Wide Games

Having met at the Scout Hut, we got the Scouts into the van - and started to head off to the woods.  However, we had a couple of concerns about Scouts tripping over branches etc - and given the scale of the reporting following an incident decided to head to a more open area.

When we got there, we played a few games of “Fox and Hounds” - The “fox” heads off with a flashing torch, and about 30 seconds later the “hounds” are set after them.  The “hound” that catches the “fox” is the next “fox” (variations of this also have the fox using a whistle that they blow every 30 seconds)

Afterwards, we broke 1 lightstick per Scout - and played “tag”.  When a Scout was “tagged” they would have to hand their “life” (the lightstick) over - and being “dead” would have to return to base.  This was reasonably successful - although there were arguments about who tagged whom.

Finally, we had a “firefight”. A simple concept that works well with the lightsticks; two teams, both armed with the sticks.  You can make up rules about if people are hit they are out - or you can let simple fun take over.  As you watch the sticks being thrown it starts to look like a science fiction laser war…. and because it’s dark the sticks are hard to judge to catch or dodge…  All good fun.

Admin, tent checking and games

The first night back - and in the main it was pleasing to see so many in full uniform.  The Troop attending this week is the same group that will be with me next week for the Annual Gilwell Winter Camp - so checking the tents was a main order for the day.

Using the mnemonic PATROL we tried to get the Scouts to break the problem (that of checking the tent) into the various units - however, they were just keen to get on.  This later tripped them up, when on counting tent pegs they said “We have 25 pegs in this tent”.  “How many do you need?” I asked and received the expected “dunno” response.  So the tent was opened again (you could cut the frustration with a knife!!) as they moved from being the first to complete to the last.  However, it will mean that next week their tent will have enough pegs - and it looks like being a wet and windy weekend (and I’m not talking about the Baked beans!!)

We played quite a good version of battleships.  The ‘normal’ version is to draw a circle about half way down the hall - and each scout attempts to land  a beanbag in the circle.  When the patrol has succeeded 3 times they can attempt the battleship board - with points for Hits etc.  Because we didn’t have beanbags but foam frisbees (and to give another leader something else to do!) we marked three circles in a line, with subsequently higher points - which then gave each Scout a dilemma - go for an ‘easy’ circle with low points to tackle the Battleship board; or go for the more difficult circles with higher points, but less chance to tackle the board?  An interesting game that I think the boys enjoyed.

The other thing we have deliberately done this term is to NOT publish the programme.  This will mean that the Scouts will be unable to decide the more fun evenings to attend - something that the Scouts seem to appreciate; I hope that they won’t be disappointed over the term.