SCOUTING GAMES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20077, 6 April 1935, Page 11

SCOUTING GAMES

A GOOD TROOP GAME The Patrols line up in relay formation, and each member of a Patrol is given a number, e.g., P.L.’s No. 1, Seconds No. 2, and so on right down the Patrol. Supposing the S.M. calls out quickly: “Number three, touch something red,” then No. 3 in each Patrol jumps to it, finds something red, touches it, and runs back to his place. The first one back wins a point for his team. The S.M. carries on calling out various numbers with special instructions, and the first Patrol to gain ten points wins. GAMES WITH THE SCOUT STAFF A number of teams line up as for a relay race. No lof each team goes round a given course guiding a balloon with a Scout staff. To make it more difficult, it can be one of the rules of the game that the balloon must not touch the ground, and the penalty for allowing it to do so can be “start again.” When No. 1 returns, having successfully completed the course, No. 2 goes round, and so on. The team to finish first wins. Here is another good game:—Mark out two squares on the ground big enough for a Scout to stand in, and five feet apart. A Scout stands in each square, holding both ends of his staff as for quarterstaffs. A log is placed in between the two squares. It is each Scout’s job to prevent the other from kicking over the log by pushing him away. This must only be done with the staves. Neither Scout is allowed outside his square. THE JIG-SAW HUNT Here is a good idea for your interpatrol competition:— Paint three different flags (or as many as you have Patrols) on the postcards, and then cut each flag into eight jig-saw pieces. Hide the pieces all over the Club-room before the Troop arrives. At the word “Go.” each Patrol is given the name of one of the flags, and their job is to hunt for the bits of that particular flag. First Patrol to hand a complete flag to the S.M. wins the points. Others get marked according to time taken. If you want to make it a longer game substitute treasure clues for the flags. When a Patrol has its pieces of clue complete it can hunt for the treasure. In fact, for good Troops, the alternative seems a better idea than the actual game.