The Original Scout Law

At the BSA’s first annual meeting in 1911, a committee was charged with “Americanizing” Lord Baden-Powell’s Scout Law. B-P’s Scout Law had nine points, covering the virtues of trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courtesy, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, and thriftiness. The BSA committee changed the wording to each point but retained their meaning. At the urging of James E. West, three points were added: brave, clean, and reverent. West was particularly adamant about adding “reverent” because, he said years later, “I felt then, as I feel now, that there is nothing more essential in the education of the youth of America than to give them religious instruction.”

It’s a Knockout, 21/07/06

It’s a Knockout is a series of fun team games. There would be usually several crazy-fun challenges which each team has to try, and the team that does the best gets 10 points, second 8 points and third 6 points. Such games are easy to invent, here are a few to get you started. Note: that you should always keep safety in mind when playing such games.

Pass the Polo Mint

Each team gets a Polo mint which has to be passed from Beaver to Beaver using short drinking straws. They hold the drinking straws in their mouths. They are not allowed to use their hands.

Pass the balloon / orange

Same principle as above, but pass the object between the knees.

Land Mines

A blindfolded Beaver has to be guided around a floor strewn with balloons by their team mates without bursting a balloon. Use a story to make it seem more realistic

Catch - Head

Requires: A ball

Beavers stand in a circle around a leader. The leader throws the ball to each Beaver in turn, shouting Catch or Head. This time the Beaver must do the opposite of the action, i.e. catch the ball if told to head it, catch it if told to head it. If they fail to do so they must roll up a sleeve. When both sleeves rolled up they must sit down where they were standing if they fail again. Game continues until one Beaver left.

Rats and Rabbits / Foxes and Pheasants.

Two teams lined up facing each other, with a short distance between them in the middle of the hall. A zone at each end of the hall is marked out as a Home Zone for that team. One team is called Rats (or foxes), the other team is called Rabbits (or pheasants). The leader calls out Rats or Rabbits. If the leader calls Rats, the Rats try to catch the Rabbits, before they can reach the Home Zone behind them. If Rabbits are called, they must try to catch the Rats before they reach their Home Zone. Any Beaver caught must join the opposing team.

Leap frog

The Beavers form a (several) line(s) and squat down to make themselves as small as possible. The last Beaver in each line jumps over the squatting Beavers until they reach the front. They then squat and yell “Go”. The Beaver at the back jumps over the Beavers to the front and so on until they have all travelled up the length of the course.

Other ideas

Rubber ring

Plastic bottle catch

Slippery Slope

Tennis ball scramble

Centipede

Mini-Olympics, 07/07/06

The idea of the games in this task is that when dividing the Beavers into teams each team could represent a Country. These countries could then be used in other parts of your programme, such as examining Scouts around the world.

The games in this section are the more traditional type of games, adapted to make them more fun.

Relay Races

The teams can compete in a variety of different relays up and down the hall, or between a course marked outdoors.

Rounders

Can either be played indoors or outdoors. If playing indoors use a rolled up newspaper as the bat, and a ball made from newspaper. Requires 2 teams

Mark out 4 bases on the floor in diamond shape. The pitcher stands in the centre, the fielders may stand around the hall or area where playing. The batting team must stand well back. Each batsman has 2 chances of hitting the ball per turn, if

they miss on the first throw they must run to first base. The fielders may get a Beaver out by catching the ball when hit or touching a base with the ball before the batsman or member of the batting team reaches it. Once any base has been

touched the batting team cannot move any further round the diamond. Let each batsman have 3 turns or unless all the members are out, then swop the teams around. The team with the most players in at the end is the winner.

Mini-Basketball

Requires: 2 teams, 2 chairs, a ball

Place the chairs at either end of the hall. Select 1 Beaver from each team to be that teams Goalpost, and have them stand on a chair. The team plays towards their own Goalpost. The ball may be only passed between members of a team

by throwing to each other. Running with the ball is not allowed. Allow 5 minutes each way.

Crab football

Requires: 2 teams, ball, 2 goals

The Beavers must bend over with their hands touching the floor, they are only allowed to hit the ball with their hands. The teams must try and score as many goals as possible.

Search and find games

Hide various items around the hall and ask the Beavers to find as much as they can, the team with the most items is the winner.

Shoe Scramble

Each Beaver removes shoes and places in a pile. The Beavers move to a starting line 10 to 15 feet away, and at the signal the Beavers try to retrieve and put on their own shoes (not necessary to tie or buckle. The first Beaver back to the starting line wins.

Other Ideas

3 legged race

Have a Sandcastle if you are near a beach

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk.”