Hold up a soda bottle with a cork inside it and ask, “Does anyone know how to get the cork out of the soda bottle without breaking the bottle?” Allow Scouts to offer opinions of how this might be done, and allow several to try to get it out. Ask, “Can you think of any items that would help get the cork out of the bottle?” Again you probably will get some more opinions. After hearing some ideas, pull a piece of heavy string out of your pocket, and ask if you believe that a piece of string will do the job. As you demonstrate, explain that the key to removing the cork with the string is a knot tied on the end of the string. Run the knotted end into the bottle, turn the bottle upside down with the small end of the cork turned toward the crown of the bottle. Gently pull the string out, and as the knot slides against the cork, it will pop out. Explain that the knot is the key to the success of removing the cork. Add, “If something as small as a knot can serve such an important role, think how important each of you are to your patrol and troop.”
