ARCH 2013 FEBRUARY/M
Sk i l l s
FIRE LIGHTING
101
10
GES CHALLTEEN TO ST UTS’ YOUR SICLO S L SK
START A SMALL-STICK FIRE WITH OUR TOP TIPS
lsls ilil Sk Sk Create Adventure IMPROVISED CANDLE CANDLES| CAMPFIRE | CAMPFIREPOT POTHANGER HANGER ||GEOCACHING GEOCACHING
AcornVenture_b255978_1lp 1
03/01/2013 13:45
Welcome
T
his issue we focus on the core skills that are still an important part of modern Scouting.
They can also be great fun, providing opportunities for Scouts to acquire useful knowledge while experiencing the thrill of adventure. Gaining skills in fire lighting, backwoods cooking and navigation will all help your Scouts embrace the great outdoors, as well as potentially proving vital in a survival situation. We’ve enlisted experts Paul Kirtley and Dale Collett to provide guidance and ideas for practical projects. You’ll find their articles on efficient fire lighting and making a pot hanger on pages 16 and 21. There are also some great creative projects such as candle making (page 5), as well as games from resourceful Scout Leader Julian Morgans, who offers up 10 super skills challenges (page 12). If you’re looking for a large event to involve local Groups, Explorer Units and Scout Networks, then our partner ShelterBox has the answer. Its new resource explains how to organise and run a mass scavenger hunt, while learning about the charity’s life-saving global disaster relief work (page 25). Regular contributor Eddie Langdown rounds off the issue with a guide to geocaching on page 29. This is a popular and addictive Scouting pursuit – thousands of Groups, Units and Networks have caught the bug. There are now many Scout trackables travelling across the UK and beyond – so if you’ve found an unusual Scout-themed cache, let us know by emailing scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk.
Create 5
7 8 9 11 11
Relight your fire Shed light on camp with this thrifty trick Make a withy lantern With Serco’s simple steps Construct a balloon rocket Learn about force with this fun activity Plan for March and April With our events calendar Make a sock monster Thanks to Hobbycraft’s helpful hints Build a brush bug Cubs will love this fun project
21
Skills 16 Small-stick fire lighting Paul Kirtley’s steps to success Prep and paint a wall B&Q 19 shares its expert know-how 20 Make homemade 20 21
5
lemonade With Kenwood’s simple instructions Rapid recipe Moroccan veggie stew beckons Hanging tough Try this pot hanger for easy camp cooking
29
Games 12 Test your Group’s 14 14 15
Scouting skills Julian Morgans shares his top 10 challenges Read between the lines This Nesta activity is all about communication Learn top tricks With WorldMagicShop.com Fish fun Play Pets at Home’s fun quiz
15
Adventure 25 ShelterBox scavenger hunt 27 27 29
We show you how to stage this exciting activity Feed the birds With this simple yet effective project Master map symbols Ordnance Survey are on hand to help you read the signs Cache in hand How many geocaches can you find?
Matthew Jones, Editor scouts.org.uk/magazine
GET ACTIVE! 3
Badge focus Get Active! Editors Lee Griffiths, Matthew Jones, Antonia Kanczula, Vicky Milnes, Sara-Mae Tuson Content Advisers Bianca Cole, Ashleigh Grimes, Sally Hilton, Gemma Hoskins, Jess Kelly, Michael Regan, Emma Saunders, Paulina Sekrecka and Rosie Storrar With thanks to... Joly Braime, Dale Collett, Daniel Haigh, Dustin James, Paul Kirtley, Eddie Langdown, Julian Morgans, Emma Nicholls, Roz Nunn, Hassan Torossian, Kevin Yeates
HELP YOUR SCOUTS EARN THEIR BADGES
5
8
&7 Environment Partnership Award Improvised candles and a withy lantern will light your way
Cub Scientist Activity Badge Build and race balloon rockets thanks to Rolls-Royce’s project
11
11
14
14
15
16
19
20
The national magazine of The Scout Association ISSN 0036 – 9489 © 2013 The Scout Association Registered Charity Numbers: 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland) Published by The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW Tel: 0845 300 1818 Fax: 020 8433 7103 Email: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk Website: scouts.org.uk/magazine Please send all contributions to: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk Please note that the views expressed by members and contributors in the magazine are not necessarily those of The Scout Association.
Get Active! is produced by Immediate Media Branded Content, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN Editor Alex Drew Group Art Editor Will Slater Art Editor Tim Nolan Project Manager Ian Ochiltree Director of Immediate Media Branded Content Julie Williams Group Publishing Director Alfie Lewis Cover illustration Hassan Torossian ADVERTISING Media Sales Manager Tom Parker tom.parker@immediate.co.uk Tel: 0117 314 8781 It is important to note the differing structures of UK Scouting in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, for ease of reading this supplement refers to all variations of ‘County’-level groupings simply as County.
Cub Artist Activity Badge Unleash Scouts’ inner artists with Hobbycraft’s sock puppet activity
IT Staged Activity Badge Improve logical thinking – a vital skill in computing – with Nesta
Beaver Animal Friend and Cub Animal Carer Activity Badges Top tips on good pet care
Scout Electronics Activity Badge Make a brush bug with IET’s ingenious idea
Scout Entertainer Activity Badge Another top magic trick from WorldMagicShop.com
Explorer Scouting Skills Activity Badge Fire lighting with bushcraft expert Paul Kirtley
Cub and Scout DIY Activity Badges B&Q shows Scouts how to prep and paint walls
Beaver Healthy Eating Activity Badge You can’t beat Kenwood’s homemade lemonade!
20
25
27
27
You can read Get Active! and Scouting magazine online at scouts.org.uk/magazine 110,002 average circulation of Scouting from 1 Jan–31 Dec 2011 © Immediate Media Branded Content. Printed in the UK by William Gibbons. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue.
This magazine can be recycled, for use in newspapers and packaging. Please remove any gifts, samples or wrapping and dispose of it at your local collection point.
PEFC/16-33-795
We are proud to say Get Active! is PEFC certified. For more information go to www.pefc.co.uk. Promoting sustainable forest management.
4 GET ACTIVE!
Scout Camp Cook Activity Badge One-pot campfire cooking made easy
Cub and Scout Naturalist Activity Badges Attract the birds with this nourishing seed cake
Global Challenge Award Involve Groups, Units and Scout Networks in a mass scavenger hunt
& 29 Cub and Scout Navigator Activity Badges Navigate your way with these tasks
Activities can be adapted for different sections February/March 2013
e t a e Cr Pictures: © Paul Kirtley
p9 ning ahead n la P | 5 p t ligh Last-minute
Boost campfire camaraderie with this incendiary solution
RELIGHT YOUR FIRE PAUL KIRTLEY'S IMPROVISED CANDLE WILL COME IN HANDY ON CAMP Suitable for Scouts+
If you regularly use candles on camp, or make projects such as the birch bark candle holder from our December/ January issue, then you’ll end up with lots of leftover candle stubs. Rather than
wasting them, you can melt them down to make an excellent improvised candle. All you need in addition to the candle stubs is a small tin can and some paper towels. Both of these are usually readily available in a base camp. Small, empty fruit or sweetcorn tins are ideal for this project.
Some things to note
This candle will burn much more strongly and brightly than a normal household candle, which makes it ideal for dark nights on camp when more light is needed than a single candle can provide. scouts.org.uk/magazine
They are also quite wind resistant, partly due to the large wick as well as the natural wind protection provided by the tin can. It's worth noting that they can be difficult to extinguish, especially when the tin heats up, so be careful about where you place them. Also take care not to pick up the tin while it is hot, even after the candle has burnt out. So, next time you’re using candles in lanterns or candle holders on camp, save the stubs and make one of these great improvised candles. Turn the page to follow our four simple steps:
About Paul Paul Kirtley is Chief Instructor at Frontier Bushcraft and writes the UK’s top-ranked bushcraft blog at paulkirtley.co.uk.
GET ACTIVE! 5
Create
Last-minute light
HOW TO MAKE YOUR IMPROVISED CANDLE
1
Rinse out the tin can and pack it at least half-full with candle stubs. There is no need to remove the candle wicks. Place the tin can next to a campfire and allow the heat of the fire to melt the candle stubs inside the tin. Be careful as the tin will become very hot.
2
Once the wax has completely melted and formed a clear liquid you can insert an improvised wick. To do this, remove the tin from the fire using gloves or tongs.
3
Twist a piece of paper towel so it is about the thickness of a pencil. This is your wick. Dip one end in the wax to coat it and allow it to harden slightly. Then invert this improvised wick and place it into the wax, so that the entire length of the wick has been soaked in wax.
4
The wick should be positioned in the centre of the tin until the wax sets. The easiest way to hold it in place is to take a couple of sticks and place them across the top of the tin either side of the wick until the wax has fully set. Now you’re ready to light the way with your improvised candle.
6 GET ACTIVE!
February/March 2013
Make a withy lantern
SHINE ON WITH THIS ACTIVITY FROM SERCO Suitable for Beavers+
Celebrate festive occasions with these easy-to-make lanterns. Why not hold a local lantern procession to show off your creations?
What you’ll need: s Bendy twigs such as willow or hazel s Masking tape s Diluted PVA glue s Paintbrushes s Tissue paper s Scissors and secateurs s Tea lights
s Cut two larger pieces of twig, cross them over each other and tape them at the corners to secure your base. Remember this needs to be strong enough to hold a tea light, so make sure it’s rigid.
Step 3
s Once the base is secure, cut four longer pieces of twig for the sides. Fix the bottom end of a stick in each corner with masking tape, then gather the tops and bind them with more tape so that you have a tepee effect.
Step 1
s First, make a square frame with the twigs. Scouts should cut four equal sizes of twig and attach them at the corners with strips of masking tape.
TOP TIP
is a great This activity your se u to excuse nings. u pr r te in w r garden u yo Clear up n with fu e av h d an at the ts ou your Sc same time.
Step 2
What to do: s Separate your Scouts into pairs and encourage them to help each other. A leader should demonstrate every stage of the construction of the withy lantern, starting with the square frame.
Badge
Step 4
s Using more of the tape, secure a tea light to the cross section of your base.
Final step
s Cut the tissue paper into triangles to cover the frame, leaving a gap at the top to enable the heat from the tea light to escape. Paint over the paper with diluted PVA glue to stick it to the frame and add strength. Leave to dry. Test the stability before lighting the lantern.
More info To find out more about our partnership with Serco and to download a Serco Activity Pack visit scouts.org.uk/serco.
scouts.org.uk/magazine
GET ACTIVE! 7
Construct a balloon rocket
Badge
INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF FORCES AND MOTION WITH THIS FUN ACTIVITY FROM Suitable for Cubs+
What you’ll need: s Balloons (long/oval balloons are best) s Clothes pegs or bulldog clips s Long pieces of string (at least 4m long) s Sticky tape s Plastic straw
What to do:
1 Split your Scouts into pairs and give them the items above. 2 Ask them to tie one end of the string to a chair, doorknob, or other support. Thread the other end of the string through the straw, before pulling it tight and tying it to another support at least 4 metres away. 3 Blow up the balloon, but don't tie it. Instead, twist the end of the balloon and fix it tightly closed with a peg or bulldog clip. 4 Tape the top of the balloon to the straw and slide it back to one end of the string. When they release the clip or peg, the balloon rocket will propel itself along the string.
Why not try?
s Letting your Scouts customise their rockets with felt-tip pens, stickers and glitter etc. s Running a race between the teams to find out which rocket works best. s Discussing what worked best and why, bringing in the concept of simple forces. What can you change that might affect how far the rocket travels along the string? s Asking the young people to record the results of their investigation (using the worksheet available at scouts.org.uk/rollsroyce), explaining that this is what scientists do.
Simple forces
Thrust – makes the rocket move (when the air rushes out of the back of the balloon, this makes the rocket move forwards). Drag – slows the rocket down (a smooth string works better than rough string). Weight – makes the rocket slower but can also give it stability. Bigger balloons go further because more air gives more thrust. Long balloons work better than round balloons because they release the air more evenly.
More info Go to scouts.org.uk/rollsroyce to download the Cub Scout Scientist Activity Resource Pack.
8 GET ACTIVE!
February/March 2013
Planning ahead
Create
Plan for Mar/Apr 2013 Highlight special anniversaries, faith events and national awareness days by incorporating them into your Scouting programme. Stay one step ahead with our March/April 2013 calendar
1
MAR
Saint David’s Day
CELEBRATE by holding a Group Eisteddfod – play music and games, perform some skits or make and eat Welsh foods. You could also run the story relay activity at scouts.org.uk/pol to teach Scouts about Saint David.
7
MAR
World Book Day
Get involved in this celebration of books and reading by contacting your local library or visiting worldbookday.com, where you’ll find great games and resources.
15
MAR
National Science and Engineering Week
Head online to visit britishscienceassociation.org/ national-science-engineeringweek to register and download free activity packs.
21
MAR
World Poetry Day
HOST a poetry slam and encourage Scouts to write and perform poems or raps. Visit poetrysociety.org.uk for inspiration.
scouts.org.uk/magazine
10
4
MAR
Climate week
TAKE PART in the Climate Week Challenge, Britain’s biggest environmental competition, to help inspire a sustainable future. Register at climateweek.com/ challenge.
MAR
Mothering Sunday
MAKE special presents for mums or loved ones. There are great craft ideas for your Scouts to try at Programmes Online.
17
MAR
Saint Patrick’s Day
Today is the day to celebrate Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Why not RUN a shamrock trail – an Irish-themed scavenger hunt?
18
MAR
Celebrate British Sign Language
Ten years ago today, British Sign Language was recognised as an official British language. LEARN to sign the Promise for your section by visiting scouts.org.uk/makaton.
22
MAR
World Water Day
Spreading the word about the importance of clean, safe water, the theme for 2013’s awareness day is water co-operation. Search Programmes Online using the keywords ‘water awareness’ for a great activity, but be prepared to get wet!
GET ACTIVE! 9
Pictures: iStock
March
Create
Planning ahead
26
27
Jews commemorate the freeing of the people of Israel, who were led out of Egypt by Moses. Eating matzo, or unleavened bread, is a traditional part of Passover. MAKE it with your Group; the ingredients are very simple, but be sure to check for allergies.
This Hindu festival of colours celebrates creation and renewal. Your Scouts could PAINT each others’ faces with bright face paint, MAKE splatter T-shirts or have a coloured water-balloon fight. But remember to wear old clothes!
MAR
MAR
Passover
Holi
April
31
MAR
Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ. It is also a time to celebrate new life, symbolised by giving Easter eggs. There are lots of activities at scouts.org.uk/pol – just search using the keyword ‘Easter’.
Aims to raise awareness and celebrate the talents of people with autism. Find out more about Autistic Spectrum Disorder at autism.org.uk.
8
APR
APR
World Health Day
This day celebrates the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). TRY the Picture of Health activity from Programmes Online.
Picasso tribute MARK the 40th anniversary of the death of Pablo Picasso by encouraging your Group to paint cubist portraits of each other.
13
11
APR
APR
Ugadi
Some Hindus celebrate new year today. Traditionally, foods are eaten that combine six different flavours – bitter, sweet, spicy, salty, sour and tangy, each symbolising a different emotion or experience. SET UP a blind taste test and get your Scouts to guess the foods. Check for allergies first.
Baisakhi
The Sikh New Year festival, which also commemorates the founding of the Sikh community, or Khalsa. CREATE little pillow boxes (you can find free templates online) and fill them with nuts or sweets to give as gifts. You might even be able to visit a gurdwara, a Sikh temple, in your local area.
21 A Day of
APR
Achievement and Celebration
The National Scout Service and Parade at Windsor Castle. This prestigious day in the Scouting calendar recognises Queen’s Scouts, gallantry award holders and outstanding volunteers.
23
22
APR
Commemorate Henry Royce
80th anniversary of the death of Sir Henry Royce, co-founder of Rolls-Royce, sponsors of the Cub Scientist Activity Badge. Visit scouts.org.uk/rollsroyce to download a resource pack.
10 GET ACTIVE!
APR
World Autism Awareness Day
Easter Sunday
7
2
APR
Saint George’s Day
Saint George is the patron saint of Scouting. Today many Groups parade in local areas, attend a special service and reaffirm the Scout Promise. February/March 2013
Badge
Make a sock monster THIS FUN ACTIVITY FROM HOBBYCRAFT OFFERS HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT Suitable for Cubs+
Want to find a use for all your odd socks? With this great activity from Hobbycraft you can recycle them and have a monstrously good time with your section while you’re at it!
What you’ll need: s Sock s $ARNER NEEDLE AND PINK COTTON s 9ELLOW RED AND PINK FELT s &ABRIC GLUE s 0OMPOMS VARIOUS SIZES COLOURS s 'REY CHENILLE STEM s 7IGGLY EYES AND FEATHERS
What to do:
1 Place the sock over one hand. Push the end between your thumb and fingers to form the mouth. Using a darner needle, sew it into place with pink cotton. 2 Cut a semi-circle of yellow felt to fit inside the mouth. Glue into place. Cut the monster’s tongue from red felt and glue it on top of the yellow felt. 3 Glue two small pompoms on the face to act as eyes, then glue wiggly eyes onto the pompoms. 4 Cut the grey chenille stem to make the monster’s eyebrows. Glue in place above the pompom eyes. 5 Group three or four feathers together and glue on top of the head to make the monster’s crown. 6 Finish by glueing three pompoms down the back of the sock to create the monster’s spine.
More info &OR EVEN MORE FUN ACTIVITIES GO TO scouts.org.uk/hobbycraft TO DOWNLOAD (OBBYCRAFT S LATEST RESOURCES
Badge
Build a brush bug YOUR CUBS WILL LOVE CREATING THIS MOTOR-OPERATED CREATURE Suitable for Cubs+
Learn how to make a skittering bug using the head of a toothbrush and a vibration motor.
What you’ll need: s 6 MINI VIBRATION MOTOR s 0APERCLIPS s #ARD s 3CISSORS s ! TOOTHBRUSH HEAD s #2 6 BATTERY s 3TICKY TAPE
What to do:
1 Strip 1–2cms of insulation from the end of each motor terminal and attach a paperclip to each. 2 Cut the card to the same height and three times the width of your battery. Wrap it around the battery to form a pocket. It should have two layers of card on one side and one on the other. 3 Clip a paperclip attached to the motor onto the single layered side of the pocket and stick this to the back of the brush head.
4 Stick the motor to the top of the pocket – make sure it can rotate freely. Insert the battery back into the pocket so that it is in contact with the paperclip. 5 Clip the second paperclip onto the inside fold of the battery pocket so that it makes contact with the battery. 6 Unclip again to turn the motor off and decorate your bug. Reattach the paperclip when complete and try racing it against other Scouts’ bugs.
More info .EW RESOURCES ARE COMING SOON 7E ARE WORKING WITH )%4 TO PRODUCE AN ACTIVITY PACK TO GUIDE LEADERS AND 3COUTS THROUGH THE 3COUT %LECTRONICS !CTIVITY "ADGE 4O EXPLORE )%4 S GREAT RESOURCE PACK AND GET SAFETY TIPS GO TO scouts.org.uk/iet
scouts.org.uk/magazine
GET ACTIVE! 11
s e m Ga ts p12 Skilful Scou
TEST YOUR GROUP’S SCOUTING SKILLS SCOUT LEADER JULIAN MORGANS HAS SCOURED CLASSIC SCOUTING MANUALS, TRAWLED THE WEB AND TAKEN NOTES AT CAMPS AND JAMBOREES TO BRING YOU THESE GREAT GAMES Suitable for Cubs+
1 Splashdown
The aim of this challenge is to use a candle to burn through a water balloon, which should then extinguish the candle. To start, hang water balloons at various heights from the ceiling. Split your Scouts into teams and draw a base line some distance away from the balloons. Provide staves and sisal (or bamboo canes and rubber bands), as well as one candle and a match per team. The challenge is to make a pioneering structure such as a tripod, plus a long pole tied with sheer lashings, to reach the balloon from the base line. The structure should be used to hold the candle and position it beneath a balloon. Meanwhile the pole can be used move the structure into place and then to hold a match.
2 Mapping mistakes
Draw an enlarged section of an imaginary topographical map and introduce various errors such as incorrectly numbered contour lines, rivers going uphill and upside-down trees. Ask your Scouts to look at the map for two minutes and then, individually, to list as many mistakes as they can. Award extra points to anyone who spots them all.
3 Tied together
Ask Scouts to pair up, facing one another. Give each Scout a six-foot rope and challenge them to tie a bowline around their own waist, before tying the end of the rope to their partner’s with a sheet bend. The aim of the task is to be able to lean back, with each Scout using his partner as a counterweight, and raise both hands. If your Scouts are struggling, hand out a knotting cheat sheet.
12 GET ACTIVE!
4 Heave-ho
Prove pioneering prowess with splashdown
Hang a tyre or a plastic hoop from the ceiling of your HQ. Teach your Scouts how to tie a heaving line knot and then challenge them to throw the line through the tyre.
TRIED & TESTED
‘I enjoyed throwing the line. It was satisfying and I got a sense of achievement when it went through the hoop (especially as it hit my friend on the head!)’ Rhys, Scout
5 Compass points
Ask your Scouts to spread out around the room. Tell them to orient themselves ‘north’. Everyone except for the caller and the referee then closes their eyes. The caller then calls out a direction, such as ‘east’, and everyone has to turn and point east. The referee checks the positioning of each Scout and taps the shoulder of anyone not pointing in the right direction, which means they are out. The game continues until there is a winner or a tie. February/March 2013
Teach the principles of good campsite layout with this fun exercise
campsite layout? Get your Scouts to plan a campsite by building one from Plasticine. Refer to the factsheet Scout Skills: Campsite Layout and Selection (FS315071) for tips. The Nights Away booklet is also useful – you can buy it from Scout Shops.
7 Kim’s symbols
This variant of the classic Scout observation challenge uses a variety of symbols. Give your Scouts two minutes to look at your selection before seeing how many symbols they can remember. Add in some symbols that are commonly found in Scouting or on OS maps, and award bonus points if they know their meaning. For example, you could take some of B-P’s tracking signs from Scouting For Boys, insert some activity badges and challenge awards for your section, or use the OS symbols for campsites, nature reserves, battlefields or marshland. scouts.org.uk/magazine
sheepish 8 Feeling Set up a pen in one corner
of your HQ using chairs, tables or benches. Ask one Scout to be the shepherd, and equip them with a whistle. Ask another to be the sheepdog. The rest of the Group are the sheep; they are blindfolded and spread around the room. Tell the shepherd, the sheepdog and the sheep that they have five minutes to come up with a non-verbal communication system using only the whistle. The shepherd has five minutes to guide the sheep into the pen.
9 Useful uniform
Batman has his utility belt, and Scouts have their scarves. Get Scouts to sit in a circle and, passing a Group scarf around, think of different possible uses. Examples
might be: a signal flag, an improvised belt, a sling, a smoke mask, a bandana, to signify a team colour, a short rope, a water filter, a napkin, an apron, a tablecloth for one, as a patch to repair clothes, a duster, or a knapsack. Award points for the most original and creative suggestions.
10 Knot or not?
Lay out three ropes exactly as shown below. Ask Scouts if they can tell in each case whether, if they were to pick up the two ends of the rope, the rope would shake out or if it would tighten into a knot. Once they’ve all guessed, select a Scout to pick up the three ropes and shake them out – who was right? [Answer: only B is a true knot]
campsite 6 Model Trying to teach good
GET ACTIVE! 13
Activity
Read between the lines TEACH YOUR SECTION TO COMMUNICATE AND TRANSLATE WITH THIS FUN TASK FROM NESTA Suitable for Cubs+
Giving clear instructions is one of the first steps in learning the basics of computer programming. Try this fun game that helps young people with logical thinking, listening and good communication.
What to do: 1 Pair up your Scouts. Give each duo two pieces of paper and a pencil.
2 Ask them to decide which of them is Scout A and which
is Scout B, then ask them to sit back-to-back, either on the floor or on chairs. 3 Scout A must now think of an object and draw it in secret. Emphasise that the picture needs to be simple. 4 Scout A must look at their picture and give clear instructions to Scout B so they can draw the same picture – they must make sure their partner can’t see it.
5 Tell your Scouts to put
both pictures next to each other. Are they the same? What’s different? What was difficult and what was easy? 6 Swap roles. Now Scout A listens and draws, while Scout B gives instructions. Compare the two pictures.
A
B
More info Looking for inspiration for more games for young people? Pay a visit to scouts.org.uk/nesta for lots more Scout-orientated IT activities from Nesta.
Badge
Learn top tricks NOW YOU CAN MAGICALLY RESTORE A SEVERED ROPE THANKS TO WORLDMAGICSHOP.COM Suitable for Scouts+
Help your Scouts to earn their Scout Entertainer Badge with the help of the team at WorldMagicShop.com. All you need to do is head online and register using the code WMS1857.
What you’ll need: s Enough paper for each Scout s A piece of rope or a scarf for each Scout s Scissors
What to do:
1 Fold a sheet of A4 paper into thirds with two of the thirds equal in size and the remaining third not much more than a flap. 2 Lay the rope in the fold of the flap. 3 Fold the uppermost (large) section of the paper over, down towards the rope. Then fold the smaller flap upwards, covering the rope and the edge of the other large flap. 4 As you fold up the lower flap, subtly push the centre of the rope upwards so there’s a slight loop
poking out above the fold. Make sure no-one but you can see this. 5 Hold the paper with your thumb and forefinger so that your thumb sits just beneath the loop. 6 As you cut through the paper, make sure that the blade of the scissors goes over the paper but under the rope, so that the scissors will only cut the paper. 7 Scrunch up the paper then pull the rope out slowly. The rope is restored and the paper may be examined. Tadaa!
More info For an online tutorial of this trick and many more besides, go to scouts.org.uk/worldmagicshop.
14 GET ACTIVE!
February/March 2013
Activity
Fish fun
THIS QUIZ ENCOURAGES SCOUTS TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE WORLD BENEATH THE WAVES Suitable for Beavers+
Fish keeping can be a rewarding hobby for Beavers and Cubs, but it is important to know how to care for them properly. Fortunately, Pets at Home are here to help with in-store pet workshops and lots of useful advice. See how much your Scouts know about fish with this true or false quiz. Are the statements fish facts or simply red herrings? Split your Colony or Pack into small groups and read out each of the statements on the right, asking them to write down their answers on paper. Reveal whether the statements are true or false and see if they were right. Why not encourage them to find out more amazing fish facts?
True or false
1 2
Fish have been around for 450 million years. TRUE.
3 4 5
Clownfish get their name because they can make other fish laugh. FALSE. Clownfish get their name from their black and white markings, just like a Pierrot clown.
Some goldfish can live for more than 40 years. TRUE. Aquarium fish rise and sink using a swim bladder. TRUE.
Guppies are the largest fish in the world. FALSE. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world. They grow to over 12m long and weigh over 35 tonnes. A guppy is a small freshwater fish, commonly found in aquariums.
6 7 8 9 10
Dolphins are fish. FALSE. Dolphins are mammals, just like you and me.
Clownfish are all born male and the dominant ones change to females. TRUE. Fish only have a memory of around three seconds. FALSE. Fish can remember things for three months or longer. Over 40% of the world’s fish are found in freshwater. TRUE. A jellyfish is a fish. FALSE. Jellyfish are not actually fish, but belong to a group of animals called invertebrates. They can be found in every ocean and there are even a few freshwater species too!
More info Whether they’re already fish experts or not, young people can benefit from Pets at Home’s in-store pet workshops. As sponsors of the Beaver Animal Friend and Cub Animal Carer Activity Badges, they have also produced two great resource packs. Visit scouts.org.uk/petsathome to download the packs and find your nearest Pets at Home store.
scouts.org.uk/magazine
GET ACTIVE! 15
s l l i k S Light up
Pictures: Amanda Quaine
1 mp craft p2 a C | 0 2 p e ip ec p16 | Rapid r 1 10 g in t h g Fire li
SMALL-STICK FIRE LIGHTING FAIL-SAFE FIRE CRAFT SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF ANY SCOUT’S LIST OF OUTDOOR SKILLS, SAYS PAUL KIRTLEY Suitable for Scouts+
Fire is a vital survival tool offering everyday comfort and sustenance, warmth and a focal point for evenings spent together. It provides an effective and reliable way of making water safe to drink by boiling, while cooking over fire makes food safe to eat. It can be used for signalling and warding off wild animals and biting insects, as well as keeping us warm and drying wet clothing. On top of this, being able to light a fire quickly is a real moralebooster after a hard day’s hiking or a cold night outdoors. 16 GET ACTIVE!
Preparation is key
Your success will be largely determined by how well you prepare. Begin by collecting small, thin sticks that are dead and dry. The driest will be up off the ground – either part of a dead tree or hung up in other branches. Look for matchstick-thick sticks that break cleanly with a sharp ‘snap’. The best small sticks come from tree species that contain flammable resin or oil. These include pine, spruce, fir, hemlock and birch. Now you’ll need some larger fuel. Pencil-thickness is good for the next stage, then finger-thickness, then thumb-thickness. Each grade of fuel must easily ignite from the previous. All fuel should be dead and dry. Collect and sort out your fuel before you light your fire. February/March 2013
Fire lighting 101
Skills
Select a spot and prepare the ground
Choose an area for your campfire. Check there are no obvious tree roots you might ignite. Also avoid low branches that could be scorched or even set alight by setting a fire underneath. Clear dead foliage away until the bare earth is exposed. Never light a fire on peat – if you’re camping on this type of ground, you must find a rocky area instead. Try looking at nearby areas adjacent to rivers and lakes. This is also good practice in very dry, coniferous woods, as it is easy to set fire to root systems. Generally, it is best to have your fire within easy walking distance of a water source. This will provide you with drinking water and sufficient water to extinguish all remnants of your fire before you leave.
Prepare your fire lay
Create a hearth of dead, dry sticks, upon which you will build your fire. Once you have prepared the hearth, separate your bundle of kindling into two good handfuls. Keep the NOW? K U O kindling long. Each handful should Y D I D earth has look like the end of a miniature Creating a h ntages a witch’s broom. several adv ling from nd ki ur Kneel with your back to the yo nd. It prevents mp, cold grou da on wind and place your handfuls ly ct re sitting di ce of fuel a ready sour es of kindling in a V-shape with id ov pr It of your fire. the open side of the V facing at the centre w lo al th in the hear you. Kneel with both your knees The gaps to the be drawn in to en oxyg and feet together. This prevents e. fir base of the wind being funneled towards the base of your fire, which could easily extinguish the first small flames. scouts.org.uk/magazine
GET ACTIVE! 17
Skills
Fire lighting 101
Lighting your fire
WIN A FIRE PISTON
We have three Pocket-Pyro fire pistons to give away courtesy of our friends at bushcrafttools.com, a leading supplier of bushcraft and survival kit including fire pistons, Dutch ovens, hammocks, knives and more. The Pocket-Pyro includes lubricant, tinder, firesteel, pull-string pouch and instructions (RRP £18.99). For your chance to win, send an email marked ‘fire piston comp’ with your name and address to scouting.magazine@ scouts.org.uk by 31 March 2013. You can also receive a 20% discount on fire pistons if you order via enquiries@bushcrafttools.com, mentioning this Get Active! article.
18 GET ACTIVE!
Now strike a flame and take it to the kindling. As your kindling consists of matchstick twigs they should light from just a match-sized flame. If it is raining or the sticks are a little damp, however, it will take the initial heat of your flame to drive off the moisture from the sticks before they ignite. With a lighter you should be fine but with a match you may struggle. In this case, find some natural tinder such as birch bark and light this first – the oils in the bark provide a good, sustained heat. An alternative is to light a candle with your match, then light the fire with the candle. There are many other types of tinder that take an initial spark or tiny flame respectively. Until you are familiar with the various natural materials that are available, it can be worth carrying some dry tinder with you. Keeping your kindling long allows you to adjust your fire as it becomes established. You may need to reposition the kindling slightly or, if the fire needs a little more oxygen you can lift the uppermost bundle to allow more air into the fire. Once the flames are rising through your kindling, add more fuel. Don’t put sticks on one at a time; grab a couple of handfuls and lay them on in a similar arrangement to your original V-shaped fire lay. Again, keeping the sticks long will allow you to move them without scorching your hands.
If you follow these basic principles, you should have an established fire in no time at all. February/March 2013
Prep and paint a wall
Badge
ADD A SPLASH OF COLOUR TO YOUR WALLS AND TEACH SCOUTS A USEFUL SKILL Suitable for Cubs+
Teach your Scouts the basics of prepping and painting and soon your HQ will look as good as new. They can choose one of two methods – painting with a brush or painting with a roller. Which do they prefer and why?
What you’ll need: s Paint s Paint tray s Roller s 25–50mm paintbrush s 100–125mm paintbrush s Damp cloth or sponge s Dust sheets s Sugar soap s Filler s Cutting-in brush
OP TIP
T eak out Before you br r floors ve the paint, co ith dust re w and furnitu wn walls do sheets. Sand with sugar em th h as w d an e nse and leav soap, then ri re the area su en d an to dry lated. is well-venti
Painting with a brush
s Stir the paint. s Start at the top of the wall and apply the paint with short, overlapping horizontal and vertical strokes. s Work in panels about one square metre at a time, allowing each area to merge into the next one while the edge is still wet.
Painting with a roller
s Pour the paint into the paint tray reservoir. s Move the roller firmly up and down the tray’s ribbed incline to spread the paint evenly. s Use random strokes with a light, even pressure to apply the paint. s Keep moving the roller to the adjacent unpainted area and work your way back to the bit you already painted, overlapping it to blend in the wet edges.
More info The ‘How to’ exercises in the B&Q activity pack support the Cub DIY Activity Badge. Download the DIY pack from scouts.org.uk/bandq.
scouts.org.uk/magazine
GET ACTIVE! 19
Badge
Make homemade lemonade SCOUTS WILL LOVE THIS TANGY TREAT FROM KENWOOD Suitable for Beavers+
A lemonade stall is a tried and tested way for Scouts to raise funds, and our version has far fewer additives than shop-bought versions. This marvellous recipe serves four to six people and can be whipped up in just five minutes.
TOP TIP
Try adding sparkling water for an extra dash of fizz!
What you’ll need: s Unwaxed lemons, WHOLE IF USING BLENDER
JUICED AND ZESTED IF NOT s Caster sugar G s Water ML s Ice cubes s Food processor WITH BLENDER ATTACHMENT
BLENDER OR WHISK
What to do:
1 Place all the ingredients into the blender. 2 Blitz until smooth, or whisk well. 3 Pour the mixture through a sieve into a serving jug.
More info 'O TO scouts.org.uk/kenwood FOR AN ACTIVITY PACK TO SUPPORT THE "EAVER (EALTHY %ATING !CTIVITY "ADGE
20 GET ACTIVE!
February/March 2013
Camp craft
Skills
STEP 1
HANGING TOUGH BUSHCRAFT INSTRUCTOR DALE COLLETT SHOWS YOU HOW TO MAKE A POT HANGER FOR SIMPLER AND SAFER CAMPFIRE COOKING Suitable for Scouts +
Consisting of a hanger and a support made from a forked stick and a straight stick, a pot hanger is an extremely useful campsite gadget. If made and used correctly it is safe, effective and practical. It also gives Scouts the opportunity to practise their carving skills, but remember to always supervise younger Scouts. scouts.org.uk/magazine
STEP 1 SOURCING WOOD
Use greenwood sticks from nontoxic wood species such as hazel or willow, which resist burning and are easier to carve. Always cut trees cleanly and take only what you need, causing as little damage as possible. It’s better for the tree and quicker for you if both parts of the pot hanger are obtained from the same piece of wood. To make the support you’ll need
a stick about 1m long and 3 to 4cm thick. For the hanger you’ll need a forked stick that is strong enough to hold a full cooking pot; one side of the fork should be at least 30cm long and 2cm thick. A longer forked stick offers greater adjustability when positioning your pot over the fire, so you can vary the cooking temperature. Be careful – although the wood may seem solid, one side of a forked branch may be decaying or dead. As well as weakening the stick, this makes it dry and liable to burn easily, rendering it unsuitable. An optional extra is a shorter, thicker stick about 30cm long, known as a driving stick. This can be used to make a hole in the ground, which secures the longer support stick in place over your fire.
GET ACTIVE! 21
Skills
Camp craft STEP 2
STEP 2 CUTTING AND CARVING
If you’re using a driving stick, carve one end into a point. Saw the other end off so it’s flat and bevel the edges; this will help prevent splitting when the stick is driven into the ground. Next, carve one end of your support stick into a strong point, and the other into a flat chisel shape. In the middle of the flat edge notch a narrow triangle about 4mm deep. This will prevent the hanger from slipping off its support. The hanger is the most intricate part of the project and demands careful carving. First, cut off most of the weaker side of the fork, but leave a spur about 7cm long to form the hook for your pot handle. Trim the other side of the fork to a length of 30 to 50cm, depending on the size of your fire and the length of your pot handle. Your hanger needs to have an adjustable length so it’s capable of suspending the pot low to the ground
22 GET ACTIVE!
for cooking on embers and higher up, out of the flames, for simmering. This is achieved by cutting notches in the longer fork. These must be carved in the same fork of the stick as your spur so that it will balance when a pot is placed on the hook. Make notches about 10cm apart. Begin each one by carving a shallow X mark. Deepen the top part of this X to form a V-shape, cutting through the grain to enable easy carving during the next step. Below the V, carve upwards, making shallow slices to keep emphasising the V. While carving, try to undercut into the stick towards the top of the notch. This will help to hold the hanger securely. The notches should be carved to a depth of a little less than half the diameter of the stick. The sides of the cut will flare upwards; leaving a strong central rib to slot into the small triangle of the support stick. A good finishing touch is to carve the end of the spur into a flat chisel shape, so it can be used to lift the lid off your pot. February/March 2013
Camp craft STEP 3 CAMPFIRE SET-UP
Skills
STEP 3
Your pot hanger kit is ready and you can now set up your cooking rig. Hammer the driving stick into the ground next to your proposed fire site. Pull it out, giving it a wiggle to loosen the earth and enlarge the hole. Place your support stick in the hole and shove it firmly into the ground. Ensure it is secure by testing the end; it shouldn’t move but should be slightly springy. Now lay and light your fire underneath. Hook the hanger onto your pot handle and position at the desired height. You can use the notches in your hanger to adjust the pot as required.
STEP 4 STAYING SAFE
When you’ve finished cooking, remove the stick from the ground and set it aside – take care as the wood may still be very hot. Putting the support stick well out of the way stops it getting burned so you can use it again and is also safer – if you were to inadvertently stumble into your fire, you wouldn’t want to land on a pointed stick. Don’t worry about the hole; it ought to be easy enough to locate again for future cooking.
scouts.org.uk/magazine
FINAL THOUGHTS
I hope you find this article useful and enjoy making pot hangers. I often leave mine hidden in a tree when I leave an area, and have sometimes returned months and even years later to find them still hanging there. Usually they’ll have dried out or rotted away, but you may find they are still strong enough for another use, bringing back fond memories of a past visit.
More info
To learn more wilderness and native survival skills from Dale Collett, head to britishbushcraftschool.co.uk
GET ACTIVE! 23
e r u t n e v d A t p25 | Tech On the hun
treks p29
What is ShelterBox?
SHELTERBOX SCAVENGER HUNT LEARN NEW SKILLS AND HAVE LOADS OF FUN WHILE YOU RAISE AWARENESS WITH YOUNG SHELTERBOX SCAVENGER HUNTS Suitable for all sections
When you come to organise your own ShelterBox scavenger hunt, be sure to think about the following points before starting. When? Give yourself sufficient planning time. Monitor local events so that your hunt doesn’t coincide with a major road closure or another big local Scouting event. Where? Find an area that has both interesting landmarks and a safe, secure base which can be used as a start/finish venue. scouts.org.uk/magazine
Size? Be realistic. Think about how far your resources can stretch, how to promote your event and how many organisers you can enlist. Which sections will take part, and can you accommodate parents and supporters as well as Scouts, leaders and helpers? Length? Will the hunt run for a few hours or a whole day? Could the length be adjusted to suit different sections? Remember to build in time for setting up and breaking down, including registration, a welcome and initial briefing, a lunch break, post-event check-in, and of course, prize-giving!
ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity. They provide shelter and supplies for families affected by global disasters. Each box contains essential emergency items including a tent, blankets, water storage and filtration equipment, a stove, utensils and a toolkit. The scavenger hunt was developed to help young people understand the global issues facing people in disaster-affected areas. Whether you’re planning a Group-level event or a larger-scale District or County event, the ‘How to run a ShelterBox Scavenger Hunt’ resource can take you through the whole process. In addition, Young ShelterBox can provide free resources to help. Download the guide from youngshelterbox.org/ partnership.php.
GET ACTIVE! 25
Adventure
On the hunt
Set up your event in four easy steps:
1 Divide the event into main areas of activity. These are: event co-ordination, hunt planning and route-marking, registration, event promotion, sourcing prizes, food and drink, and budget management. 2 Engage your local Scouting community to enlist volunteers. Hold a meeting to present the concept, and contact those who express an interest in helping. Find out what skills they have and what they’d like to do. 3 Put your event team together. Try to match volunteers to roles and tasks, and don’t forget that Young Leaders, Scout Network members and Scout Active Support Units may want to get involved. 4 Assign roles so everyone has a manageable responsibility. Track progress and identify potential bottlenecks. Use ShelterBox’s timetable template to stay on top of things.
Resources, equipment and costs Free resources such as flags, event posters and winners’ certificates can be ordered from Young ShelterBox. Don’t forget to budget for refreshments, printing, venue, stationery, transport and prizes.
Planning the hunt
Make sure your hunt is appropriate for the ages and skills of participants. Also consider what you want young people to get out of it. Agree an area, route and map type. Note places of interest and any safety concerns. Decide on the format; you could stage a traditional hunt, where teams are issued with a list of items to collect and set challenges related to activity badge requirements, or you could create an orienteering hunt, where teams use navigation skills to find their way to manned checkpoints.
26 GET ACTIVE!
TRIED & TESTED
‘This was our first time. It went really well and the competition was really close!’ Christian, Cub Scout, St Paul’s Scout Group (right)
Set the challenges, which could be questions based on landmarks, photo clues, or even riddles and anagrams with varying points. Include more questions than can be completed in the allotted time, so teams have to strategise to work out the best route.
ox The ShelterB winners nt hu r ge scaven out Group – St Paul's Sc
Promotion and registration
Promote the event via your Group website, newsletter and social media. ShelterBox also offers printed event templates with space to fill in your details. Contact other Groups directly too, and implement a system to register teams; use ShelterBox’s registration form template to help. Once you’ve got contact details, send out event packs with details of the hunt and other relevant information.
On the day
Ensure the day goes smoothly by planning an itinerary and sharing it with volunteers and teams. Set aside time for an initial briefing, set-up, team check-in and health and safety notices ahead of the event itself. Good luck!
Be safe
A ShelterBox scavenger hunt for Scouts should be run as a Scout-led activity in accordance with Chapter 9 of POR. Observe rules regarding the ratio of adults to young people for outdoor activities held away from the usual meeting place. Conduct risk assessments before and during the activity, and act accordingly. Refer to your completed risk assessments on the day of the event. Ensure you have a sufficient number of first-aiders, marshals and event team volunteers in place.
ork: Now that's teamw bring scavenger hunts eryone out the best in ev February/March 2013
Activity
Feed the birds KEEP OUR FEATHERY FRIENDS FED DURING THE COLDER MONTHS WITH THIS TIP-TOP TASK Suitable for Cubs+
You and your section will have great fun doing this bird feeder activity. When finished, hang the feeders on tree branches or fences. See if they can identify any birds that fly down to eat.
What you’ll need:
An empty yoghurt pot, coconut shell or fir cone Bird seeds, breadcrumbs, dried fruit or chopped nuts Warm lard
What to do:
1 In a bowl, mix the seeds, breadcrumbs, dried fruit or chopped nuts with a little warm lard. Add a small amount of fat first then more if necessary. You don’t want the mix to be too liquid. 2 Press the fatty mixture into an empty yoghurt pot or smear it around a fir cone. Leave to solidify. 3 Turn out your yoghurt pot and place on a bird table, or hang your fir cone feeder from a tree branch in your garden.
More info The Cub Naturalist Activity Badge is supported by The National Trust, Natural History Museum and Wildlife Trusts. For more fun activities to keep your section entertained, download the Let’s Go Wild activity pack and leaders’ notes from scouts.org.uk/naturalist.
Badge
Master map symbols HELP YOUR SECTIONS MAKE UP THEIR OWN CARTOGRAPHIC ICONS Suitable for Cubs+
All Ordnance Survey maps have a range of symbols that have been designed to help you translate the landscape around you – it’s a neat way of explaining the environment of any one particular area. Help your section create their own map icons using different shapes, colours and symbols to show all the roads, buildings and rivers of their local area. They can even add their own imaginary creations, such as a symbol for a dragon or buried
treasure. Remember to ask them to add a key, listing the symbols and their meanings.
What you’ll need:
Paper Colouring pencils and pens Maps to use as examples
What to do:
1 Show your section a 1:25 000 scale map and ask them to guess what the above symbols mean.
A
B
D
C
E
2 Ask them to turn to the map’s key to see if they were right. 3 Now that they understand how map symbols work, give them paper and colouring pencils and ask them to draw a map, complete with their very own symbols. Encourage them to be extra creative with innovative ideas.
More info Download Ordnance Survey’s great resource packs for Cubs and Scouts from scouts.org.uk/ordnancesurvey.
scouts.org.uk/magazine
GET ACTIVE! 27
… M R O T S A P e with r U u t n K e v O d a CeOprepared for outdogokr it B pin m a c l a i t n e our ess
Nest of 3 Billies Cook Set
Dixie Cooking Pot
Ref 100567
1.5 Gallon/6.8 Litres, Ref 100568 3 Gallon/13.6 Litres, Ref 100569
£60.00
£34.00, £38.50
Bullfinch Cast Iron Heavy Double Burner Stove
Trangia 25 Meths Burning Camping Stove
Ref 100502
Ref 100484
£98.00
Black Handle 16”/40.6cm Frying Pan Ref 100566
£25.00
£52.00 RRP £58.00
All profits
returned to
n od preparatio t a price on go pu t At n’ e. ca ur u Yo r advent es to outdoo when it com erything you ev e id ov pr e w le, Scout Shops ns memorab tio di pe e your ex need to mak . fe sa t importantly fun and mos
SCOUTING
Scout Shops Limited, registered company number 1101498, is wholly owned by The Scout Association, registered charity numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland)
enture r every adv
Prepared fo
Tech treks
Adventure
GEOCACHING IS TREASURE HUNTING WITH A TECHNOLOGICAL TWIST AND TEACHES SCOUTS NAVIGATION SKILLS, AS LEADER EDDIE LANGDOWN EXPLAINS Suitable for all sections
Pictures: 4th Huddersfield (Golcar) Scouts, 4thgolcar.org.uk
CACHE IN HAND
Geocaching is a high-tech way to make the great outdoors more interesting and makes for a brilliant patrol activity. A simple hand-
held GPS device costs between £80 and £100. We have one for each of our three patrols, which we use in a number of ways to brighten up a day or night hike. Geocaching can also be done with smartphones.
and download selected caches into your hand-held GPS as ‘waypoints’. An arrow points the direction and the read-out indicates the distance, often with a short clue such as ‘1 metre up’. Each cache has an identifying name or number. Often a whole run or trail of caches has been hidden along a route: Cuckoo 1, Cuckoo 2 etc, forming a ready-made patrol hike!
What is geocaching?
Getting a good fix
Ever since GPS devices first became available, people have been hiding messages (or caches) in small containers and concealing them all over the UK. The precise locations of these caches are recorded online at geocaching.com; by registering with the site you can see all the caches hidden in a particular area scouts.org.uk/magazine
The caches might be easy to find. More often they are frustratingly difficult, which adds to the challenge. Your hand-held device needs to lock onto a minimum of five satellites (the greater the number of satellites the greater the accuracy), so it’s helpful if the sky is free of trees and tall buildings.
Geocaching can take you to all kinds of wonderful locations
A poor fix might only give accuracy within five metres, while a good fix might bring you as close as a metre.
What you might find
The cache itself could be tiny – often a 35mm film container – or slightly larger, a plastic tub or a lunch box. Finding one is huge fun and searching can become totally addictive. Inside, you should find paper or a logbook so you can record finding it and see who else has. In bigger containers people leave presents like key fobs, buttons and badges. It’s good practice to leave a unique gift of your own so the cache always contains some ‘treasure’. For example, we always take some spare Group name tabs, so that we can leave a gift whenever we take one.
GET ACTIVE! 29
Adventure
Tech treks More activity ideas using GPS Chalk orienteering
Pictures: Eddie Langdown
Using chalk, paint a simple trail of tiny letters (for example spelling out a Scouting word) around an area, record a ‘waypoint’ on your GPS device each time. Copy the information to all the devices and send your Scouts off to hunt down the lettered waypoints. Leave caches of goodies as an extra incentive.
Radioactive peg race
Make sure you follow our guidelines before building your own cache
TRIED & TESTED
‘We have being caching for three years and have found nearly 500 caches. It’s taken us to some amazing places we might never have found.’ Roz Nunn, Beaver Scout Leader, 18th Chesterfield Beavers
Don’t forget to upload your successful finds to the geocaching website when you get back to base.
Create your own cache
Why not construct a cache of your own to represent your Scout Group? Hide it in a special place, register online at geocaching.com and follow the guidelines – it should be safe, accessible, on public land (unless you’ve got permission from the landowner), and somewhere that won’t raise suspicion or damage the environment. The cache should include some ‘treasure’ – look at our geocache glossary to the right for ideas – a logbook and a pencil, stored in a weatherproof container and
30 GET ACTIVE!
marked as an official geocache, including the name of the cache and contact information. Remember to record its GPS co-ordinates accurately, and note its location for any distinguishing features. Register your geocache online, with clues and a description to help and attract others. Check the website and its location periodically so you can see who discovers your cache.
Divide a group in half and give each party about 10 coloured clothes pegs, before sending them around a circular route in opposite directions. The task is to hide each peg, logging the locations as GPS ‘waypoints’ as they hide them. On return, the teams swap devices and retrieve the others’ pegs. A leader accompanying each team on the initial leg will discourage bending of the rules – like burying a peg six feet underground!
Bug the bag Send the patrol out on a conventional map and compass hike, but with the GPS device in the Patrol Leader’s pack. On return, connect the device to Google Maps and see exactly where the patrols went.
GEOCACHE GLOSSARY
Trackables are treasure items such as patches or key rings with a unique code. If you find one, log the code online and move it to another geocache so the owner can track its movements. Some trackables travel hundreds of thousands of miles thanks to geocachers who move them from cache to cache. Travel bugs are trackable tags attached to an item that geocachers call a ‘hitchhiker’. Each travel bug has a goal or
challenge set by its owner – for example, to visit every country in Europe or travel coast to coast. Geocoins are special coins created by individuals or groups as a signature item and function exactly like travel bugs and trackables. They should be moved to another cache, unless otherwise specified by their owners. A special Scout geocoin is available from Scout Shops.
February/March 2013
AGMservices_b25885_1lp 1
04/01/2013 16:08
www.nationalactivitycentre.org.uk
Scouts Scotland National Activity Centres SEE B EFO YOU B RE UY!
W introd atch our u http:/ ctory vide o /bit.ly /NAC at Scotland
Our National Activity Centres offer outstanding adventure in three stunning locations. Whether you enjoy the adrenaline rush of tree top experiences on Fordell Firs’ King Swing, the challenge of sailing on a fjord at Lochgoilhead, or the thrill of discovering wildlife and nature while camping in Scotland’s longest highland glen at Meggernie, you’ll have fun and be well looked after. Each centre offers a range of adventurous and Scout activities, with different accommodation and catering options. Centre staff can tailor a specific programme to HELP you achieve your own programme outcomes, giving
you the freedom to also explore the surrounding areas. Prices are discounted for scout members, with special rates for larger groups and exclusive use. To secure your adventure call our Centres today.
FORDELL FIRS 01383 412704 LOCHGOILHEAD 01301 703217 MEGGERNIE 01887 866231
The Scottish Council The Scout Association is a registered Scottish Charity No. SC017511