From: dwm@csg.uwaterloo.ca (Doug)
Subject: wide game: Candle Game
Date: Mon, 16 May 1994 18:38:08 GMT

This game, played at night, is a variant of Capture the Flag that we
just call "the candle game".  Two small pots are placed at opposite ends
of a field (with trees or bush down the sides of the field) and lids for
the pots are placed on the ground, just beside the pots;  a small, lighted
candle is placed in each pot.

Each team tries to put out the other team's candle by sneaking up
on their opponent's candle and putting the lid on the pot without being
caught.  The rest of the rules are pretty much the same as Capture the Flag -
you can have one jail in the middle of the field (at the dividing line, where
a leader can stand and let people go after a couple of minutes), or two
jails - one at each end with escape/rescue rules.  Teams can hide their
candles if you want, but safety usually dictates keeping them in the open.
When we played this at our February outdoor camp, there wasn't much of a fire
hazard with snow all around, but you probably want to have a leader fairly
closely involved with each team if the candles aren't readily visible.

We've found that it's enough of a variation from Capture the Flag that we
can easily keep the interest and fun levels up by interchanging the two as our
Friday night "after arrival/setup" games.  Our Scouts love to sneak around in
the bush hiding from and hunting down each other.  Perhaps this can inspire
dozens of other variants of night games too.  (BSA probably has some policy
against it and, yes, I've heard fears about Scouts being hit by branches in
the eye.  Still, I sincerely doubt that B.P. worried about such things
anywhere nearly as much as the national council for our neighbours to the
south in the land of the law suit - oops, I'm wandering into another
topic!  :-)  Can you say minefield?  I KNEW you could say that!)