls or plastic clothes pegs all the same color,
Skittles or rope to mark off the target area
This is played by two teams. The attacking team are called the rockets and the defending team are called the
interceptors. The target area is marked off and the bucket or large tin is placed in the center. Only rockets are
allowed to go inside the target area. Up to four interceptors are allowed to hover around the target area. The
rockets have a base at which they pick up their warheads. Each rocket can carry only one warhead to the target
area. If a rocket is tagged by an interceptor before going inside the target area, they must hand over their
warhead and return to their base. 20 warhead units in the bucket or tin destroy the interceptor target area. All the
colored balls count for 1 warhead unit. The five white balls are special multi warheads and count as 5 warhead
units for each white ball. If the interceptor target area is not destroyed after 20 minutes then change over the
teams so that everyone has a turn at attacking and defending. This game is best played where there is a bit of
cover for hiding and creeping up on the target, or at night when visibility is reduced.
Scout-Staff Treasure Hunt
A wide game that is popular in our scouts is to distribute various items of a trangia around our local village, on
the Scout Leaders doorstep, and the Exec.'s etc., and send the scouts off on a kind of a treasure hunt, with the
aim to make a cup of tea for the S.L. and the A.S.L. at the end. The hunt started with a note telling them where to
find the next item of the Trangia, and then the next note was on the next item, etc. It also helped the scouts to
learn who their Exec. were, as the notes told them it was in the Secretary's garden, and it helped immensely if
they knew who the secretary was... Trangia: Swedish outdoor cooker, I'm not at all sure if it's known at all in the
US, but it is very popular over here. It's light weight, and uses methane to run, but Butane attachments are
available now. Mine splits up into several pieces, and so was ideal for this exercise.
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Strategy Games
From the Scouts-L Games FAQ
Mouse Trap Attack
You will need:
4 spring loaded mouse traps per team
An endless supply of rolled up paper balls
We will suppose that there are four teams or patrols of six boys. They are spaced at equal distances down
the length of the hall. Each team or patrol has it's mouse traps cocked at one side of the hall on the floor. At the
other side of the hall opposite each group of mouse traps are three attacking boys from each of the other patrols.
These attacking boys are armed with rolled up balls of paper. Each patrol is allowed up to three defenders for
their mouse traps. These defenders must sit on the floor half way between their mouse traps and the defenders.
The attackers must lob the paper balls over the heads of the defenders and set off the mouse traps. The winning
patrol is the one that has the last loaded mouse trap.
Mouse Trap Fishing Game
You will need:
1 spring loaded mouse trap
3 bamboo canes
3 lengths of string
Some objects such as plastic bottles to be picked up, for each team.
You will have to bore a hole or fit a screw eye in one end of each mouse trap so that it can be attached to a
length of string. Each team stands at one side of the hall and the objects they have to collect such as plastic
bottles are on the other side of the river (hall). The only way that they can get the objects, is to lash the three
bamboo poles together to form a fishing pole and attach the string with the mouse trap attached to the end. You
will have to show the scouts how to cock the mouse traps safely or you may have to do some first aid on bruised
fingers.
Submarines And Minefields
You will need:
Blindfolds for each member of the minefield
You split into two teams, one forms a line across the playing field. They are blindfolded and standing close
enough together to touch hands. Each hand is a mine that will 'destroy' a ship (a member of the other team.) that
team quietly tries to sneak along the line weaving in and out of the mines, (i.e. between their feet, or between two
scouts). we once had someone go fetch a utility ladder and climb over the minefield. After a minefield team
member uses one hand and hits a ship, that hand is out of play for the round. Thus later ships may go through an
unprotected area. Smaller scouts usually win this one. When the whole team has gone through or not as the
case may be, change over. At the end of the game, the winning team is the one that managed to get the most
ships through the minefield.
Trader
You will need:
4 counters for each boy, red, blue green and yellow one of each color.
When the game starts the boys are given a set time 5 to 10 minutes in which they are allowed to trade. They
trade in the following manner. A boy approaches another boy with a counter in his left fist , he does not show the
other boy what color he is holding. If they agree to trade then they give each other a counter taking care that they
do not show the color they are swapping. Any boys who do not wish to trade simply cross their arms, this
indicates that they are not open for trading. After the trading period is ended you show the lads the stock market
chart shown below and get the lads to add up their scores.
Print out the following table and make copies.
4 Red counters 100 points 4 Blue counters 80 points
4 Green counters 60 points 4 Yellow counters 50 points
3 of any color 40 points 2 of any color 15
Single Red 1 point Single Blue 2 points,
Single Green 4 points Single yellow 5 points.
After they have added up their scores and you have found out which scouts have the highest scores, collect
the counters in and hand out one of each color again to the scouts. Now play it again with the scouts knowing the
values and see the difference in tactics. From time to time you could introduce jokers these are White counters.
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You place some of these on the table and the boys are told they can take them if they wish. The value of these is
unknown until they add up the scores. You then tell them that they either get 10 extra points for each White
counter they have or minus 10 for each White counter they hold, much like Bulls and Bears in the stock market.
You can decide if it is going to be a plus or a minus by either tossing a coin or rolling a dice.
The Trader Game - Altered Slightly
By Mike Stolz
Equipment:
4 chips for each boy, all of different colors (red, green, blue, yellow)
1 chip for each adult - white
(I made my chips by cutting 1 inch squares from colored cardboard)
Rules:
The boys are given a chip of each color. the adults each have one white chip. The boys get 7 to 10 minutes
to 'trade' chips with each other or an adult. To trade, each boy holds a chip HIDDEN in one hand. When they
agree on the trade, the chips are exchanged. ALL TRADES ARE FINAL! Boys who do not wish to trade should
fold their arms to signal that they don't wish to trade. All trades are 1 chip at a time. Boys can also trade with
adults if they want to. After the trading is over, show the boys the stock market list below and have them add up
their scores.
Now that they know the value of the chips, let the boys play the game again. Collect and redistribute the
chips, and see how trading tactics change. After the second trading period is over, add up the scores again and
see how the boys did this time.
Stock Market Chart - Trading Chip Values
4 RED - 90 POINTS 1 (SINGLE) BLUE - 40 POINTS
4 GREEN - 0 POINTS 1 (SINGLE) YELLOW - 30 POINTS
4 YELLOW - 60 POINTS 1 (SINGLE) GREEN - 30 POINTS
4 BLUE - 50 POINTS 1 (SINGLE) RED - 20 POINTS
2 WHITE - 50 POINTS 1 (SINGLE) WHITE - 20 POINTS
3 OF ANY COLOR - 40 POINTS 2 OF ANY COLOR -
20 POINTS
Trading Post
You will need:
Two price lists, one of things that you are selling and one of things that you are prepared to buy back.
Various things for the teams to buy
You will also need some form of currency such as colored cards, paper or even beads.
At the start of the game, each team is given the same amount of currency. They then have to decide what
they are going to buy from you in order to make something to sell back to you for a profit. Most things that you
buy back should result in a profit, but you should put in some items that produce no profit or even a loss. As an
example of the sort of things on your to buy list would be a cup of hot tea for the scout leaders. To do this they
will have to purchase from you matches, tea bags, milk and sugar, a cooking stove, fuel for the cooking stove,
water pot and water.
Lighthouse
From: Lynne Axel Fitzsimmons
This game comes from a Games book published by the Bharat Scouts and Guides (India). It is attributed to
the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland.
You will need:
Enough blindfolds for half your group, and a reasonably large room.
The Leader is the lighthouse. Half the troop (pack, company) are ships, and put on the blindfolds at one end
of the room. The other half are rocks, and distribute themselves on the floor between the ships and the
lighthouse. Please ask the rocks to keep their hands and feet in to minimize tripping. The rocks also should not
clump up.
The lighthouse goes "woo woo" to guide the ships. The rocks go "swish, swish" quietly to warn the ships of
their presence. On go, the ships navigate between the rocks to the lighthouse. If they touch a rock, they are sunk
and must sit on the floor (and go "swish, swish" also). When all the ships have made it to the lighthouse (or have
been sunk), the rocks and ships switch places.
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Memory Games
From the Scouts-L Archive
Silhouette Kim's Game
You will need:
About twelve different shaped items, a sheet or back projection screen and a slide projector or strong light
(Note: clear bulbs are better than pearl)
A number of objects are held, one after the other, behind the screen, e.g. scissors, bulldog clip, flower. After
all the objects have been seen, a short time is given for the lads to write down or tell to the leader, the objects that
they saw in the correct order of viewing.
Battleship Kim's Game
You will need: (for each six or patrol) A table, a piece of chalk and ten items
Each patrol gets a table set up on it's side in their corner as a barrier, so that the other patrols can't see
behind it. On the floor they draw a 747 grid, and mark horizontal axis A to G and vertical axis 1 to 7. They then
take ten items and place them at random on their grid. The patrols are now given five minutes to look at each
others grids and try and memorize the locations of as many items as they can. After five minutes they each retire
behind their barricades. Each patrol in turn fires three shots. For a shot they must say the name of the patrol
they are firing at, the grid reference and what item is at that grid reference. If they are correct then they capture
that item. Each patrol only gets 3 shots per round. After a set number of rounds, the patrol that has captured the
most items are the winners. Please note that this is a memory game, no pencils and paper allowed.
Kims Game Variant
You will need: (for each six or patrol): Two bowls or buckets on chairs,
Ten mixed items
Teams or patrols stand in single file facing the front of the hall. At the front of the hall facing each team is a
bucket or bowl on a chair. In each bowl there are ten items (the same items for each team). At the back of the
hall opposite each team is an empty bucket or bowl. The scout leader calls out an item and the first man in each
team has to run to the front, get that item place it into the other bucket at the back of the hall and then run back to
the back of his team. The first team with their man back get a point.
As you continue playing this the objects will be distributed between the front and the back buckets. If the
scouts have good memories they will remember what items are in what buckets. This will save them time. If an
object is called by the leader and it is in the back bucket then it has to be placed in the front bucket and vice
versa. The reason for the bucket being on a chair is so that the scouts can't look in to see what is in the bucket.
Patience
You will need: (for each six or patrol) A suit of cards Ace to ten (one pack of cards will supply four teams)
The ten cards for each team are laid out at random, face down on a table in front of them. One at a time the
boys run up and turn over a card. If it is not the Ace then they turn it face down again and run back to their team
and the next player has a go. When the ace is turned up they can lay it face up at the front of the table. The next
card needed is the two and so on. Play continues until one team has all its cards turned face up in the correct
order.
Compass Skills Patience
You will need: Sets of cards having the compass points printed on them
This game is played the same way as the previous game, but this time the boys have to place the cards at the
correct compass position for that card. Suggested order for laying down cards: North, South, East, West,
North East, South East, South West, North West. NNE, SSW, NNW, SSE, ENE, WSW, ESE, WNW
It's Under A Cup
You will need: A number of plastic cups and objects to fit under them (e.g. a ball, a ring, a key etc.)
Two teams one each side of the hall. Each team is numbered 1 to N with boys with the same number on
each team of similar size. The object are placed in the center of the hall in a row and the plastic cups placed over
them. The leader now calls out an object and a number. The two boys with that number have to rush to the row
of plastic cups, find the correct cup and take the object to the leader. The lad who gets the object to the leader
wins a point for his team.
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Ruba Dub Dub
You will need: Twenty four 35mm film canisters, these should be opaque and all look the same. Into twelve
of these you place a marble, fishing bell or anything that will make a noise when the canister is shaken.
The boys sit in a circle and take it in turn to pick up two canisters at a time and give them a shake. If they
both rattle then a prize or point is given to the boy who picked them. These canisters are then removed from the
game and the next boy has his turn. If both canisters do not rattle then they are both replaced where they were
picked up from and the game continues. The game gets more difficult as more are removed as there are then
more empty ones left in the game than ones that rattle. You could make it more difficult by having a larger
number of containers to begin with. You could also guild the Lilly by putting numbers on the canisters but I have
not found this to be necessary. You can use this as a team game, the winning team being the one with most
points or as individuals against all the rest.
Post Office
You will need: (for each six or patrol)
2 chairs
Coins adding up to 50 pence
The boys stand in their patrols or sixes, in straight lines across the middle of the hall. In front of each patrol is
a chair, this chair is the post office. On this chair at the beginning of the game is an assortment of coins. We use
coins that add up to 50 pence. Each teams post office, has the same number and value of coins. Behind each
patrol is placed another chair, this chair is the 'BUREAU DE CHANGE'. The leader calls out a sum of money, say
20 pence. The front man in each team then runs to the post office and has to leave 20 pence on the post office
chair. Any extra coins must be taken and placed on the BUREAU DE CHANGE chair. On finishing his move the
player runs back and joins the back of his team. The first man back gets a point for his team. If a value is called
which is higher than the value on the post office chair, the boys must run to the BUREAU DE CHANGE to collect
the coins they need. Great fun can be had by calling out 49, a lot of them will start counting the coins out, but the
smart ones soon realize that they only have to leave one coin at the BUREAU DE CHANGE to get 49 at the post
office. Calling out the value that is already at the post office also causes a laugh.
Obstacle Course In The Dark
You will need:
Various items that will fall over easily such as skittles
Plastic bottles and short lengths of wood or plastic tube
Give each team the same type and number of objects. Allocate each team a lane down the length of the hall
across which they must lay out the obstacles. You could mark these lanes with chairs if you wished. When the
teams have completed their task, line them up at one end of the hall and then get them to swap lanes with one of
the other teams. This way if they have made the obstacle too easy then they will give this advantage away to
another team. After allowing them a minute or two to look at the lane they are in, turn out the light and get them to
walk down the lane to the other end. The patrol leader or Sixer should be the leader for his team. At the finish
end of the hall, one of the leaders could flash a torch on and off at random to give them a bearing. Points are
deducted from each team for the number of obstacles they have knocked over.
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Team Building Games
Caber Toss
2 sizes of caber will be used. (Small for Scouts under 14 and large for those 14 and over)
Over The Log
A log is lashed, 6 ft. high, between two trees. The entire Patrol must get over it. Assistance can only be given
by those that have not crossed over yet. Scoring is by the percent of the Patrol that get over.
Amazon
A #10 can, with wire bale, is placed on an "island" 10 ft. into the Amazon. The Patrol has to get the can
without anyone stepping into the river, or spilling the contents of the can. Equipment: 6 ft. of 1/4" rope, pole or tree
limb long enough to reach the "island", a stick 2 ft. long, 2x6x12 board. Scoring is by cooperation, spirit, and
success or failure.
The Electric Fence
A "Yard" is enclosed by and "Electric Fence" (twine) 36" high. Inside the "Yard" is a 2x4 with steps or log to
assist. The Patrol must get as many members over the fence as possible. Anyone touched by the "fence" is
zapped and eliminated. Scoring is by cooperation, spirit, and success.
Kim's Game Campsite
Setup a Kim's Game with 20-30 normal campsite items and 20-30 special items (total of 50). Each Patrol is
allowed 30 seconds to observe and then must write down all that they can remember. Scoring is by the number
that they get correct.
Shoe Hunt
This game takes place on a clear grassy area. A 50 ft. circle is marked on the grass with a 10 ft. circle in the
center. All Scouts remove their shoes, place them in the center, and move out of the 50 ft. circle. The judge mixes
the shoes and then gives the go signal. Patrol members must find their own shoes, put them on, tie them, and get
back to the outer circle standing in a line. Scoring is by time (the number of seconds it takes subtracted from 180)
a 10 point penalty is charged for any shoes not properly tied or buckled.
How Many Bears Can Live In The Woods
Scouts become "bears" and must collect food. (colored paper squares) When all food is collected the judge
checks to see how many have collected a balanced menu. "Bears" without balanced menus do not survive.
Scoring is by the percentage of the bears that survive.
Nature Hunt
Patrols are given a list of items to "collect" during the day. By the end of the competition they must go to the
station and show their collection. Scoring is by the number of correct items.
Order Out Of Chaos
Each Scout s assigned a number. (1,2,3 etc.) The Patrol is then blindfolded and is instructed to get
themselves in numerical order, without speaking. Scoring is by subtracting the number of seconds used from
120. Time allowed: 2 minutes maximum.
Name It
A collection of 15 "nature" items is displayed. Each boy is given 5 minutes to list the items he can identify
without speaking or helping each other. Scoring: Sheets are graded and the total points divided by the number in
the patrol times 10, determines the score.
Bowline-Sheet Bend Draw
Each participant needs a 6 ft. rope. Patrols form into pairs facing each other. On "go" each Scout ties a
bowline around his own waist, the first one done then ties his rope to his partner's with a sheet bend. The two
partners then lean back and raise their hands. Scoring: the number of seconds used subtracted from 120. Add a
bonus of 5 points for each correct knot.
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All Aboard
The entire group must stand on a 2' x 2' platform at the same time, for 10 seconds. Scoring: 10 points for
each Scout on the platform.
Giant Clove Hitch
With a 50 ft. rope, the Patrol ties a clove hitch around a tree. No one is allowed to go closer than 15 feet to the
tree. Scoring is by the number of seconds used, subtracted from 240. 4 minutes maximum allowed.
Traffic Jam
The patrol divides into two groups. They line up as shown, facing each other with one empty space in the
center.
A A A A B B B B
The two groups must now switch positions on the line. The A's move to the B's space and vice versa. They
must follow this procedure:
1. Step only into an adjacent empty square.
2. Step around a person facing the opposite direction.
Players cannot move backwards. Players may not step around someone facing the same direction. Only one
player can move at a time. Scoring is by the number seconds used subtracted from 300.
Bowline Stroll
Everyone in the Patrol needs a 6 ft. rope. Each person ties a bowline around their waist. They then tie the
other end of their rope to a central loop (about 1 ft. in diameter, supplied by the judge.) They then must travel a
set course as fast as possible.
1. No one may be dragged.
2. Proceed safely.
Scoring is by the number of seconds used subtracted from 240.
The Monster
The Patrol must form a monster that moves 50 ft. and makes a sound.
1. The Monster must have only one more leg than the number of Scouts in the Patrol;
2. The Monster must have one less arm than the number of Scouts in the patrol;
3. The Monster must make a single sound, not just a group shout.
Scoring: Judges prerogative. 0-50 for the Monster 0-50 for the sound.
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Other Team Games
From Jim Speirs
Richmond Hill Hand Ball
Active, outdoors
Equipment: soccer or volleyball.
Formation: teams.
Divide the group into two equal teams. Find a suitable playing field about the size of a soccer field, with an
area to be used as an end zone.
The play starts with a jump ball. The object is to move the ball down the field to score points. Players throw
the ball to their teammates, or run with the ball. Players may not take more than five steps while carrying the ball.
If they do, the ball is handed to the other team, who throws it in from the sidelines.
Points are scored when the ball is thrown to a teammate in the opposing team's end zone, and caught. The
ball must be thrown from outside the end zone into the end zone and caught by a teammate. If the ball is missed
or dropped, the opposing team gets a chance to move it out of their end zone. One point is scored for each catch.
The team with the most points after a given amount of time is declared the winner.
Metro Medley
Active, outdoors/indoors
Equipment: Per team: 1 conductor hat; 1 whistle
Formation: shuttle
Divide the group into two or more teams; line them up in shuttle formation, with half the team at one end of the
playing area and the other half at the other end. The first member of each team is the conductor.
On 'Go', the conductor dons the hat, hangs the whistle around his neck and runs to the far end of the playing
area, where one half of his team waits. Here, he picks up his first 'car' by bending down and placing his right hand
between his legs, to join the left hand of the next player. Having attached the first car, the conductor blows his
whistle and the two players run to the other end to pick up another car.
The relay continues until all players on the team are part of the 'metro'. The conductor signifies a complete
train by blowing his whistle four times.
Tight Rope Walk
Semi-active, outdoors/indoors
Equipment: Per team: 20' rope, sweatpants, long underwear or large tights,
mustache, derby hat, stool, 6' stick.
Formation: shuttle.
Line up the teams in shuttle formation at either end of their 20' rope. The first player on each team, on 'Go',
puts on the mustache, tights and hat, picks up his balancing pole and walks along the rope.
Halfway across, he meets a stool; the player climbs over the stool and continues on his way to the other end
of the rope where he exchanges his outfit with the next player.
The relay ends when all players have completed the walk TWICE - once walking forward and the second time
backward.
Balloon Baseball
Active, outdoors/indoors.
Equipment: Balloons, balloon baseball markers.
Formation: teams.
Players are divided into two teams. Each team designates a pitcher who pitches to his own team.
Each batter gets two pitches to hit a balloon with his fist. If the balloon is hit, the fielding team tries to blow the
balloon to the ground before the batter runs around the bases. If they do not, a run is scored. Play continues until
everyone on the batting team has been 'up to bat'. Then the inning is over and teams switch places.
The game continues for a specified number of innings.
Note: Depending on the age of the players, the distance between the bases may be altered.
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Nuclear Reactor Game
From: Bob Condon
Good game and I have used a couple varieties of this at Team meetings with software engineers... Pretty
interesting results. Object Of Exercise: having a group discuss the problem, have the natural leaders take control,
plan and execute. Do a final discussion about what occurred... moderator TAKE NOTES.
Object Of Game: Take a 3/4 filled can of water, and pour its contents WITHOUT SPILLING IT, into a second
can 10 feet away.
RULES:
1. There is a transport device (see below) which they will be provided to transport the can containing the
material.
2. No one can touch a can.. You will be dead if you do leaving the team short one member (leaving one rope
on the transport device un-manned).
3. No one can be within a 4 foot of the can. There will be a ribbon one each rope of the transport device
marking this location.
4. The can must be transported with the transport device, AND POURED INTO THE OTHER CAN.
5. Ropes on the transport device can not be exchanged with another team member INSTEAD, you are
assigned a rope and you must always hold onto it. You can move yourself with the rope to another
position (crossing ropes etc) [needed when pouring can into second can].
6. No fighting. Work as a team.
SETUP:
You tell everyone that there is a radioactive materials in the can. They can transport the material using the
transport device to a safe location and save the world.
If they touch the can, they are dead.
If they should come within 4 feet of the can, then they are blinded and must be blind folded.
They have [xxx ] minutes to plan and then will be timed on the execution of transporting the material.
Materials:
6 - 10 foot pieces of nylon rope (1/4 ")
1 bungie cord which is larger that the circumference of the #10 can.
2- number 10 cans.
You put down plastic if inside!!
Assembly of Transport Device:
Take the clips OFF the bungie cord.
Fasten the bungie cord to make a circle larger than the can... I recommend about a 1/2 inch larger in
diameter. I usually make an S out of a coat hanger (SMALL) and pinch the two ends of the cord with the s to
hold it (probably not clear!)..Some bungies come with an S which is used to hold on the big clips on the end ...
send me mail if you need further clarification..
Now tie the 6 pieces of rope to the bungle cord making it look like a wheel hub (bungie cord) and spokes
(rope)
\ | /
\ | /
\ | /
\ | /
\ | /
/----------\
| |
| |
| |
\----------/
/ | \
/ | \
/ | \
/ | \
/ | \
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Tie a black ribbon on each rope 4 feet out.. If any hand hits the black ribbon, then they are blinded.
Results I have seen:
People in customer oriented environments plan this fairly quickly (30 minutes) and execute in 6 minutes. They
worked together to see how they could solve the problem, they tended to take more planning ideas up front, came
up with one solution and then did it.
People in R&D environments where they tend to work more independent of each other tend to take longer to
plan (up to 1 hour), spilled the contents because everyone fights over the leadership position, and execution can
take up to 20 minutes.
Biased.. Well I worked in the R&D environment and saw this happen and then executed in the CS
environment with different results. The real problem was that the engineers refused to yield the leadership to each
other, so they could not come to a consensus. Next, when they executed the task, one engineer would decide that
he was going to do to it HIS way and disrupted the team.
Hints:
The bungie cord is LARGER than the can so two people have to always be constantly be pulling on the ropes
(attached to the bungie cord otherwise the can falls through the bungle. If a third person inadvertently pulls on a
rope, this may make the can slip (because they are making close to a circle with the bungie cord)...
Its one of the best team games I know of...
A second way to do this is to make the same transport device, take 4 inch drain pipe with 2 capes on the end
and put 10 pounds of sand inside.
You need one setup for each patrol if you want to make it a race. Next you put physical barriers in place (
ropes waist high to climb over, tables to climb under) in the path where they will transport the nuclear canister (of
course painted yellow and fluorescent orange). They are given 20 minutes to plan how they will carry this
canister, then set up at the start line and then it is run. The winning team is the team that does not drop the
canister and is first over the finish line.
If they all drop the canister, then you start it again...
Hoot Hoot Hoot
This is not so much a Camporee competitive event, although this game could be used as a fun side-activity. It
is, however, an excellent game that is much enjoyed by both Cub and Scout age kids. Maybe we could all put our
heads together and come up with some more games we have seen in one place or another, eh?
Let's toss this Czech game into the equation today...
For lack of a better name, the Czechs call this one "Hoot, Hoot, Hoot". The reason for this will become clear
shortly.
This can either be an indoor or outdoor game, though it's better for outside, since some tackling can be
involved on occasion, unless specifically prohibited. I suppose that you could term this an active, but very quiet
game (except for the cheers that can be generated as a result of a "catch").
You need a well-marked playing field, divided into two sections, about 50 meters deep (smaller sizes OK if
you are indoors, but the playing size should equate to at least a basketball court sized area, with well-defined
playing area borders, since stepping out-of-bounds means being called "out").
The two teams assemble in their respective ends of the play area. Teams choose which side is going to go
first. One member of the selected team takes the deepest breath possible, and ventures into the other team's
territory. If this player runs out of air while in the other team's territory, the player is "out" and has to sit out the rest
of the game.
Since breath-holding is a quiet endeavor, it would be far to easy to "make a mistake" unless there were some
way of telling whether a player remains on just one breath while in "enemy territory". So, just to avoid confusion,
the player has to continuously say, "Hoot, hoot, hoot...." rapidly and without pause the entire time he or she is in
the opposition's side of the play area. The "H" sound takes more air than most, and so limits the time available
quite dramatically. Any pause indicates the player is taking another breath. If this happens, he or she is "out".
Since you lose less air when you are doing this quietly, everyone else has to be absolutely silent. If the player's
team makes noise in order to cover for the player, both the player and the noise-makers are "out".
Stepping out-of-bounds at any time is another way to be called "out". People who are "out" have to observe
the remainder of the go from the sidelines.
"It" attempts to tag as many of the opposition's players as possible. All who are tagged by "It" are "out"
UNLESS "It" runs out of air before crossing to his or her own territory.
There is a very slight possibility that "It" will run out of air through poor planning. However, the best way of
ensuring "It" runs out of air on the wrong side of the line is for "It" to be prevented from returning. Therefore, the
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side being invaded needs to capture "It" for long enough to ensure he or she runs out of air. (Tackling "It" to the
ground and knocking the breath out of "It" is not encouraged.)
Capturing "It" is not, however, risk-free. If "It" cannot be held until running out of air, and he or she manages to
get back across to home side, every player who touched "It" in the failed capture effort is "out". A wee but squirmy
"It" can take out several of the opposition's mooses this way...
Team strategy is fairly important in this game, since you want to preserve a few of your stronger and fleeter
players till the end, if at all possible. Everyone has to take a turn at being "It" - no exceptions allowed. Each player
takes this in turn until the entire team has gone across and returned (or been captured). After everyone has had a
turn, the team circulates the responsibility again. You do not have to use the same sequence each time, however,
so you can "target" opponents you need to get "out" as quickly as possible, using specific players from your side.
The team that runs out of players is NOT the winning. team. After a team wins, the game can be played
again.
So, give this one a try to see how it plays with the Scouts where you are, and let me know how it goes.
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Knot Games
A Knot Tying Contest
The Burrito wrote:
"In my troop we have recently been attempting to get the scouts to learn their knots. We don't have any
experienced boys to assist in teaching as we have a new troop. The problem we are having is that the scouts
aren't paying attention when the knot is being demonstrated, and also when they are supposed to be practicing. I
was wondering if anyone had any games or other ideas that could be used to help them learn these important
skills."
My scout troop used to hold a competition for the quickest tying of knots--it certainly got *most* of them
learning the knots - I know I did! We were tying the 6 basic knots :
reef knot
clove hitch
round turn & 2 half hitches
sheepshank
bowline
...and another one which I can never remember the name of (anyone?)
The *world* record (in Guinness book of records) is something like 7 seconds!! However, in my troop, I was
fastest with (I think) about 22 seconds, followed by our leader with about 30 seconds. It sure as hell helped me
*learn* the knots, and experiment with the many different ways of tying each. It's just a pity I can't remember the
*name* of 1 of them :)
A Knot Relay
From Phil Dennis
This takes me back about 20 years or so, but we did the following...
Take some cheap plywood and cut it into 3' x 2' sections. Then take some rope and cut it into 4' pieces. Drill
two holes in each piece of plywood that are just large enough for the ropes to fit through. Put a piece of rope
through each hole and tie a not in the end to it won't pull through.
Then you have the patrols line up for a type of relay-race. When the first group of boys reaches the front, the
SPL calls out the name of a knot that the boys must tie. Knots are inspected by the SPL, and when correctly tied,
the boy runs back to his patrol and the next one comes up to tie another knot. First patrol to complete all knots
correctly wins.
Another version from R.P. May
I have had surprising success with running a simple relay game after the teaching session, and explaining
beforehand what will happen.
The game simply involves each member of the team running across the hall, where they are told a knot to tie,
and they must tie that before returning to there team and the next person running up to do their knot. Each player
will be given a knot in a predetermined sequence and the sequence will be the same for all teams. Therefore the
Scouts know that if they do not pay attention during the learning phase of the evening they will let their team down
during the game phase. This is often sufficient incentive for them to make every effort to learn. You will need to
decide in advance how to handle a competitor who, after making several attempts, still fails to tie the required
knot, one possibility is for the next person in the team to come up (after the previous has been there for a set
period of time), then the next person must tie the knot that the previous person failed at and one more person
must come up at the end of the race so that the required number of knots get tied.
Whilst this game may not seem very exciting, in my experience simple games often succeed the best.
When you get on to teaching the square lashing I have an alternative game, the sedan chair race. The Troop
is divided into teams (of a fairly small number) and each team is given a chair and two staves. They then have a
fixed period (say fifteen minutes) to build a sedan chair which simply involves square lashing each of the staves to
either side of the chair so that they extend equally in front and behind of the chair. Warn them that it is vital that
the lashings are very tight.
Then set up a race track, if space is limited then you will probably have to have each team running one at a
time and time each, however if you can hold the race in a larger space it is possible for all teams to race together.
One member of each team sits on the chair and the other team members must carry the chair by the staves only
and run around the course. In running with the chair, any bad lashings will be disclosed since they will work
undone. A suitable penalty should be imposed for any team that drops their passenger.
This game always proves to be most entertaining, both for the members and for the leaders!
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Bowline/Sheet-bend Draw
Have the troop divide into pairs. Each pair lines up across from each other. Each Scout is given a piece of
rope long enough to tie around his/her waist and leave a couple of extra feet. These ropes should be on the
ground by the scout's feet.
At the GO signal, each scout picks up his/her rope and ties a bowline around their waist. Then they join the
rope with their partners rope using a sheet-bend. They then back up until the ropes become taught, lean back
and hold their hands in the air.
As a Patrol competition, the first patrol to have all of their pairs done, wins. As an individual competition, each
team competes independently. Check the knots, if they are wrong, have them start over, with time running.
Knot Relay (timed variation)
Have the patrols line up behind a starting line. A leader stands opposite each patrol and has one or two
ropes, and a pole (if desired).
At the GO signal, each patrol send one scout forward. The leader gives them a randomly selected knot. The
scout then must successfully tie that knot before returning to their patrol. When each scout returns to the patrol,
the next scout is sent forward.
Have each leader count the number of knots successful tied. Keep moving until the game period has nearly
expired. The patrol with the most successfully tied knots wins.
By running this relay for a fixed time, there is no need to adjust for different sized groups. Each scout should
get the opportunity to tie 2 or 3 different knots (at least).
In this game, the leaders should be willing to help scouts who have problems with specific knots.
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Games for Older Scouts
From The Leader, August/September 1984
Blind Compass Walk
For each patrol, set an appropriate number of small marked stakes in the ground about 1.5 meters apart in a
north/south line. Give each Scout an orienteering compass and a paper bag, and stand him beside one of his
patrol's stakes. Scouts from one patrol set their compasses between 45 degrees and 135 degrees, while those
from the opposing patrol set theirs between 225 degrees and 315 degrees. The boys then put the bags over their
heads so that all they can see is the ground and their compasses.
On signal, Scouts spin around three times then follow the bearings on their compasses for 100 steps. They
turn and follow a back bearing (arrow pointing towards instead of away from them) for 95 steps. Only Scouts who
finish within 10 steps of their marker score. The winning patrol has the highest score.
Remote Knotting
Stake out a 3 meter radius circle around a tree for each patrol, and give them a 15 meter rope. Two Scouts
from each patrol hold the rope at either end.
Without letting go and without entering the circle, they must tie a clove hitch around their tree. Also outside the
circle, the other patrol members can give advice and raise the rope if necessary. Fastest patrol wins.
Snapper Fishing
Give each patrol four 1.5 meter poles, several lengths of cord and a mousetrap. Mark out "river banks" 5
meters apart. Each patrol places its mousetrap on one river bank and cocks it, then lines up opposite it on the
other side of the river. On signal, the Scouts lash together their poles to make a "fishing pole" and start angling.
The first patrol to catch its snapper wins.
Tripod Lashing
Give each patrol three saplings of about the same size, one rope 2.5 meters long and another 1.8 meters
long. On signal, Scouts lash the saplings into a tripod. When done, they set up the tripod, tie a bowline in one end
of the rope and place the loop over the top of the tripod so that the free end hangs down the center of the tripod.
Then they tie a bowline in the free end - high enough that the loop is off the ground. Finally, one Scout stands in
the free bowline loop and balances by hanging onto the line. The winning patrol is the first with a Scout standing
in the bowline loop while the tripod supports his weight.
The Foreigner
You need a leader to play the Foreigner and a place where there are two trees with enough space between
them that you can mark out a very deep, fast-flowing river, too wide to jump. Hand each patrol a long rope, and
stand them at one tree across the river from the other tree and the Foreigner. The Foreigner doesn't speak or
understand a word of English. Patrols must somehow direct him to catch the end of the rope they throw to him
and tie it around his tree with a round turn and two half hitches at a height that will enable them to cross the river
safely once they've attached their end of the rope to their tree. The first patrol to communicate successfully and
cross the river wins.
Careless Camp Observation Game
Set up a tent and simple fireplace and scatter mistakes on site: a carelessly dropped ax; a glass jar next to
the fireplace; poorly set tent pegs and badly tied guylines; etc. Include, as well, some personal items like sleeping
bags, patrol scarves, shirts with identification on them, name tags, etc.
Give patrols five minutes to study the site. They are not to talk, but they can touch what they see as long as
they leave an item exactly as they found it. Patrols then huddle to prepare a list of all the things they found wrong
in the camp. Best list wins. As patrols hand in their lists, add to the contest by giving each a card of questions
asking, for example, How many boys were camping? What troops or patrols do they belong to? etc.
Knotty Trail
Tie together several pieces of rope of various thicknesses using several different knots. Use a clove hitch to
tie one end of the rope to a tree and another knot to tie the other end to a second tree. Give patrols about 2
minutes to walk along the rope from tree to tree and back again. Silently they observe the different knots and try
to remember what they are, before huddling to list the knots in the correct order, including the knots used around
the trees. Give extra points to the patrol which can tell you how many ropes were used.
The MacScouter's Big Book of Games -- 44 -- January 1997
