War Memorial Tour on Remembrance Day 2011

I could not get access to the Scots American War Memorial in Princes Street Gardens or the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle on the evening (despite asking), so here's what we did instead...

We walked the Scouts up from where we meet, into central Edinburgh and then stopped at various war memorials along Princes Street (above the one in Princes Street Gardens), on to the Kings Own Scottish Borderers Memorial on North Bridge and then up to the War Memorial at the City Chambers, discussed here.

At each stop I read something out that I had got from the internet, either some information or a relatively well know poem. In Flanders Fields, or the one with 'we will remember them' in it.

At one of the early stops I gave them each a slip of red paper and asked them to carry it to the next stop and then at the next stop while I read a poem they passed a pen around and were invited to write on their paper 'we will remember them', then they carried it to the next stop and while I read another poem my Assistant Scout Leader stapled all the bits of paper in loops around a black circle of paper to make a poppy which we laid at the City Chambers memorial.

Model Aeroplanes

BMFA Dart Model Aeroplane
http://www.bmfa.org/education/kits.html

Ice Hockey

Freeze cubes or a bowl of ice and then use it as a puck for a game of hockey (using hockey sticks, staves or wooden spoons).

Earth ball

Scouts split into two teams and get given six pioneering poles and some rope. They build a pair of tripods as goal posts. Mark out the boundaries of play with rope / bunting.

Earth ball pushed into the middle of play as teams start from their goal mouth. Sensible play required as a player going 'over' the earth ball may result in serious injury.

Yellow Pages / Phone Book

Split into groups with at least one copy of (the same edition of) the yellow pages / other phone book per team.
Prepare by flicking through and making up questions for the teams. They must find certain information based on the specific details you request. This game / activity could be done as individual challenges, like a relay, or to see who can answer all questions fastest / working simultaneously as a team.

Information provided:

• Category of company
• Name of business
• Logo of business
• Services provided
• Page number

Information required:

• Phone number
• Website address
• Email address
• Address
• Opening times
• What picture is included in the advert

Example:

• The moving company with a cat as their logo
• Phone number of window cleaner with the following address
• What time does this company close on a Saturday
• Name of first company on page X

B&Q Kids Can Do It Classes

Kids Can Do It Classes

Lemon Sherbet Interrogation

During an evening on the theme of 'Mafia' we gave each scout a boiled sweet with the instruction to "make it last as long as possible".

An exercise in self control - and also the quietest end to an evening we've ever had!

Life Auction

(based on 16th Edware Scouts article from Scouting magazine June/July 2011 p.8-11)

Given the choice between good looks, supportive family and a sense of humour, what would you bid for in an auction? It’s a tricky decision and one which usually sparks much discussion and debate amongst Scouts.
This programme certainly gets your Troop thinking about what’s really important in life.

1. Good memory
2. Ability to make friends easily
3. A good sense of humour
4. A vivid imagination
5. A supportive family
6. Leadership skills
7. Good looks
8. A healthy body
9. Musical talent
10. Courage
11. Fame
12. Strong faith
13. A good education
14. Wealth
15. A job you enjoy
16. Organisational skills
17. The ability to dance
18. Artistic ability
19. Power
20. Multi-lingual
21. Good with technology
22. A loving relationship
23. Sporting talent
24. Listening skills
25. Inner peace
26. ...
27. ...

[Please note: Life Auction Ltd does not take any responsibility for any lost or damaged personalities.]

If you were running this activity it would make sense to make some kind of spreadsheet to automatically calculate what funds each scout has left after winning a bid.

Open publication - Free publishing

Sorting on chairs

A non-verbal communication challenge carried out with the patrols all stood on chairs (not allowed to touch the ground). Scouts must then order themselves without speaking as a race:
- by height
- by age
- by first name (alphabetical)
- by month of birth
- by shoe size
- etc...

Water Filtration

Construct water filters from 2L plastic bottles (cut into 2), using gravel, cotton wool, paper towel, etc.
We made dirty water using ash and soil.
[Important to explain the difference between 'clear' water and 'clean' water]

Gaffer tape skills

Basic skills and getting the most out of Gaffer Tape. Different functions and its usefulness.
Things to make:
- Gaffer tape woggle
- Gaffer tape wallet
- Gaffer tape shoes / sandals (with a cardboard sole)
Tip for sandals:
Put the first bit of tape over your foot with the sticky side uppermost. Then cover it with another piece to finish it and fix it in place.

Camel Racing

A game derived from / inspired by 'horse & jockey'.
Two teams numbered off and instructed to form a piggy back team when numbers are called.

Two or more chairs should be set up in the mid-line of the hall in a line or at least one at either end. This is to form a circuit (similar to musical chairs), with space for a 180 degree turn at either end.

On forming a piggy back pair, participants should be positioned on either side of the barrier, in the middle of the hall, and facing opposite directions.
A scout necker/scarf should be tied around the jockey's head, not as a blind-fold, but to get into character as a camel rider!

On a whistle blow, the camels should race around the circuit in a pursuit chase. The winner is the camel that catches up with its opposition.

Repeat races with different combinations of camels/riders, and keep tally of score.

Horse & Jockey

Split into two or more teams. Number off within teams.
Two numbers are called - the first is the horse, the second is the jockey.
The jockey jumps onto the horse (piggy-back) when the numbers are called. At the same time, a scout necker/scarf is thrown into the middle of the playing area.
The competing teams then have to collect the necker (off the floor) and return it to their team's side.

Matches

Being comfortable and confident using matches is an important skill. Giving Scouts the experience of lighting matches in a safe environment allows them to practice striking and holding a lit match, and then putting it out.

After practicing, we had them do a timed exercise to get a match from a box, light it and three candles, and then put it out (keeping the candles lit). They started with the closed matchbox balanced on their head and their hands by their side.

Important messages:
- Matches are safe if used sensibly and appropriately (there is no need to worry)
- You will not burn yourself when you hold a lit match as long as you are careful
- You will burn yourself if you hold onto a match for too long (however this is not such a terrible thing to happen!)
- You need to hold the lit end down to get the match to burn and stay lit
- You can shake the match to put it out
- Blowing the match out can put out the candle you were lighting!
- With a bit of practice you can probably light a few candles with one match without having to put it out.

Morse Code Oscillator

Part of the requirements for the Communication badge is to build a morse code oscillator. This is how we did it.
Create a sprung switch using a clothes peg and a couple of pennies. Celotape can be used to secure the coins and stripped wire contacts. Thanks to Mark (ASL) for this one!

Potato Typography

Inspired by having seen Stephen Fry's documentary on the Gutenberg Printing Press.

Preparation:
1) Cut potatoes in half width-ways.
2) Using a mandolin on its thickest setting, cut the potato pieces down to create discs all with the same thickness.
3) Count how many characters you will need for the longest line of your text.
4) Hammer short nails into a strip of wood (like a carpet grip-strip). I did 4 per letter.
5) Work out how many of each character you will need to make to print a line at a time (there are tools that will do this online). You may not require every letter of the alphabet

Activity:
1) Optional explanation and history lesson about the production and value of print media and mass-production of books.
2) Issue a list of characters to make, everyday table knives and first potato pieces
3) Inking with paint and a mini-roller, demonstrate how a typewriter works using with the same carved character being over and over again along a line. There may be a quicker way...
4) Stick the potatoes onto the nails in the wooden board, ink and then press onto paper - more than once if you like! (I used lining wallpaper).