Join in olympics Scouts booklet

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CONTENTS Introduction 4 Bronze 6 Silver 20 Gold 28 Acknowledgements

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The London 2012 Inspire mark copyright Š London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd 2008. All rights reserved.

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Congratulations!

Seb Coe photo I know you’ve been awarded the London 2012 Inspire mark for your sporting adventure, and that’s good. When we went to Singapore to bid for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we were always very clear that it wasn’t simply about competitive sport.

It’s about encouraging you as leaders to do things slightly differently, and to figure out what values the Olympic and Paralympic Games give you, in terms of friendship, respect, courage and determination. As Scouts, these are all the things that you will understand anyway.

You have a big head start on everyone, because if you’re involved in Scouting, you know that those are your values as well.

Good luck,

Lord Sebastian Coe Chairman, London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games

To be accompanied by logo of Peter Harrison Foundation and by photograph of Peter Harrison

I am delighted to join Lord Coe in commending The Scout Association for Our Sporting Adventure, and very pleased that the Peter Harrison Foundation has provided support for this resource.

This project will give hundreds of thousands of young people the chance to share the adventure, fun and ideals of the Olympic and Paralympic movements.

As a youngster in the 2nd Cheadle Scouts, I was introduced to sport and the outdoors through hikes and camps, where I learned teamwork, responsibility and leadership. I remember sailing on the Norfolk Broads, and my love of nautical activities continues today.

I hope that through this project, even more young people will take up the challenge and enjoy being involved in these great movements – Scouting and the Olympics and Paralympics.

Peter Harrison CBE Chairman, Peter Harrison Foundation

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INTRODUCTION

WELCOME TO OUR SPORTING ADVENTURE

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring over 200 nations of the world under one roof in a festival of sport and culture, united by common values. To celebrate the values of the Olympic and Paralympic movements, all Scouts are invited to compete in a series of activities and challenges – Our Sporting Adventure – which will run from 1 January to 30 September 2012.

ABOUT LONDON 2012

Between 25 July and 9 September 34 venues across the UK will host more than 300 events from Greco-Roman wrestling to synchronised swimming, and from archery to wheelchair tennis. The Games also coincide with the Cultural Olympiad, which will bring together art, film, music and theatre in a festival of events and celebrations all over the UK.

THE INSPIRE MARK

Our Sporting Adventure has been granted the prestigious London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games.

The Inspire programme is run by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is an opportunity for everyone to be a part of the London 2012 Games – a broad participation programme spanning sport education, sustainability, volunteering, and business opportunities and skills. New opportunities are being created to inspire young people and encourage the whole of the UK to join in.

‘Winning and achievement inspires me. Every day I go sailing I set goals; this can be the smallest tweak on a training day or the biggest push on a medal race day.

It’s important to always look ahead to the next test.’

Ben Ainslie, Olympic gold medal winner, sailing

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HOW IT WORKS

Our Sporting Adventure is based on the Olympic and Paralympic Values. These are: Olympic Values • Respect • Excellence • Friendship Paralympic Values • Courage • Determination • Inspiration • Equality Just like at London 2012, Our Sporting Adventure is about working towards medals as part of a team.

There will be a medal table, which will chart the progress of your team and encourage you to push on for higher achievements. Though the activities have been designed to be done within your Troop, the medal table will allow Beaver Colonies to compete against Cub Packs, Scout Troops, Explorer Units and Scout Networks. There are some top prizes on offer for the highest scores as well.

GETTING STARTED

Here’s what you need to do to embark on your sporting adventure.

2. Register Go online to register your team before the competition starts in January 2012. Visit www. scouts.org.uk/oursportingadventure and start planning your assault on the medal table.

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3. Plan Decide which activities you want to do with your team. There are 28 bronze, 14 silver and 7 gold activities. Once 2012 arrives, have fun running them. Whenever you complete an activity, update your team’s record on the website. Bronze activities are worth 50 points, silver are worth 100 points, and gold 200 points. You could choose to focus on the seven more challenging gold activities as a way of getting more points, or you could incorporate the 28 bronze activities into your normal programme during the year. It’s up to you.

THE MEDAL TABLE

You’ll be able to check your progress online by viewing the medal table. Compare your score with other sections, or those in your District and County.

PRIZES

A prize will be available for the team with the greatest number of points. Full terms and conditions will be available at www.scouts.org.uk/oursportingadventure

1. Pick your team You can compete as a single section or join up with another Troop to make up the numbers and gain medals. Come up with a fun team name or keep it the same as your Group or section name.

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There are 28 bronze activities, each worth 50 points for your sporting adventure. Slot them into your Troop programme and get off to a running start.

OPENING CEREMONY

VALUE Friendship PROGRAMME ZONES Global, Community, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION Your Scouts can discover their inner musician and learn the importance of working together with this loud but hugely enjoyable activity. Making a racket was never so much fun.

TIME 20 mins - 1 hour EQUIPMENT • A variety of items that can be banged, blown, shaken or tapped, ie tin cans, pipe lengths, boxes, plastic containers, rice (pre-warn the Troop, so they can bring items from home) • Glue • Scissors INSTRUCTIONS 1. Gather the materials in a giant heap.

2. Explain that in many parts of the world, music and rhythm are created from a variety of discarded items – anything that can be banged, tapped, blown and so on.

3. Give time for the Scouts to rummage and assemble what they want for their instruments.

4. The Scouts make sure that their instruments work.

5. Either ask small groups to perform or get the whole Troop to play together.

6. Beat out an easy rhythm for them to follow initially. Then introduce one or two players at a time.

SPORTING INCIDENT HIKE

VALUES Friendship, Excellence PROGRAMME ZONES Outdoor and Adventure, Fit for Life DESCRIPTION An incident hike with your nearest Explorer Unit will provide thrills and spills while imparting some important lessons about Olympic and Paralympic values.

TIME One meeting EQUIPMENT • Maps • Compasses • Whatever else is needed for the incidents. Link with the Explorer Unit to find out if you need to supply anything INSTRUCTIONS 1. Contact your nearest Explorer Unit and ask them to your Troop night to run an incident hike.

2. The incidents should enable the Scouts to one or more of the Olympic or Paralympic values.

3. The Explorers should be as creative as they can in coming up with the incidents, to help Scouts realise what the Games are all about.

LEARN BY TOUCH

VALUE Respect PROGRAMME ZONES Beliefs and Attitudes, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION This fun activity teaches your Scouts to ‘see’ with their hands and gets them thinking about how everyone and everything is special in its own way.

TIME 5 mins per circuit of the course EQUIPMENT • Enough potatoes for everyone /an outside place with plenty of trees • Blindfolds

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INSTRUCTIONS 1. Give each Scout a potato.

2. Give them time to observe and feel it to know as much about it as possible.

3. Pile the potatoes up together.

4. Blindfold each Scout in turn and ask them to pick out their potato.

5. You may want to play this in Patrols/smaller groups depending on numbers.

6. Discuss how each potato was slightly different from another.

7. Bring this round to discuss how people are unique.

8. Alternatively, you could do this outside with trees, challenging the Scouts to identify their tree when led to two or three of them while blindfolded.

9. The range of differences between potatoes or trees points to the infinite possibilities of what any item (or person) could be like if each is individually recognisable.

CRAB FOOTBALL

VALUES Respect, Friendship PROGRAMME ZONE Fit for Life DESCRIPTION Help your Scouts understand the importance of fair play and develop their understanding of others by playing a good old game of football – crab style.

TIME 10-20 mins

DIVERSITY BINGO

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VALUES Respect, Equality PROGRAMME ZONES Beliefs and Attitudes, Community DESCRIPTION A short game of human bingo demonstrates the range of cultures, hobbies and beliefs that exist in your Troop. It will also challenge any assumptions about others.

TIME 20 mins EQUIPMENT • Bingo sheets (from www.scouts.org.uk/ oursportingadventure) • Pens INSTRUCTIONS 1. Give each Scout a copy of the bingo sheet.

2. Tell them that they have to find one person that fits in each box, and write their name in the box.

It is not expected that all of the boxes will be filled.

3. One person cannot appear on the sheet more than once.

4. Any Scout who fills all the boxes, within the allotted time, shouts ‘bingo!’

5. Have a discussion about whether anyone made any assumptions about others in their Troop.

Did anyone learn something new about another Scout? How might this be used to ensure everyone has a fun time in Scouting?

EQUIPMENT • One sponge football • Four chairs for goalposts INSTRUCTIONS 1. At either end of your meeting place, create goalposts with two chairs.

2. Split your Troop into two teams.

3. Everyone must play in a crab position – anyone not doing so will be put in the sin-bin.

4. Normal football rules apply from then on.

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FRIENDSHIP QUIZ

VALUE Respect PROGRAMME ZONE Beliefs and Attitudes DESCRIPTION This activity aims to get your Scouts thinking about whether they are a good friend and what they can do to improve their friendships.

TIME 15 mins EQUIPMENT • Quiz • Pens or pencils INSTRUCTIONS 1. Give every Scout a piece of paper and a pen or pencil before Flag Down.

2. Explain that you are going to have a quiz but that the answers are personal so everybody needs to find a space where they can answer privately and only they should answer them.

3. Ask the questions, ensuring that the Scouts understand each one.

4. Tell them that you don’t want to know the answers and they don’t need to tell them to anyone.

5. If they answered most or all of the questions ‘yes’, then they are a good friend. The Scouts can now think about how they could be an even better friend.

Questions: 1. Can your friends tell you their deepest secrets and know that you will never tell anyone else?

2. Would your friends trust you with their favourite games or clothes – knowing that you wouldn’t break them?

3. If your friend ever got into trouble would you stand by them or run away to avoid getting into trouble yourself?

4. Do you make your friends laugh?

5. If your friends were being bullied, in any way, would you help them?

6. Can your friends rely on you?

7. Can you argue with your friends and then forgive each other?

8. If your friends were doing something that you knew was wrong, would you advise them not to do it?

9. Can you and your friends always find a compromise when looking for something to do?

10. Do you listen to what your friends say and not make fun of them?

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HOT TOPICS

VALUE Respect PROGRAMME ZONES Beliefs and Attitudes, Community, Global DESCRIPTION Hold a debate about the issues that your Scouts find important.

TIME 45 mins EQUIPMENT • Table and chairs • Stopwatch INSTRUCTIONS 1. The week before, ask your Scouts what the hot topics in the world are today. It could be something local, national or international. As a Troop, decide on three subjects to debate.

2. Each Patrol goes away and researches the issues for the debate. They should aim to have facts as bullet points for the next meeting.

3. Arrange your meeting place with a table for the chairperson and groups of each Patrol facing them.

4. Ask one of your Young Leaders, an Explorer or one of the older Scouts to chair proceedings.

5. Decide how long you will spend on each topic and ask the chairperson to try to keep to the timings.

6. Debate the topics – you may find that everyone agrees on one or that there are many differing views.

COMMUNITY COMMENTS WALL

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VALUES Respect, Friendship PROGRAMME ZONES Beliefs and Attitudes, Community DESCRIPTION Generate ideas for community projects by setting up a graffiti wall in a public place. This is a great way to find out what people think about your community and how to make improvements to it.

TIME 10 mins EQUIPMENT • Newsprint paper or wallpaper • Marker pens • Felt-tipped pens • Paint INSTRUCTIONS 1. Discuss with the Troop some of the places they think a graffiti wall would work; for example, a school, library or the Troop’s meeting place.

2. You could either get permission for the public to draw on a wall, or stick up sheets of paper/ wallpaper to write on.

3. Scouts should be around to provide pens/paints for people and answer any questions they may have about the wall.

4. You could have a wall for likes/dislikes, musthaves or even just ‘things to do’. Once you have collected the comments, discuss with the Scouts which ones they would like to do anything about and whether it’s possible.

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PIONEERING PROJECTS

VALUE Excellence PROGRAMME ZONES Outdoor and Adventure, Fit for Life, Creative DESCRIPTION Split into Patrols to complete pioneering projects of your choosing, challenging the Troop’s Scouting skills.

TIME 2 hours EQUIPMENT • See individual projects (diagrams at www.scouts.org.uk/oursportingadventure) INSTRUCTIONS Each Patrol works on a different pioneering project. Here are some examples: FLAGSTAFF Equipment • Six staves • Lashing ropes • Flag • Guy ropes Instructions 1. The upright is made from three staves, sheer lashed together.

2. Three staves, square lashed together in an H-shape form the base.

3. The pole is square lashed to the centre of the cross piece of the H. 4. The guys are attached to the pole using rolling hitches and to the base with round turn and two half hitches.

5. A small bowline is clove-hitched to the top of the pole and the halyard is threaded through the loop.

ROPE LADDER Equipment • Two lengths of rope • Strong sticks about 45mm in diameter • Sacking • Pegs • Mallet Instructions 1. Lay the two ropes out parallel with the sticks over the top.

2. Attach the sticks to the rope using either a marlin spike hitch or clove hitches.

3. If you’re using the rope ladder on a tree, throw a line over a strong branch, attach the rope ladder and pull it up.

4. The lightest Scout climbs up while the rest hold the ladder.

5. When they have climbed, they need to attach the rope ladder to the branch with a round turn and two half hitches using sacking to protect the branch.

6. Peg the bottom of the rope ladder down.

RAFT Equipment • Barrels/drums • Staves • Lashing rope Instructions 1. Lay the staves out in a grid.

2. Square lash the corners together.

3. Lash four drums to the corners.

4. Square lash the other staves across to create a stable structure.

5. Attach a fifth drum to the centre of the raft.

6. It is ready for testing.

STRON Note: Refer to activities rules for using rafts, chapter 9 of POR.

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DRAGONS’ DEN

VALUE Excellence PROGRAMME ZONES Creative Expression, Community DESCRIPTION A fearsome panel of leaders and young people from other sections cast an eye over your Troop’s programme ideas. If your Scouts can successfully brave the Den, they will deliver the activities themselves as a reward.

TIME 2 hours EQUIPMENT • Paper and pens • The adult resources for Beavers and Cubs • Equipment for running the programmes chosen INSTRUCTIONS 1. Explain to each Patrol that they are going to create a programme for Beavers or Cubs. They will have copies of the adult resources for each section and the guidance of their leaders on programme planning.

2. Once each Patrol has prepared their evening’s programme, they pitch it to a panel of leaders and two/three members of the section in question.

3. The leaders and members will have the opportunity to ask questions. They can either choose to accept the whole programme, or mix and match parts of it with the other submissions.

4. The Patrols will then deliver the chosen programme to the section in question.

MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT

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VALUES Excellence, Inspiration PROGRAMME ZONES Beliefs and Attitudes, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION A discussion where your Troop can relive their greatest achievement and explore the inspiration behind it.

TIME 20-30 mins EQUIPMENT None INSTRUCTIONS 1. Sit in a circle.

2. Your Scouts take turns to talk about their best achievements and what inspired them.

3. Lead a discussion about the importance of inspiration, and ask what they want to achieve in the future.

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PRACTICAL RECYCLING

VALUES Inspiration, Respect PROGRAMME ZONES Beliefs and Attitudes, Global DESCRIPTION Practical recycling can be a fun way to create something new and useful that can used at home or school, you can even create presents.

TIME 1-2 hours EQUIPMENT • Items collected from home that would normally be thrown away • Extra craft items for decoration and construction INSTRUCTIONS 1. Ask Scouts to save items they would normally throw away such as fizzy drinks cans, yoghurt pots, milk cartons and newspapers. Make sure they know to bring them in clean.

2. Supply additional items so that Scouts can make something with the items they bring in.

3. Challenge them to create something practical that they can use at home such as bird feeders, tea light holders, stationery holders, wallets etc. Look online for extra ideas; just search for ‘recycled crafts ideas for children’ .

4. At the end of the meeting ask the Scouts to showcase their new items and explain what inspired them to come up with their innovation.

Take some time to explain how these things would normally end up in landfill or be recycled.

HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST YOUR FRIEND?

VALUES Courage, Respect PROGRAMME ZONE Beliefs and Attitudes DESCRIPTION One Scout is put in control of another who is blindfolded. How will the one in power treat the other? Trust and temptation come to the forefront in this activity.

TIME 45 mins EQUIPMENT • Scarf or blindfold • A selection of food such as chocolate, peaches, flour, baked beans, Coca-Cola and mustard • String • Mattress or paddling pool • Activity cards INSTRUCTIONS 1. Ask Scouts to pair up.

2. Ask for a volunteer from each pair (but don’t say what for). The one who volunteers is blindfolded.

3. The other Scout then completes three activities with their blindfolded ‘friend’.

4. Firstly, food/drink tasting. There is a choice of six foods or drinks and any three are given to the blindfolded Scout. Check for dietary requirements first.

5. Next, complete a string trail with a nice or horrible food at certain junctions. (You may want to set this up before the meeting and hide it from the Scouts). The seeing guide decides which route their friend must take.

6. Lastly, ask the blindfolded Scout to stand rigid and simply fall backwards. Behind the blindfolded Scout place a mattress or paddling pool – is the Scout brave enough to fall? Will their partner catch them?

7. Blindfolded Scouts gives their friend a trust rating out of ten. Then tell the blindfolded Scout what alternative food/drink and string trail routes existed. How does the rating change?

8. The Scouts then discuss what makes a good friend.

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CUT AND PASTE

VALUE Respect PROGRAMME ZONES Global, Beliefs and Attitudes DESCRIPTION Your Scouts will learn how not to jump to conclusions and understand the importance of other perspectives.

TIME: 20-30 mins EQUIPMENT • Copies of whole and cropped photos – enlarged if possible. (Get these from www.scouts.org.uk/ oursportingadventure or make your own) • Pens/pencils and paper • Felt-tipped pens • Descriptions of photos INSTRUCTIONS 1. Give each Patrol a set of the cropped photos and ask them to look at them and describe what’s going on. They can use words and drawings to explain.

2. Elect someone from the Patrol to give feedback to the Troop 3. The spokesperson tells the other Patrols what they think is happening in the pictures. Did every Patrol think similarly or did they come up with very different suggestions?

4. Hand out the entire photos with the descriptions – were any of the Patrols correct?

5. Hold a Troop discussion in regards to the images shown in the media and how people can be manipulated.

ASPIRATIONS

VALUES Inspiration, Excellence PROGRAMME ZONES Creative Expression, Beliefs and Attitudes DESCRIPTION What would your Scouts like to do over the next year? Who could help them and how? How will any of this change over time? This activity examines these simple, yet important, questions.

TIME 15 mins

EQUIPMENT • Recording equipment

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INSTRUCTIONS 1. Each Scout takes it in turns to record what they would like to do over the next 12 months.

2. Anyone able to offer help, support or training records how they would like to help.

3. Keep the recordings to return to at regular intervals, to mark progress and reflect on.

THE CO-OPERATION CO-ORDINATION CIRCLE

VALUES Determination, Excellence PROGRAMME ZONE Fit for Life DESCRIPTION Skill, speed and co-ordination – all vital qualities in an athlete – are all tested in this fun activity.

TIME 5 mins EQUIPMENT • Staves/broomstick handles/bamboo poles/canes INSTRUCTIONS 1. All the Scouts stand in a circle.

2. Each holds a stave/broomstick/pole/cane upright, resting lightly in their right hand.

3. The leader calls out how they want the Scouts to move, such as ‘one place to the left’ .

4. The Scouts let go of the stave and make their move as quickly as they can to try to catch the dropped stave of the Scout on their left/right before it falls to the floor.

5. Repeated practice over a number of meetings should improve dexterity so that the game can be speeded up and they can move more than one place before the stave hits the deck.

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FANCY A SANDWICH?

VALUES Respect, Friendship PROGRAMME ZONE Creative Expression DESCRIPTION How do you make a sandwich blindfolded or with one hand? How would you work with someone in the same condition? Scouts explore the value of good communication and listening by creating a tasty treat.

TIME 10 mins EQUIPMENT • Bread • Spread • Variety of fillings • Plates • Knives • Blindfold INSTRUCTIONS 1. Provide a variety of sandwich ingredients. Bear in mind any dietary requirements.

2. Scouts take turns to make a sandwich while blindfolded.

3. They then take the blindfold off and try to make another with one hand behind their back.

4. They could then try it in pairs with each of them having one hand behind their back. They will have to co-operate and communicate to make sure they both know what they’re doing or both like the filling (and aren’t allergic or intolerant to it).

5. Finally they can eat the sandwiches.

6. Try repeating the activity, pouring out drinks.

JUGGLING

VALUE Determination PROGRAMME ZONE Creative Expression DESCRIPTION Your Scouts can learn how to juggle. A good skill to impress their parents and non-Scouting friends.

TIME 30 mins EQUIPMENT • Juggling balls, a set for each, either bought or home made • Other items that can be juggled with such as scarfs or beanbags INSTRUCTIONS 1. Start by throwing a ball from one hand to the other. The aim is to show them how to throw it up in an arc in front of them.

2. Once they are confident with this, introduce a second ball.

3. Start with a ball in each hand, doing the same as with one ball. They need to make sure that they throw the second one just after the first.

4. Introduce a third ball and see how they get on.

5. Those who manage this can try juggling with any of the other items.

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SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING SIMULATION

VALUE Friendship PROGRAMME ZONES Fit for Life, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION Synchronised swimming on dry land? This activity with a difference should be run in three phases: planning and practice (10-25 mins depending on hats/costumes); performance, and points and prize giving.

TIME 40 mins EQUIPMENT • Card with a different country and flag on for each Patrol • Different-coloured pegs (simulating nose-clips, be careful they don’t hurt the young people) • Newspaper • Felt-tipped pens • Rope • Music • Bronze, silver and gold medals – sufficient of each for one Patrol

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Explain to the Scouts that they are going to do synchronised swimming on dry land. It’s worth checking before they start planning that they know what the sport is.

2. Ask the Patrol Leaders to choose the country that they will represent.

3. Each Patrol should make team hats/costumes to represent their country.

4. They plan and practise their routine to perform to the rest of the Troop. Each team should have a five minute time limit.

5. Draw the order of performance from a hat.

6. Perform the routine to the rest of the Troop, accompanied by a chosen CD track.

7. Judges award points for costumes, artistic interpretation, synchronicity and timing.

8. Award the gold, silver and bronze medals to the best three in each category.

SPORTING TEAMS IN THE UK (PART 1)

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VALUE Friendship PROGRAMME ZONES Global, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION Teams from over 200 countries will be coming to the UK to compete at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They will be based at locations around the country. Is there one near you? If so, your Troop can learn about that country. See the Gold level activities for how you can upgrade this challenge.

TIME 1hr 30 mins EQUIPMENT • Food • Creative materials • Internet • Music INSTRUCTIONS 1. Before your meeting, find out if any Olympic or Paralympic teams will be based near you during the games. For example, the Rwandan team will be in Bury St Edmunds, the Chinese athletics team will be in Leeds and the US Diving squad will be located in Sheffield. If not, pick your nearest big town playing host to a competing team, or have your Scouts select a country to focus on.

2. Hold a meeting based on that country. This could include eating specific food or trying a national dance. You may also wish to make costumes or watch a film set there.

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NATURE ID

ANIMAL TRACKS

VALUE Respect PROGRAMME ZONE Outdoor and Adventure DESCRIPTION This is a great chance for your Scouts to get closer to nature and learn to identify plants and animals in your local environment.

TIME 1hr 30 mins

VALUE Respect PROGRAMME ZONE Outdoor and Adventure DESCRIPTION Your Scouts can discover who their animal neighbours are by undertaking an expedition to retrieve and identify their tracks.

TIME One meeting

EQUIPMENT • Pens and paper • Identification sheets

EQUIPMENT • Cardboard • Plaster of Paris • Bowl and stick • Wildlife identification book • Pen • Scissors

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Split your Scouts into even groups.

2. Give each group an identification sheet with different types of plants and trees on it.

3. Each group must find as many as possible and collect a leaf or take a photo for proof.

4. They must write down all the types of animal and bird they see on their walk.

5. Challenge them to find ten of each.

TRACKING TRAIL

VALUES Determination, Friendship PROGRAMME ZONES Outdoor and Adventure, Community DESCRIPTION Run this activity with the local Beaver Colony. Your Scouts will set a challenging tracking trail for their younger counterparts to follow. Where will it lead?

TIME One meeting EQUIPMENT • Whatever you find and use in the great outdoors • Tracking Factsheet (FS170058) INSTRUCTIONS 1. At a Beaver Scout meeting for the first part of the night ask the Colony to learn the different tracking signs.

2. While the Beavers are doing this ask each Patrol to set off in a different direction and lay a trail for a team of Beaver Scouts to follow.

3. The Beavers follow the trail left by the Scouts and see where it takes them.

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Go for a walk in your local area, preferably on a day when the ground is slightly muddy or there is snow on the ground.

2. As the Troop is walking, they should keep an eye out for animal tracks. Take a cast of any prints.

3. Cut notches in a strip of cardboard so that the two ends can be joined in a circle.

4. Mix up the plaster of Paris using the instructions on the packet.

5. Pour the mixture onto the print and leave it to harden.

6. Once hardened, remove the cast and brush off the dirt. Write details of when and where found on the back.

7. If you don’t find any, make some by cutting prints out of potato, pressing them into mud and taking a cast of that.

8. When the Troop returns from the walk, try and identify the prints.

9. The Troop should aim to collect at least three different prints.

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FEAST OR FAMINE BANQUET

VALUE Equality PROGRAMME ZONES Global, Beliefs and Attitudes, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION The Scouts learn the hard/easy way how different income groups eat.

TIME 1 hr 30 mins EQUIPMENT • Cooking equipment • Various ingredients depending on chosen meals • Table • Tablecloth • Plates • Cutlery INSTRUCTIONS 1. As Scouts enter the meeting place, split them into three groups: high, middle or low income.

2. The low income group are given rice to cook.

They have no cutlery and must sit on the floor.

3. The middle income group cook their own rice and beans. They can eat with a fork, at a table.

4. The high income group have meat, potatoes to make mash, (you may need to pre-cook these a little), butter, and some vegetables. This group also gets some form of dessert. They have a full set of cutlery each and sit at a table with a tablecloth.

5. At the end of the feast, discuss how it felt to see what the others were eating, and what they think can/should be done to overcome the inequalities.

THE SISTINE CHAPEL

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VALUE Inspiration PROGRAMME ZONES Creative Expression, Beliefs and Attitudes DESCRIPTION Your Scouts will become Renaissance artists for a night as they create their own version of the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

TIME One meeting EQUIPMENT • Large sheets of paper – rolls of wallpaper or newsprint • Pencils • Craft material including glitter glue pens • Tables/chairs • Sticky tape • Glue • Pasta/lentils etc INSTRUCTIONS 1. Explain to the Scouts that they are going to create their own version of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the same manner that Michelangelo created the original.

2. Tape pieces of paper to the underside of tables and chairs – the Scouts have to be able to fit underneath.

3. A sk them to think about the design of their picture.

4. Each Scout then creates their artwork on the underside of the tables and chairs using the materials provided.

5. When all have finished, have an exhibition – you can either pin the art to the walls or ask the Scouts to view it while it’s still stuck to the underside of the tables and chairs.

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BUILD YOUR OWN OVEN

VALUES Inspiration, Determination PROGRAMME ZONES Outdoor and Adventure, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION This activity is bound to get your Scouts excited as they build their own camp oven to cook scones or pizzas over a wood fire.

TIME 2-3 hours EQUIPMENT • Large empty tin with a lid • Two skewers • Hammer and nail • Bottle opener or spoon to open oven door • Bricks • Metal sheet • Tinfoil dish • Ingredients for dishes to cook in oven • General camp kitchen equipment INSTRUCTIONS 1. Make two holes on each side of the tin and insert the skewers. Form a shelf with the tinfoil dish.

2. Build the fireplace with the bricks and metal sheet so that the tin is balanced on brick pillars with space for a fire underneath.

3. Light the fire and get it ready for cooking.

4. In the meantime, prepare the scones or pizzas for cooking.

5. Cook the chosen dishes and enjoy.

PIG STICKING

VALUES Courage, Determination PROGRAMME ZONE Fitness DESCRIPTION Your Scouts will need to exercise speed, balance and timing as they embark on this bicycle-based challenge.

TIME One meeting EQUIPMENT • Hoops – the smaller the better • Bicycles • Staves or long sticks INSTRUCTIONS 1. Using a large area, place the hoops around the ground at intervals.

2. Divide the Troop into Patrols. Over a set period of time, each Patrol takes turns to try and pick up as many hoops as possible with the staves whilst cycling around the area.

3. The winning Patrol is the one that gets the most in the set time.

Note: Make sure you follow the activities rules for cycling, in chapter 9 of POR.

(See a diagram of the oven at www.scouts.org.uk/oursportingadventure)

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TURK’S HEAD WOGGLES

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VALUE Determination PROGRAMME ZONES Creative Expression, Outdoor and Adventure DESCRIPTION Follow the instructions to create a special woggle.

TIME One meeting EQUIPMENT • Thin cord or coloured washing line • Pictures of the instructions (from www.scouts.org.uk/oursportingadventure) INSTRUCTIONS 1. Holding one end of the cord with your thumb against your middle finger turn the cord loosely around your fingers twice as shown.

2. Turn your fingers over and pass the end of the cord under B as shown.

3. Lift strand A over B and pass the cord up through the hole created and under as shown by the arrowed line. A plaited pattern should result.

4. Turn your fingers over and bring the cord up the gap as shown by arrowed line so that it lines up beside the starting point. The first strand of the woggle has been created and you can remove it from your fingers if you wish.

5. Continue following the line with your cord to create the second and third strand. Tighten up and tidy up the ends and you have your woggle.

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SILVER

Silver activities require a bit more commitment, whether in the planning or the levels the Scouts need to reach.

100 points is on offer for each one your team completes.

THE STORY OF JESSE OWENS

VALUES Inspiration, Determination, Courage PROGRAMME ZONE Beliefs and Attitudes DESCRIPTION Use the inspiring story of Jesse Owens to set your Scouts on a quest to make a presentation about another person who has triumphed in the face of great adversity.

TIME Two meetings EQUIPMENT • Internet • Books/other research materials • Paper and pens • Creative materials for presentation

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Explain that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are about overcoming difficulties to achieve goals and that many people have done this. One is Jesse Owens, a black American athlete who competed at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

Adolf Hitler and his ruling Nazi party hoped that the Games would prove the superiority of the Aryan race. Despite this, Owens went on to win four gold medals. His determination inspired others to take up sport and strive for equality.

2. Ask Scouts to think of someone that has overcome difficulties. This could be a sports star, politician or friend. Have some examples to hand to help them.

3. For the rest of the meeting, the Scouts can research the person and put a presentation or poster together. They can work individually, in pairs or in groups.

4. At the next meeting, the Scouts tell the rest of the Troop about the person and how they overcame difficulties.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST

VALUE Detemination PROGRAMME ZONE Fit for Life DESCRIPTION This is a fun knockout game that improves climbing ability. By introducing a game, skills can be easily learnt while having fun. You can adapt this activity to the ability level of those taking part.

TIME 45 mins EQUIPMENT • Climbing/bouldering wall • Crash mats INSTRUCTIONS 1. Everyone finds a place to hold onto the climbing wall (totally off the ground, but only just).

2. The following commands are given: • Wave your right hand • Wave your left hand • Wiggle your right foot • Wiggle your left foot • Clap • Finger on your nose • Wiggle both feet.

3. Repeat the commands, or introduce more difficult ones.

4. A Scout is out when they fall off the wall and the winner is the last one left.

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BURN THE LINE

THE SCARY TENT

VALUES Courage, Determination PROGRAMME ZONES Outdoor and Adventure, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION Patrols race to light a fire on a raft to burn through a sisal line. This is best done on a still body of water, such as a pond or paddling pool.

TIME 1hr 30 mins

VALUES Friendship, Courage PROGRAMME ZONES Beliefs and Attitudes, Community DESCRIPTION Explore how younger children view things, what excites and scares them and create a fun activity for a Beaver Colony.

TIME 1hr 30 mins

EQUIPMENT • Length of sisal (a natural rope) suspended over water • Matches • Wood – ideally lollipop sticks or twigs • Rope • Metal or similar to protect raft from fire

EQUIPMENT • Tent • Variety of materials to create an atmosphere of adventure – string, netting, foil, newspaper

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Challenge each Patrol to build a small raft on which they can light a fire or put a candle.

2. They then have to send their raft onto the water to burn through a piece of sisal suspended over the water.

3. It’s a good idea to remind them that they’ll need to be able to position the raft and not just let it float without any control.

INSTRUCTIONS 1. The Scouts visit a Beaver Scout Colony to find out what excites or scares them and why.

2. On their return, they plan to set up an adventure tent – taking into account the information they have gathered.

3. They create the adventure tent before the next Colony meeting with items such as low lighting, crunchy newspaper on the floor, hanging rustling tin foil, low-hung netting and so on.

4. The Scouts help the Beavers to experience the tent in a light-hearted way. Tell them to look out for anyone with real fears who might need encouragement or support to go through the tent. Tell them how brave they are for undertaking the activity.

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SILVER

TACTILE MAP

VALUE Equality PROGRAMME ZONES Community, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION Your Scouts take a walk around the area to consider the needs of those in the community with a visual impairment. Is there anything they can do to help?

TIME 2 hours EQUIPMENT • Writing/drawing equipment • Digital camera or camera phone • Range of textured materials – sandpaper, corrugated card, fabrics, textured wallpaper etc • Sticking materials • Thick cardboard or wooden base • Pens and paper to take notes INSTRUCTIONS 1. Explore the area immediately around your meeting place or the centre of your town.

2. The Scouts record any changes in surface that would be significant if they had a visual impairment, such as counting steps, changes from tarmac to grass, kerbs, waist height railings, pavements with pimples to indicate crossing points.

3. Once back in the meeting place, plan a tactile map of the area that would help someone find their way around without any visual clues (they could compare this with a visual map).

4. The Scouts create the tactile map using different textured materials – sandpaper for grass, corrugated card for steps and so on.

5. The Scouts can test the map by following instructions.

6. Did the tactile map make it easier to navigate when blindfolded? Is there anything you would want to contact the local authority about, to make the area more accessible?

HOURGLASS TOWER

VALUE Determination PROGRAMME ZONES Creative Expression, Global DESCRIPTION Develop your Troop’s teamwork and Scouting skills by undertaking a challenging pioneering project that will take more than just muscle.

TIME One meeting, or a day at camp EQUIPMENT • 9 x spars 3.6m long • 6 x spars 2.5m long • 2 x spars 2m long • 10 x light spars for the platform • 26 x lashing lengths • 3 x ropes 15-25m long for raising the platform • 1 pulley suitable for the above rope • Guy ropes • Additional ropes for the platform • 1 ladder/rope ladder INSTRUCTIONS 1. The tower is constructed from two large pyramids interlocked together. It must be built on its side then raised vertically with the aid of an additional tripod of spars.

2. Care must be taken to ensure that all the equipment used is in excellent condition and that the lashings are really tight.

3. We recommend that you make a model from garden canes first as this will help you to see where things are meant to go and how the tower fits together – everything looks very different when lying on its side!

(Download a diagram with instructions from www.scouts.org.uk/oursportingadventure)

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Note: Activity used with permission of Pioneering Made Easy.

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ARCHIMEDES’ SCREW

VALUE Determination PROGRAMME ZONES Creative Expression, Global DESCRIPTION Archimedes’ Screw is a device used to transfer water or other materials upwards from a lower-lying position. You could use this activity to teach your Scouts about irrigation and land reclamation.

TIME Two meetings EQUIPMENT • Two-litre plastic bottles (with lids) • Dowels • Card/thin plastic • Sticky tape/glue • Blu-Tack • Diagram of Archimedes’ Screw (from www.scouts.org.uk/oursportingadventure) INSTRUCTIONS 1. Explain the principles of Archimedes’ Screw.

2. Cut the bottle’s bottom off. Cut a small opening in the side of the bottle by the lid.

3. Cut between six and eight circles out of card.

Make sure the diameter of the circles is just a little smaller than that of the bottle.

4. Cut a hole in the centre of the circles, big enough for the dowel to fit through.

5. Cut a slit from the edge to the hole in the centre.

6. Glue or tape the circles together to form a screw.

7. Push the dowel through the holes, stretch out the screw and glue or tape the ends of the screw to the dowel.

8. Put some Blu-Tack in the lid of the bottle and put it back on the bottle.

9. Slide the screw into the bottle and use the BluTack to hold it in place.

10. Scouts should now be able to move cereal/ popcorn/water from one bowl to another at a higher level by putting the bottle lid end first into one bowl and turning the dowel.

CITIUS – FASTER

VALUE Determination PROGRAMME ZONE Creative Expression DESCRIPTION Inspired by the Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius, which means faster, higher, stronger, test your Scouts’ imagination and practical skills to the limit. They have to design and build a self-propelled vehicle that will outstrip the competition over both water and land.

TIME 1 hour EQUIPMENT • Balloons • Lollipop sticks • Sticky tape • Elastic bands • Cardboard • Scissors • Blu-Tack • Silver takeaway containers • Empty plastic bottles/food containers • Glue • Paper • Paddling pool/similar (to race the vessel across) INSTRUCTIONS 1. In Patrols, Scouts have to design, build and race a vehicle over land and water.

2. Give them 15 minutes to design their vehicle, explaining that one of the rules of the race will be that it has to be self-propelled (once it’s at the start line and then in the water, no one is allowed to touch it). They can touch/repower it between the land and water stages.

3. Each Patrol then has 20-30 minutes to build and test their vehicle.

4. Once the time is up, the race begins.

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SILVER

ALTAR FIRE

WILDLIFE GARDENING

VALUES Determination, Courage, Excellence PROGRAMME ZONE Outdoor and Adventure DESCRIPTION An outdoor activity where your Troop can demonstrate their practical Scouting skills.

TIME One day

VALUE Respect PROGRAMME ZONES Outdoor and Adventure, Creative Expression, Global DESCRIPTION Inspire your Scouts to create a refuge for local wildlife.

TIME Several meetings

EQUIPMENT • Firewood – punk, kindling, larger twigs and stick • Matches • Mud • Spars (logs) • Lashing rope • Scout Skills – Fire Lighting factsheet (from www.scouts.org.uk/oursportingadventure)

EQUIPMENT • Reference material • Paper and pens • Other, depending on chosen activities

INSTRUCTIONS 1. To make the table, create four crosses by square lashing two spars together.

2. The cross pieces will be attached to four spars which become the uprights of the table. This should create a firm base.

3. Lash two spars horizontally to the base at the top which will hold the spars that create the table top.

4. Lay spars across the top.

5. Cover the top of the table with a thick layer of mud and soil.

6. Lay the fire on top of the table using any method that you wish.

7. Light the fire and cook a meal.

SOPHIE CHRISTIANSEN, PARALYMPIC EQUESTRIAN What are you most looking forward to about the London 2012 Paralympic Games?

Having been to Athens and Beijing, the Games are such an amazing and unique experience. I would love to have my friends and family share with me in the biggest sporting event on the planet. London will be transformed so that Great Britain can be proud that the world’s eyes are on us.

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INSTRUCTIONS 1. Explain the concept of wildlife gardening to the Troop. There is plenty of information online.

2. Let each Patrol pick an aspect of wildlife gardening they would like to focus on and let them research. These could be: • Wildlife pond • Bug mansion • Hedgehog house • Bird box • Bat box • Bird feeder • Living fences • Wildflower areas.

3. Encourage them to produce a plan which lists the equipment they will need, the time they think it will take, how they will monitor success, who is responsible for what, and so on.

4. At the following meeting, they put the plan into action and create their own wildlife garden.

5. Not all Troops will have an area in which to create their own wildlife garden. Scouts can still create elements to take home, sell to make money for the Troop, or give as presents.

What inspires you?

I have always wanted to push myself to my full potential in everything that I do. The pinnacle of my sport is winning a Paralympic gold medal, so that’s what inspires me to train every day. Having a goal at the end helps you focus.

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BACKWOODS COOKING CHALLENGE

VALUE Determination PROGRAMME ZONE Outdoor and Adventure DESCRIPTION Scouts are usually up for a challenge so let’s make fire lighting and outdoor cooking a bit different. See if they can cook a meal without any utensils, except for a knife.

TIME: 30min followed by 2 hours EQUIPMENT • Matches, tin foil, knives, food • Copies of Backwoods Cooking – Ever cooked an egg in an orange?

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Set the challenge of cooking a meal without any utensils or pots and pans in their Patrols.

2. Ask them to plan their meal and write their shopping list.

3. The following week, you could go to your local campsite, or use altar fires at your meeting place.

They will need to set and light their fire and then cook their meal.

4. There are a number of ways of doing this.

What you choose depends on time and how adventurous your Scouts are feeling.

5. Simple meals include cooking jacket potatoes in tin foil in the fire, making a tin foil bag and cooking a stew inside, cooking an egg inside an orange.

6. More information can be found in the Nights Away book, Scout Handbook, A Complete Guide to Scouting Skills and Programmes Online.

ADOPT PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY

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VALUES Respect, Inspiration PROGRAMME ZONES Community, Outdoor and Adventure DESCRIPTION The Troop decide on a part of their community that needs some attention and work for a period of weeks to make a difference and raise money for, and awareness of, Scouting.

TIME A period of weeks EQUIPMENT • Depends on chosen activity INSTRUCTIONS 1. Get the whole Troop involved in thinking about a project. You want everyone to have a sense of ownership as this will make them more likely to see it through to the end.

2. Ask yourself what effect your project will have on local residents, friends and family.

3. Here are some ideas to help you on your way: a. Green spaces: • Tidy your nearest park or community garden.

• Start a local beach clean project.

• Clear a cycle path or footpath of litter. b. Conservation: • Complete a wildlife audit.

• Set up bat or bird boxes in a conservation area.

• Create a haven for bees.

• Clean your local pond.

• Plant trees with your local council. c. Up your street: • Offer to tidy residents’ front gardens.

• Organise a street party with Scout activities.

• Paint a mural over graffiti.

Note: Scout Community Week (14 -20 May 2012) is a new, exciting national campaign to help Scouts across the UK raise money at the heart of their communities and support the valuable work of the Development Grants Board.

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SILVER

CANOE EXPEDITION

BLINDFOLD DROP

VALUE Determination PROGRAMME ZONE Outdoor and Adventure DESCRIPTION Your Scouts will probably be familiar with the basics of canoeing, or will pick it up quite quickly, so taking them on a river trip is a great way to get them to explore the local area from a different angle.

TIME Up to one day

VALUES Courage, Determination PROGRAMME ZONE Outdoor and Adventure DESCRIPTION If your Scouts were dropped somewhere with just a map and a compass to guide them, would they find their way back to your meeting place? Test their navigation skills with this activity.

TIME 1hr 30 mins

EQUIPMENT • Canoes • Paddles • Buoyancy aids

EQUIPMENT • Maps • Compasses • Blindfolds

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Find a local provider of water activities – this could be a local leader within Scouting, parent or local centre. Organise a canoe expedition for your Scouts.

2. This is a great way to introduce them to a new environment and get them to work as a team.

3. For more information about how to plan and run this kind of activity go to the Member Resources pages of www.scouts.org.uk and search for ‘canoeing’ or speak to your ADC/ACC Activities.

4. Once you’ve made your plans it’s time to get the Scouts to make theirs by looking at maps and planning where they are going and when to stop for breaks.

INSTRUCTIONS 1. As a leadership team, pick some suitable (safe) drop off points about one hour’s walk from your meeting place.

2. Blindfold each Patrol and deliver them to the designated drop-off points, where they can remove their blindfolds. Do not give them their maps and compasses until they arrive at the drop-off point.

3. Tell them they have one hour to get back to the meeting place.

4. Make sure that each Patrol has a working mobile phone, and that there are enough leaders in the general area to keep an eye out for everyone.

Note: Make sure you follow the activities rules in chapter 9 of POR.

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Remember to log your progress online to advance up the medal table. www.scouts.org.uk/oursportingadventure

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GOLD

Gold medals aren’t given out for turning up. Can your team prove its worth and do all seven?

SPORTING TEAMS IN THE UK (PART 2)

VALUE Friendship PROGRAMME ZONES Global, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION The London 2012 Games will bring the world to our door, with over 200 international teams competing in Olympic and Paralympic events. Some of them are coming to your area. Get your Scouts to think global by getting in touch with Scouts across the world.

TIME Three or more meetings EQUIPMENT None INSTRUCTIONS 1. Before your meeting, find out if any Olympic or Paralympic teams will be based near you during the games. For example, the Rwandan team will be in Bury St. Edmunds, the Chinese athletics team will be in Leeds and the US diving squad will be located in Sheffield. If not, pick your nearest big town playing host to a competing team, or select a country to focus on.

2. In a meeting, talk about the Olympic and Paralympic Games and how over 200 teams from all over the world are competing. Consider having Scouts shout out the countries they think are participating and writing the results on a long list.

3. Talk to the Scouts about the team which will be based nearby and get them to research as much as they can about that team’s country.

4. Consider holding a themed evening based on that country.

5. Make contact with Scouts from that country using the International Links Scheme. Take photos and write/record a report on your local area and send it to them so they can see where their team will be staying and what they can expect. Go to www.scouts.org.uk/intlinks to find out more about the scheme.

6. Consider taking the challenge further and organising a trip to meet the international Scouts, or invite them to come to you.

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A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO HERE

VALUE Respect PROGRAMME ZONES Community, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION What’s the best thing about where you live? Could it be a hidden gem you don’t even know about yet? Turn your Scouts into local experts as they take to the streets to uncover the inside story about their neighbourhood.

TIME Two meetings EQUIPMENT • Recording equipment, dictaphones, etc • Digital or video cameras • Pens and paper INSTRUCTIONS 1. Show the Scouts some city travel guides or travel websites which give local information about different places all over the world. Explain that they are going to provide an expert guide to their local area, but first, they have to become experts.

2. Either divide the Troop into two teams to provide rival guides or split them into teams each with a responsibility for a particular feature of the local area, for example: places to eat, entertainment, landmarks, green spaces and so on.

3. Ask Scouts to prepare a guide to their area in their chosen medium. Options could be a leaflet, newspaper, blog, video, or radio show. They will also have to present what they’ve done at a meeting to other Scouts and/or invited adults.

4. The Scouts should research the area by going out and recording things of interest. Encourage each team to find out one or two interesting facts about the area which may not be common knowledge. They could also interview local people such as shopkeepers or business owners or visitors to the area.

5. Hold an evening where Scouts can present their local area guides. Consider inviting the people who have been interviewed (if available), parents and/or another Troop or section.

6. Afterwards, discuss what they learned from the experience. Who was the most helpful or reliable interviewee? Were there any things they discovered which needed be to improved (this could lead to a future Troop project)? What was the most amazing fact they didn’t know about the area? What would they do differently if they did it again?

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GOLD

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

VALUE Inspiration PROGRAMME ZONES Creative Expression, Community, Global DESCRIPTION Turn your Scouts in to super sleuths as they compete against each other to get the biggest scoop on your Troop’s former Scouts.

TIME One meeting to plan the task with Scouts, followed by two or so weeks of research, one evening to present editorial ideas and two weeks to produce newspaper.

EQUIPMENT • Notebooks and writing materials • Recording equipment • Desktop publishing software (Microsoft Word will do) and printer • Archive photos and scrapbooks of previous members of the Troop INSTRUCTIONS 1. Go through scrapbooks or pictures of past events within your Troop with your Scouts and talk about the things you used to do (if this information is available). If the Troop is new or you don’t have any information to hand, look at famous former Scouts instead.

2. Set the Scouts the challenge of finding out about at least two former members of the Troop (you should have already contacted them and got

BEN AINSLIE, OLYMPIC SAILOR What are you most looking forward to about the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games?

It will be fantastic to compete in front of a home crowd, racing on British waters in the Olympic Games is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

What inspires you?

Winning and achievement inspires me. Every

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their permission). Split them into two teams and task each with finding the ex-Scout with the most interesting or inspiration tale.

3. Some aspects for them to consider when researching former members: Are any of them famous or influential? Have any of them gone to live in a different country? Who lives farthest?

Do they have an interesting job or pastime?

4. Once Scouts have selected their former members to interview, get in touch again with them yourself to make them aware that the Scouts may be trying to make contact.

5. Explain to the Scouts that any interesting finds will be considered for a new newspaper, Scout Scoop, which will be distributed to ex-members.

The challenge is for one of the teams to get the best ex-Scout story on the front page. The merits of each will be discussed by the editorial team (the whole Troop, selected adults or former members) as each team makes a presentation about their chosen ‘Celebrity Scout’.

6. The editorial team decides the cover story.

7. The Scouts then work on the newspaper together and produce a few copies to be sent to any former members who were involved.

You can also use the resulting newspaper as promotional material for your Troop.

An alternative could be to set up a blog and challenge Scouts to get the top story or do a TV or radio show.

day I go sailing I set goals; this can be the smallest tweak on a training day or the biggest push on a medal race day. It’s also important to always look ahead to the next test. That’s why sailing is such a great sport to be involved in, it’s very diverse with many different challenges.

Alongside the Olympic sailing I have also been involved in the America’s Cup, these two challenges have kept me fresh and inspired.

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OFFSHORE WATER SPORTS

VALUE Courage PROGRAMME ZONES Outdoor and Adventure, Fit for Life DESCRIPTION Take water sports to the next level and show your Scouts the thrills and spills of heading offshore.

TIME Discuss and plan the activity in one meeting, followed by a full day taking part in the sports.

EQUIPMENT • Water sports equipment INSTRUCTIONS 1. Discuss inspirational stories of offshore sporting achievements. Examples include James Cracknell, Ben Fogle, Tracy Edwards, Shirley Robertson, Ben Ainslie.

2. Talk about the variety of offshore water sports available and the challenges you would face when taking part. Examples include sea kayaking, yachting, powerboating.

3. Search for your nearest facility offering these sports and arrange a day doing at least one.

4. Share stories and photos of the day once the challenge is over.

Note: Make sure you follow the activities rules in chapter 9 of POR.

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100-DAY CHALLENGE

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VALUE Determination PROGRAMME ZONES Outdoor and Adventure, Fit for Life, Creative Expression DESCRIPTION Have your Scouts got the enthusiasm and stamina to work together and master a sport?

TIME At least one meeting to plan the activity, followed by 100 days to perform the challenge.

EQUIPMENT • Depends on chosen sport or activity INSTRUCTIONS 1. Ask the Scouts to shout out some sports or activities they have always wanted to try but of which they have no experience. Log the answers and discuss each one in turn. Consider their suitability for the Troop to learn and progress in together over 100 days, before choosing one.

Non-sport alternatives could include playing a piece of music on various instruments, performing a piece of theatre or comedy routine, or learning a circus-themed activity.

2. Produce a wall chart so progress of each Scout taking part can be measured. Agree the criteria for measuring success with each participant.

3. Encourage the Scouts involved to keep a log or diary of their progress and to make regular updates to the rest of the Troop.

4. At the end of the 100 days, organise a match/ display of the activity and invite other Troops or sections to watch.

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GOLD

LEAVE NO TRACE CAMP

VALUE Excellence PROGRAMME ZONES Outdoor and Adventure, Beliefs and Attitudes DESCRIPTION Can your Scouts cover their tracks and leave minimal impact on their campsite?

What if rival spoilsport Scouts engage in a spot of sabotage?

TIME A weekend/week camp EQUIPMENT • Usual camping equipment INSTRUCTIONS 1. Explain the idea of minimal impact camping, bearing in mind its seven principles: • Plan ahead and prepare • Travel and camp on durable surfaces • Dispose of waste properly • Leave what you find • Minimise campfire impacts • Respect wildlife • Be considerate of other visitors.

2. Encourage Scouts to research a new camping area where they have never been before which will be suitable for minimal impact camping.

3. Ask the Troop to come up with a plan on how they can leave little impact on the area; thinking about the materials they will use, food they will take and so on.

4. Explain that this is actually a competition – Scouts will be divided into two teams and challenged to have the least impact on their camping area. Challenge them to fit all their waste into as small a container as possible or use as much recycled material as they can.

5. At the camp, make sure the two teams set up two distinct camping areas (although these should be very near to each other), for which they will be responsible as a team. For shared areas, make them ‘sign out’ as clean and tidy any area their team has used last.

6. Tell the teams there will be inspections of both sites at regular intervals and at the end of camp before going home.

7. To introduce a competitive edge, the opposing teams can ‘sabotage’ the other’s efforts, by leaving something behind or in a place it shouldn’t be. It’s up to each team to check, double-check and triple-check their own area.

To make it fair, the sabotage shouldn’t cause any permanent damage or take an unduly long time to fix; it’s only to teach the teams to do a thorough inspection.

Note: Make sure you follow the Nights Away Permit Scheme – www.scouts.org.uk/nightsaway

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BIG BUSINESS

VALUE Equality PROGRAMME ZONE Creative Expression DESCRIPTION From building a brand to battling in the boardroom, it’s never too early to get into the business world. Bring out your Scouts’ entrepreneurial spirit as they learn co-operation and team work to be the boss of their own empire.

TIME 3-4 meetings EQUIPMENT • Will depend on chosen activity INSTRUCTIONS 1. Introduce the idea of entrepreneurship to your Scouts by discussing famous business leaders who have built up their own businesses from scratch. Examples could be Richard Branson (Virgin), Alan Sugar (Amstrad), Michelle Mone (Ultimo).

2. In their Patrols, ask the Scouts to come up with some ideas for a product which could, for example, be used at camp. Tell them that they will have to put their favourite idea to a panel of judges, who will decide whether their idea is good enough to go into production. Remind them that they will have to produce and ‘market’ this product themselves, so to keep it within the realms of reality and affordability. Some examples include flavoured milkshake, pasta sauce, packaging to keep something fresh or dry, a magazine for the journey to camp.

3. Get the Scouts to prepare a presentation for the judges. It might be an idea to show them a short clip of Dragons’ Den or a similar programme to give them inspiration.

4. Assemble a panel of judges who can assess, advise and encourage the Scouts with their ideas.

5. Once the Scouts have presented their ideas to the judges and know which product they’re going to make, explain to them that they have to take on specific roles within their microbusiness, for example: managerial, finance, marketing or manufacturing.

6. Ensure all roles are decided democratically and that everyone is happy with theirs.

7. To raise funds for the development and marketing of the product, tell Scouts they can sell ‘shares’ in their company (perhaps 20p per share with a maximum of five shares per Scout) to everyone else in their Troop and beyond. Put a cap on the number of shares Scouts sell as the product cannot make a profit. Also make Scouts aware that they may not have their ‘investment’ returned if the product does not manage to cover costs.

8. Ask the Scouts to hold regular meetings of their ‘board’ to check progress of production, reminding them to produce advertising to spread the word about their idea. Encourage them to be as creative as time and equipment will allow, perhaps putting together a TV or radio ad or producing a blog on the production process.

9. At camp or another Scouting event, invite the Scouts to set up a stall to sell their wares.

10. After the task, ask Scouts what they have learned and would do differently. If the products have made money, give the investors back what they paid for the shares.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Scout Association would like to thank The Peter Harrison Foundation and The Freemasons’ Grand Charity for their generous support in developing this printed resource.

The Scout Association would also like to thank the Peter Cruddas Foundation for their generous support of Our Sporting Adventure as sole sponsor of the web pages and medal table.

Illustrations by Mehmet Ulusahin Photograph of Ben Ainslie © Lloyd Images Photograph of Sophie Christiansen © Kit Houghton © The Scout Association 2011 Charity numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland).

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