From: jim.speirs@canrem.com (Jim Speirs)
To: dannys@iis.ee.ethz.ch (Danny Schwendener)
Subject: Outdoor Patrol Activities
Summary: Five patrol activities involving ropes, knots and compass reading 

Article #R112a.
===============

Outdoor Patrol Activities
Phil Newsome
The Leader, August/September 1984


Blind Compass Walk

For each patrol, set an appropriate number of small marked stakes in
the ground about 1.5 metres apart in a north/south line. Give each
Scout an orienteering compass and a paper bag, and stand him beside
one of his patrol's stakes. Scouts from one patrol set their compasses
between 45 degrees and 135 degrees, while those from the opposing
patrol set theirs between 225 degrees and 315 degrees. The boys then
put the bags over their heads so that all they can see is the ground
and their compasses.

On signal, Scouts spin around three times then follow the bearings on
their compasses for 100 steps. They turn and follow a back bearing
(arrow pointing towards instead of away from them) for 95 steps. Only
Scouts who finish within 10 steps of their marker score. The winning
patrol has the highest score.


Remote Knotting

Stake out a 3 metre radius circle around a tree for each patrol, and
give them a 15 metre rope. Two Scouts from each patrol hold the rope
at either end.

Without letting go and without entering the circle, they must tie a
clove hitch around their tree. Also outside the circle, the other
patrol members can give advice and raise the rope if necessary.
Fastest patrol wins.


Snapper Fishing

Give each patrol four 1.5 metre poles, several lengths of cord and a
mousetrap. Mark out "river banks" 5 metres apart. Each patrol places
its mousetrap on one river bank and cocks it, then lines up opposite
it on the other side of the river. On signal, the Scouts lash together
their poles to make a "fishing pole" and start angling. The first
patrol to catch its snapper wins.


Tripod Lashing

Give each patrol three saplings of about the same size, one rope 2.5
metres long and another 1.8 metres long. On signal, Scouts lash the
saplings into a tripod. When done, they set up the tripod, tie a
bowline in one end of the rope and place the loop over the top of the
tripod so that the free end hangs down the centre of the tripod. Then
they tie a bowline in the free end - high enough that the loop is off
the ground. Finally, one Scout stands in the free bowline loop and
balances by hanging onto the line. The winning patrol is the first
with a Scout standing in the bowline loop while the tripod supports
his weight.


The Foreigner

You need a leader to play the Foreigner and a place where there are
two trees with enough space between them that you can mark out a very
deep, fast-flowing river, too wide to jump. Hand each patrol a long
rope, and stand them at one tree across the river from the other tree
and the Foreigner. The Foreigner doesn't speak or understand a word of
English. Patrols must somehow direct him to catch the end of the rope
they throw to him and tie it around his tree with a round turn and two
half hitches at a height that will enable them to cross the river
safely once they've attached their end of the rope to their tree. The
first patrol to communicate successfully and cross the river wins.