The Lead Steer

In the early 1800s, before railroads, the only way to move cattle from the west to the big cities was to drive the huge herds of cattle across the planes to places like Kansas City and St. Louis. Trails like the Chisholm Trail were marked as the best routes that would provide water, food, river crossings, and safety from man and beast. Cowboys would be on the trail for weeks at a time moving the cattle before finally arriving at their destination.

Each herd had a lead steer, which was usually an older longhorn steer that led the way along the trail. The cowboys would get the lead steer moving each morning, and he would slowly start leading the way up the trail to the destination. The herd would fall into line behind the lead steer and follow him. Cowboys would ride on the flanks and the rear to keep the stragglers from wandering away from the herd. The lead steer was trained to lead the herds. After completing a trail drive, the cowboys would drive the lead steer back home to lead another herd up the trail, and this would be repeated time and again. The story of the lead steer points out that leadership is a skill that can be taught, and as a Scout you will be given many opportunities to learn leadership skills and to be a leader.

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“The object of the patrol method is not so much saving the Scoutmaster trouble as to give responsibility to the boy.”

Wisdom

Walt Disney was once asked what a person would need to do to be like him. Disney named four steps:

1. Think! Think about the values and principles that guide you in your business and personal life.

2. Believe! Believe in yourself.

3. Dream! Dream of something you want to do.

4. Dare! Dare to make your dream a reality.

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“The most important object in Boy Scout training is to educate, not instruct.”

Traditional Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rain fall soft upon your fields, and unto we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“Scoutmasters need the capacity to enjoy the out-of-doors.”

Character

A Scoutmaster asked his troop to define character.

One Scout said character is “thinking good thoughts,” and another said it is “being a good citizen.” Another said character is having good morals, and another said it is “being honest and courageous.”

A young Scout held up his hand and when called upon said, “Character is what you do when nobody’s looking.”

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“A boy is naturally full of humor.”

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