From: Sharmanc@msmail.ccc.govt.nz (Chris Sharmam) Newsgroups: rec.scouting Subject: A Really successful exercise. Date: Fri, 10 Mar 95 08:55:20 PST Hi Guys & Gals out there. I thought I'd try a post here I'm not sure if this is the sort of thing that people want to see here but it is the more useful sort of chat and idea sharing that I'd like to see more of. A couple of weekend back now my scout group ran a car rally for our scouts. Firstly each patrol had to come up with a car and a parent to drive it (they are to young to have liecences). The patrol leaders had to turn up half an hour early and they were taken out to a street corner in they country and droped there. When the rest of their patrol turned up. The assistant patrol leader was given a map and a grid reference to find their Patrol Leader. The scouts have to navagate with no help from the driver each grid reference is written on the outside of an envelope with directions inside in case they get lost (points off for opening the envelope). So with our group Each patrol managed to find their patrol leader no problems. Once the patrol leader was found he had another envelope with yet another grid reference upon it. And so they set off in this fashion to the next site. We have three patrols in our troop so we did a morning rotation of three bases and an afternoon rotation of three. Once at each base they get given the next grid reference to the next base. They morning bases were 1) Search and rescue of a injured person Treat injuries and recover patient. 2) Prossic up a tree and absail down. 3) Use semofore or morse to send a message accross a river. then we met for a BBQ lunch during which time all the scout (Ages 11-14.5) were allowed to drive a gar arround a staked out course do a 3 point turn in a hammer head and drive back along the course. (Boy did I break a sweat.) The afternoon bases were 1) Use block and tackle or a spanish windless to pull a car out of a ditch. 2) Boil up a hot drink on a pressure cooker and light a tilly lamp 3) Build a simple 3 strand monkey bridge. This was an extremly successful activity which was throughly enjoyed by all who took back. It is an event we will run again as we have never had such possitive feedback from the scouts. We all met at the end a yet another grid referenced point. were points were added up. 10 points off for each envelope opened. (only one patrol opend one envelope) Points scored for the best turned out patrol(dressed matching clothing) 20 points given by driver for team cooperation and navigation. 30 points for how well each activity was under taken given by base leader. A prize was given to the winning patrol. There is a lot of work for leaders is setting out an activity like this but it is an excelent way for scouts to practice a variety of their scoutting skills in a one day session with a lot of fun along the way. If anyone wants more information just email me. I have copies of all the base rotations, envelopes etc which I typed up so if any one wants them let me know (of course you'll have to ammend for your grid references and activity preferences but heh it may save you some effort). Any one in the Christchurch N.Z. Area can contact me at the email address below and can just use the activity with any changes if they like.) Lets start an air of cooperation and share more ides like this especially activites that were a success. Yours in Scouting Cheers Chris. ___________________________________________________________________ +_______________________________________+ | Chris Sharman (Sharmanc@ccc.govt.nz) | |_______________________________________| | Christchurch City Council | | P.O. Box 237 _________________________| | CHRISTCHURCH | Phone +64 3 371-1496 | | New Zealand | Fax +64 3 371-1792 | +_______________________________________+ Critical Error: Unable to locate coffee - Operator Halted