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).